"TWO WEAKNESSES"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 9

"TWO WEAKNESSES"

OLD-TIME CAPTAIN'S VIEWS

■In years gone by Joe Darling, as the captain of the Australian Eleven, was a notable figure in the cricket world. This old-time captain, who nowadays is the Hon. Joseph Darling, M.L.C. (Tasmania), is at present visiting the Dominion in connection with the meat trade. He was in Wellngton yesterday, and his impressions of the 1930 Australian Eleven in England are interesting. Eecord books state that Mr. Darling ranks with Bardsley, Clem Hill, and Vernon Bansford as oue of the greatost of Australian cricketers who played left-handed. He captained Australia in England in 1899,1902, and 1905; also in South Africa, and iv the first three matches for the rubber against England in Australia in 1901-2.

Mr. Barling considers that the present Australian Eleven is a strong batting side. In his opinion, though, it has two weaknesses. The first is that it Has no left-handed batsman, and the othor is that the bowling is not strong. He considers that a mistake was made in omitting a left-hand batsman from the side.

As to the attack, Mr. Darling chaeacterised the eleven' as one of the ■weakest bowling sides that had ever left Australia. He considers that H. Ironmonger, although not a good fieldsman and bat, -would have strengthened the team's bowling. D. M. Blaekio was another who was unlucky in not getting away. In the Test matches, Mr. Darling favours England's chances of retaining possession of the Ashes. He considers that there will be some heavy scoring, with the Englishmen coming out on top. '