TEST CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20321, 1 November 1929, Page 7

TEST CRICKET

AUSTRALIA’S OUTLOOK “ Australia has no cause for alarm* It will be England’s turn to worry cow For many seasons the English selectors have been relying upon the ' old brigade.’ They have occasionally tried some of the younger men, but whenever pressed have again turned to the veterans. It is now England’s turn to build up a new team like Australia did last season, owing to many of her former giants retiring from the international field ” These were the opinions expressed by the international wicket-keeper, W A. Oldfield, on his return to Sydney from a trip to England. During his stay abroad Oldfield had ample opportunity of seeing the principal games of the season. THE SOUTH AFRICANS. Oldfield was an interested onlooker at the test matches between England and South Africa. He was most favourably impressed with the cricketing ability of the South Africans, and be expects them to thoroughly extend the Australians when they visit Australia in 1931 (states the ‘ Sydney 'doming Herald ’). Their batting is strong and enterprising, and will appeal to the local enthusiasts, The ball wat hit bard, and with Catterall, Siedle, Deane, Cameron, and Taylor they had bright batsmen who were always looking for runs. Their bowling was good and well varied. Morkel was of medium pace, and a Boer, Ochse, although not a really fast bowler, was often dangerous They had three slow howlers of the googly type, and two fine left-handers, Quinn being fast and Vincent medium pace. He had heard of another fast howler, Bissett, who did not visit England. , Supporting their attack was an extremely fine fie l ding team. OwenSmith was probably the best. He was very safe and sneedv at cover-point, but his work in this department lacked the finish of our own J. T. E. Andrews. Catterall was also a fine outfield, although, in Oldfield’s opinion, ho was far from being tbo equal of J. M. Taylor in this department. The average age of the South Africans would bo about twentv-two years. The majority of the players were much younger than this, but veterans in Taylor ami Deano helped to increase the average. DULEEPSIXHJI’S STYLE. Oldfield saw many of the members of Chapman’s team in action. Hammond is still batting as soundlv as ever, bub ho was inclined to think that F. E. Woolley was the outstanding batsman in England. Ho played a magnificent innings against the South Africans, and he was still able to take a turn at the creases with the ball, although ho had lost much of his cunning and was used principally to rest the other men and reduce the rale of run-get-ting. His fielding powers have waned slightly. Hobbs met with an accident early in the season, but ho recovered and showed that he was still able to make runs Oldfield, however, was very impressed with the younger English batsmen. The young Indian, K. S. Duloepsinhji, he considers, is a beautiful batsman, who had modelled his style on orthodox methods, but is able to play either offensive or defensive r.y. -kef, as the occasion demands. His is a most fluent stylo, and his runs are gathered from strokes in every direction The Indian is a nephew of the Jam of Nawangar, or K. S. Ranjitsinhji, popularly called “Ranji.” who was here with A. E Stoddarfs team in 1897-98, when ho headed the average and amazed all by the suppleness of his wrists and Ids daring strokes. Then thero was R E. S'. Wyatt, of Warwickshire, who, although a batsman of the solid type, was never stodgy in his batting Another stylist was A. M. Crawley (Oxford). These three were the most promising of the younger English batsmen, and would possibly play against the Australians when they toured England in 1930. THREE NEW BOWLERS. England still relied on the fine bowling pair—Larwood and Tate—to a very great extent, said Oldfield, and both men were bowling splendidly. A. P. Freeman had shown remarkable form, and wa, securing many wickets. Although J. C. White was dropped from the test team, Oldfield thinks that the English selectors were influenced by tho fact that the Somerset captain’s bowling would be of more advantage, in a long-drawn-out test, because he would keep the rate of run-getting down to a minimum, rest tho _ shock bowlers of tho team, and occasionally secure wickets There were three new men whose claims for selection in tho next English team wouM have to receive consideration. One was the Gloucestershire pF'er, Goddard, who was 6ft 2i" in height. n”d fent dnwn a slow to b~'l that, t”rned from the off. Another was Rnbe-'s, of Cambridge University a r d Mk I ' Mesex. B:e was a most useful man to have in any team In addition to being a good slow leg-break bowler, he was an excellent outfield and a steady batsman. Then there was Voce, a fast left-hand bowler, whom be thought would be one of the English team in 1930. LBW AND BIGGER WICKETS. Oldfield is not enamoured of the idea that a change should bo made in tho leg-beidre-the-wieket rule; but ho thinks it would bo an excellent thing to adopt the bigger wickets. He considers it would bo worth trying, more so in Australia than in England, as English howlers get assistance from the wicket The reverse is the case in Australia. If first-class bowlers ar» again unearthed in Australia, the authorities could then revert to the old order of things and again use the present wickets.