ASHES DEFENDERS.

Feilding Star, Volume 4, Issue 672, 2 January 1926, Page 8

ASHES DEFENDERS.

CRITICS OF CRICKETERS. OPTIMISTIC DORRS. (Anst. am! N.Z. Cable). London, Dec. 31. Jack Hobbs, in. a special article in they Daily Chroniec, pays tribute to the" various players. “It is not a super team. They can he beaten. 1 am not.afflicted with over-confiden when I say that England has at least a 50-50 chance, and I rate our chance-; even higher on a wet wicket.” ‘ PLUM” WARNER’S VIEWS P. F. Warner, interviewed, said: ‘‘Australia has selected a very hot halting .side. Its great strength lies in tlfe- fact that, eight, nine, ten and eleven, are till good batsmen. Vou have got to get the whole side out, and are just its likely to have trouble after the fifth wicket lias fallen as before. Rut they don’t seem io have found any new howler except; Grimmett. It will be interesting to see the renitinihg tlm'e selected. It is a difficult matter to choose between such promising players as Love, A. Richardson, Kippax, and Kclleway, whose brilliant innings at Melbourne shows lie is still at, the top of his form. HIRST ON HOWLERS. Hirst, of Yorkshire, questions Australia’s bowling strength, and points out that Collins is deprived ol Armstrong’s advantage of two last bowlers such as Gregory and McDonald at either end. England’s -side should be selected from the viewpoint ol variety of attack. England is fortunate in that Tate and Macaulay are useful batsmen. The wicket-keeper should also he a good batsman. »