MATCH FOR THE “ASHES”

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1937, Page 7

MATCH FOR THE “ASHES”

ENGLISH TEAM ANNOUNCED ' ■ ' ■ ■ ' '■ w?’ ROBINS DROPPED fBY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] MELBOURNE, February 26. The weather prospects are excellent and the wicket hard. The English team is as follows: — Allen, Wyatt, Hammond, (Barnett, Hardstaff, Leyland, Ames, Verity, Worthington, Voce and Fames. in the Australian team, as previously announced, Brown is twelfth man and Sievers thirteenth. BOARD OF CONTROL. MELBOURNE, February 24. The Board of Cricket Control withdrew .its opposition to-the selection of 13 Australians for the Test. The final selection of 11 players- will be made in" the morning. ■■■:■■ The that the selection of 13 men was, not in conformity with the Board’s resolutions. The weather forecast for to-morrow and Saturday is fine, warm, and sultry. AUSTRALIA BATTING.

A wireless message received from Melbourne at three o’clock (N.Z; time) statqd that Fingleton and Rigg were batting, the score being 25 runs for no wickets.

LATER. At the luncheon adjournment, the score was one for 54 (Rigg 28). NO INTIMIDATION. LONDON, February 24. . Cmmenting on the Test match, the Melbourne correspondent of “The Times” says: “There is little danger of the bodyline rumblings -becoming a thunderclap and disturbing the pleasant atmosphere of this tour. Both captains are firmly opposed to anything approaching it or approaching intimidatory bowling. While Nash was 1 bowling for Victoria the Englishmen, particularly Barnett and Hammond, obviously did not relish having hastily to sway their headsi and shoulders out of danger. There was no official demur, but the batsmen made it clear that they considdred/'the bumpers were frequent enough to be a breach of the spirit of the ban on intimidatory bowling. Bradman, who s has the mortal’s share of distaste for rib-roasters, is the last to sanction the firing of the first shot, whether Nash is chosen fdr the Test or not.” A. P. F. Chapman, in the “Daily Mail” says he thinks that England has an even chance of victory. ! - ■ i, ’ ;

N.Z. TOURING TEAM

AUCKLAND, February 251.

The New Zealand cricket team was a well-balanced side, said Mr. N. C. Sneddon, one o£ the selectors, on his return to-day; The players chosen were expected to do well under English conditions. The batting was outstanding, and the side was definitely stronger than other New Zealand teams which had gone to England. He expressed the opinion that few English county sides would beat the team in a three-days’ match because of the batting strength. He considered that the, team would rise to expectations in fielding. With, the possible exception of Merritt, the bowling was equal to the standard of the previous teams. The selectors had considered that it would be suicidal to send a team without a spin righthand bowler, and for that reason Griffiths had been selected. Unfortunately, some good players had to be left behind.

“FIELDING TERRIBLE!” M. L. Page, captain of the 1937 New Zealand cricket team for England, speaking at the diamond jubilee dinner of the Otago Cricket Association, said: —“The team is. going away witli the critics shouting and crying, and with the selectors scratching their heads over the problems of bowlers. Apart from this lack, some -of the greatest sides in the world could be chosen from New Zealand cricketers. New Zealand’s first five batsmen are the equal of those in any. other part of the world, with the exception of Bradman, McCabe, Leyland, and Hammond. Our fielding isi terrible! Not so- much on the ground, as*in the air. My aim is to make this team a really good fielding side.”