COMING TESTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 108, 7 April 1926, Page 8

COMING TESTS.

SPRINGING A SURPRISE.

MACAULAY NAMED.

LONDON, March 22.

“We should spring Macaulay or any other of our new nowiers upon the Australians as a surprise in tho firsttest,” says the Athletic News which urges tho English selectorsadopt tho “Grimmctt way.” “Macaulay is our best hope among the fast bowlers,” tho paper adds, “auci should bo conveniently engaged in the trial at Lord’s, when Yorkshire meet tho Australian. But wo fear that tho selectors will allow Macaulay to reveal his secrets in tho unimportant engagement at Edgbaston (Birmingham), where the Australians are to meet the representative of the north, and which will bo valueless as a constructive test trial.”

Tho Australians’ engagement against the North of England commences at Birmingham on June 2; against Yorksharo at Bradford on June 15; and the first test at Nottingham on June 12. Macaulay, who lias had a rather spectacular career with Yorkshire, is considered to bo the best spin bowler in England, and many a regret was expressed that lie was not in Australia last season to keep one end going with his length, while Tate did the damage at the other. As a matter of fact, lie played in the trial match before Gilligan’s team was picked, but it was generally understood that liis tactics earned the displeaure of the authorities. It was alleged that ho made a patch in tho pitch with his spikes to assist his county comrade, Kilner, and that the M.C.C. did not like it.

CAUSTIC ENGLISHMAN.

ARMSTRONG’S SLOWS

LONDON, March 23. “Th© unhappiest half-hour I ever spent at a cricket match was watching the pathetic spectacle of tho English batsmen respectfully and timidly blocking, and never attempting to hit Armstrong’s gentle halfvolleys,” said Mr L. C. Docker, presiding at Warwickshire’s annual dinner.

Tho English batsmen seemed to imagine that every Australian ball was full of guile, treating the worst with tho same, respect as tho best,” added Mr Docker.