ENGLAND’S CRICKET CAPTAIN

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 12

ENGLAND’S CRICKET CAPTAIN

LIKELIHOOD OF ALLEN R. W. V. ROBINS IN THE RUNNING I think G. O. B. (Gubby) Allen is certain to captain England in the first Test ih England this year, states Harry Hopman in the Melbourne Herald. In a letter I received last week from a London friend, I learneq that Allen is playing a lot of squash racquets, at which he is adept, in the hope of fitting himself properly for the opening of the cricket season.

It is common knowledge that “Gubby’ was disappointed with his bowling on the few occasions he played in England last summer, but, despite business calls which he has found repeatedly interfering with his cricket, he intends to make a big effort to play regularly at the beginning of the season, primarily to discover whether he is as good a bowler as he was before making the last toui of Australia. Should Allen fail to convince himself that he can bowl really well during the coming season, then the captaincy seems like to fall to his Middlesex “twin,” R. W. V. Robins. Robins also has let it be known that he cannot ignore his business responsibilities, but ways and means are sure to be found to allow this keen and brilliant all-rounder to play a fair amount to work into best form early in the season.

Wally Hammond says fie would prefer not to be invited to captain England in his first season as reinstated amateur.

I think that there arc still too many sticklers for tradition in the English pavilions who would prefer to have a “100 per cent, amateur” captain, not in his best form, leading England, than a reinstated amateur, who may be the best all-rounder in the world; a man who as a professional had captained an England team against Queensland in the last Test series.