HENDREN'S AMAZING CRICKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 April 1930, Page 7

HENDREN'S AMAZING CRICKET

A GREAT RECORD (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 27th February. Hcndren's wonderful batting in the j West Indies has kept interest in the, game alive all the winter. .His feats nave been truly prodigious. So far ho has played in eight matches in tho West Indies/and his scores have boon 223, 211, and 80 and 36 in Barbados; 40 and 96, 30 and 12, and 77 and 205 in Trinidad, and 254 and 171 in British Guiana. Two of the double centuries wore compiled in succession without losing his wicket, and three of his hundreds were made off the reel. And, as has previously been stated, Hendrcn went on tho tour' as a veteran who would not be wanted for the coming Tost matches with the Australians. It is probable that he will be now one of the first players chosen. . One record he has set up in the West Indies has passed almost unnoticed. His 171 against British Guiana brought his total of centuries made since the war to 106, and even Hobbs has not done as well. The Surrey man has 171 to his credit, but 65 of these were obtained before 1914, whereas Hendrcn at this timo had made only, half-a-dozen. Hendren's centuries now number 112. Curiously enough, despite his suporb record, the wisdom of including him in an England team has often been questioned on the ground that he is temperamental. It has been said that he has only made runs when they were not really wanted. This criticism is unfair. To-dav he stands as one of tho first six batsmen in the world, and there is littlo doubt that he will again be picked. A. P. F. Chapman has prepared us for few changes in tho Test team. He Will not have it that even Hobbs, though his batting may have slowed down, should be'dropped. By tho way, Chapman has already started practice at the nets. It is his intention to play regularly this season, and, if he finds his form,'it'is probable he will be the captain. Iv-'i • / ■. Though Tate will continue as tho spear head of the attack, there is some doubt about the bowling, especially in regard to that of Larwood. He was not . at his best last season, having lost a little pace. This, however,. may have been due to tho fact that the tour in Australia had taken a good deal out of him. For the position of wicket-keeper, too, Duckworth will have a strong challenger in Ames, who would command a place in most county teams for his bat- '. ting alone. This double qualification • may earn him the position behind the i stumps.