INTER-EMPIRE CRICKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19231, 21 January 1926, Page 9

INTER-EMPIRE CRICKET

COMING TOUR OF EfNGLAND. THE AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Jan. 20. All the 12 cricketers who have so far been invited to take part in the tour of England have accepted. These players are: Collins, Ryder, Ponsford. Taylor, Andrews, Gregory, Oldfield. Macartney, Bardsley, Mailey, Grimmett, and Hendry. TEST MATCHES AT HOME. f' ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM. LONDON, Jan. 10. A suggestion has been made by LieutGeneral V. S. Jackson, a former captain of the English representative cricket team, that the Wembley Stadium should be used for cricket next summer, as «i solution of the grave problem of how 'to accommodate the great test match crowds.

It is pointed out that the Stadium, if taxed to its utmost capacity, would hold upward of 100,000 spectators, and would certainly be required if the ashos depend on the result of the final test match. This is scheduled to be commenced at the Oval on August 14, and, if necessary, is to be played to a finish. It will take place in the August holidays, when London will be filled with visitors, and whether the existing arrangements are extensive enough is considered doubtful.

. The fact that three of the test matches will clash with important sporting events is likely to only slightly relieve the pressure. The final day of the first test match coincides with the opening day of the Ascot race meeting, the second test match with the Wimbledon tennis championships, and the fourth with the Goodwood race meeting.

The Marylebone Cricket Club, in a desperate effort to cope with tho situation, is spending £50,000 on a new stand to accommodate an additional 3500 spectators at Lord's, where 10,000 people were locked out in 1921. The Trent Bridge ground at Nottingham holds only 22,000 for the whole of the Midlands to see the first test match, while the Old Trafford ground at Manchester has a 40,000 limit for Lancashire and Yorkshire enthusiasts to see the third test match. It is suggested that a minimum of 3s admission would limit the crowds at the various centres. Members of the county clubs, it is expected, will have first claim on the tickets.

The Evening News in commenting on cabled reports of Australian criticism of the ages of members of the Australian eleven, says: "It is not a question of any great moment. The team seems to be fully capable of upholding the tradition of perfect fitness. The Australians' determined fighting spirit, as opposed to the Englishmen's somewhat lackadaisical efforts, has been a large factor in the test matches of the last five years. Supposing, for the purpose of comparison, the English team comprises Hobbs, Woolley, Holmes, Hendren, Sutcliffe, Carr, Tate, Lilley, Macauley, Stevens, and Hammond, also dropping Mailey from the 12 Australians chosen, the average ages of the English and Australian players would be respectively 32 and 33 years—little difference.

"Cricketers nowadays are rarely at their full strength before 30. A youth's slight advantage of faster fielding hardly compensates for the absence of an older player's more mature judgment.

" The Australians are coming with the knowledge they gained in 1921. They are a great, practically an unbeaten side, fighters every one. Once they get their teeth into a game they never let go. England's work will be cut out. to beat them, especially if they bring their own weather with them."