COMING CRICKET TESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20099, 9 November 1928, Page 20

COMING CRICKET TESTS.

SOME SURPRISES POSSIBLE. ENGLAND HAS EASIER BATTLE. [rilOM Otm .ATHLETIC CORHESPONDENT. ] LONDON. Oct. 6. Herbert Strudwick, the ex-English wicket-keeper, discussing the test prospects with your representative, hints that Australia "has something up its sleeve." "I think Australia has some surprise in dtore for us, but I th'ink we shall have surprises for them, too," said "Struddy," who, after referring to bowling question, added: "If our bowling Is inclined to he weak, I do not think Australia has anything better to produce. So far as butting is concerned tho English team is ns good in this department, if not better, than tho Aussies. " I regard Jfrceman as a greatly-im-proved bowler since he last visited Australia, ai d I am certain he will take a lot of good wickets. As to Lnrwood wo all sincerely hope ho will keep fit, but ho will have to bo carefully nursed and rusted as long is possible before each test. "Tho great difficulty will be to know whom to leave out (it the test teams. It may happen that some at least of the 17 players will have had no practice for perhaps one, two or even nunc, matches" Colonel Green, the Lancashire County captain, told me that while lie did not, know anything of the cricket conditions in Australn, ne reckoned that Ernest Tvldeslcy would turn out a magnificent hard-wicket bat, and that Duckworth was one of tho finest wicket-keepers in the country. Mr. T 'cone, the team's manager, told me this lour war a very dilTeient altair fruin tho previous two, for then England was lighting an uphill battle against Aus tralian supremacy. "This is the first time I have toured with the team when we have had the 'Ashes' to defend." he {.aid, "and that makes quite a big differ «:nee. I think we have a splendid chance of retaining the 'Ashes'. "Our team is a good one, especially strong in batting, and there are bowlers ■who may do very well in Australia. As Binning Larwood stands the strain of the hard Australian wickets, our bowling will be as strong as it possibly could be. In his best form Larwood is a fast howler whom batsmen fear to meet. Our batting strength is flawless," concluded Mr. Toone.' "Tho team is as well equipped as any side ever sent out from this country," was Lord Harris' comment. He pointed out that in the actual picking of the team for the tests a selection committee of five had been appointed. This is a now de l»arturo.