NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20929, 20 July 1931, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

SECOND TEST MATCH. TEN ENGLISHMEN SELECTED. INCLUSION OF H. LARWOOD. SUTCLIFFE ALSO AVAILABLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Special to N.Z. Press Association.) (Received July 19. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON. July 18. The following 10 players have been chosen to represent England in the second test match against New Zealand at Manchester on Wednesday week:— I). R. Jardine (Surrey). K. S. Duleepsinhji (Sussex). I. A. R. Peebles (Middlesex). F. R. Brown (Cambridge). W. R. Hammond (Gloucester). H. Sutcliffe (Yorkshire). 11. Larwood (Notts). L. Ames (Kent). A. H. Bakewell (Northamptonshire). H. Verity (Yorkshire). One player is yet to be chosen, but it is not known whether the selectors intend filling the last place with a batsman or a bowler. The first test showed that England was in need of a medium right-hander to take Tate's place.

The selection of Brown, the Cambridge University spin bowler, is a highlypopular one, as he is one of the most promising bowlers in England. Verity gained some measure of success against the New Zealanders at Harrogate, but he is not yet fitted to wear the mantle of Wilfred Rhodes and he should be difficult only on a really sticky wicket. The New Zealand team will again be selected on the morning of the test. Vivian's recent brilliant batting makes him a strong .candidate for a place. ■

AN IMPROVED TEAM.

DANGEROUS SPIN BOWLER. TRIAL OF NEW PLAYERS. (Received July 19, 5.5 p.iu.) LONDON. July 18. The Daily Telegraph says the tost team is definitely an improvement on its predecessor. Larwood will make a great difference, while Brown is quite the most dangerous spin l>owler in England. He is faster than Peebles and his unusual speed makes him difficult to play. Brown deceived Sutcliffe in the match Gentlemen versus. Players. : It is no slight on Allen, Woolley, "Voce, Arnold and Robins that they have been dropped from the test team, comments the News-Chronicle. They have shown tost form, but the solectors want to try new talent. Brown has quickly stamped himself as fit to represent England.

TEAM STRENGTHENED.

LARWOOD AND SUTCLIFFE.

VERY FORMIDABLE BOWLING.

The English team which played a drawn match with New Zealand in the first test was as followsJardino (cqptain), Hammond, Duleepsinhji, Woolley, Ames, Peebles, Allen, Bobins, Arnold, Bakowcll, Voce.

The changes made on this occasion, therefore, are that Woolley, Allen, Robins, Arnold and Voce have been dropped. Woolley could not be accounted a failure in tho first test, as ho came to the rescue of the side after a bad start had been made. He scored 80 in the first innings and 9in the second. Obviously the selectors are looking for a younger man for the next Australian tour.

Allen assisted Ames to save England! from a batting disaster in the first innings of the first test, as he scored 122 in a record partnership for the eighth wicket. However, Allen was selected as a bowler to replace Larvvood, and his figures were not so flattering as the selectors would have liked. In the first innings he took one for 45, and in the second two for 47.

Robins, a slow break bowler, took three for 38 in the first innings of New Zealand in the last test, but only two for 125 in the second innings. The selectors apparently consider this was not good enough. ■ "V

Arnold was selected on the former occasion as one of the opening batsmen, but he was not a success, his scores being 0 and 34 respectively. Voce, the Nottinghamshire bowler, was another failure, as hia figures were none for 40 and none for 60 respectively.

Of the four players chosen to replace these who have been dropped Sutcliffe and Larwood are the best known. The deeds of both require no repeating. Sutcliffe ranks with Hobbs as one of the greatest opening batsmen the game has known. Apart from their deeds in test matches Sutcliffe and Holmes have established a record number of century opening partnerships in county cricket which will be hard to beat. Larwood is the best fast bowler Eng land has produced for years. He met with exceptional success in the 1928-29 season in Australia, and then suffered a loss of form in the series of tests in England in the following season. This season, however, he has again struck his best form, and he has been taking wickets with great regularity and at small cost. Verity has earned his place by reason of his consistent performances in county cricket. He also did well against the New Zealanders for Yorkshire, securing five wickets for 101 and six for 67.

Playing for Cambridge University against New Zealand, Brown took two wickets for 97 and two for 53. He scored 8 and 72. In the match against Oxford University he took five wickets for 153. Without knowing who the eleventh man is to be, it can safely be said that the English side has been considerably strengthened for the second test, and, in addition, some new talent is being tried out in view of the English team's tour of Australia in the 1932-33 season. One thing is apparent, and that is the English bowling has been strengthened and is now quite formidable. The personnel of the New Zealand team will be awaited with interest. The improvement in form displayed by Vivian and Matheson will give the selection committee food for much deliberation. Talbot, the other member, who was omitted from the first test, looks likely to be left out again on this occasion.

SCOTLAND DEFEATED. MERRITT BOWLS WELL. VICTORY BY 235 RUNS. GLASGOW, July 17. The Now Zealand cricketers experienced •little difficulty in defeating Scotland by a margin of 235 runs. Kerr and Alexander batted steadily before lunch, Kerr was out leg before through playing forward to ( Merritt. Alexander then scored freely off any loose deliveries, but was out immediately after lunch. He snicked a ball from Vivian that was spinning away and Dempster brought off a brilliant catch in the slips. The remaining batsmen could not cope with the attack of Merritt,' Matheson and Vivian. Tod batted vigorously for a period. Hiddleston and Watson were absent through injuries. Merritt showed a return of his bowling form, striking his length- fairly early and spinning the ball well. Vivian also spun the ball appreciably. Details of the scores are:— NEW ZEALAND First innings a .. 176 Second Innings. , Talbot, c Alexander, b Hiddleston . . 65 James, c Jones, b Hiddleston . . 26 Merritt, run out . . . 3 Matheson, c Tod, b Anderson .. . . 72 Kerr, lbw, b Baxter .. 21 Vivian, c Nicholson, b Watson » .. 20 Mills, c and b Jones .... . , 41 Dempster, not. out .... .- .■ « 12 Blunt, not out ... w . . . 2 Extras . . . « .. .. 19

Total for seven wickets (dec.) . . 281 SCOTLAND. First innings . . . . . 112 Second Innings. Alexander, c Dempster, b Vivian . . 40 Kerr, lbw, b Merrill .. .. .. .. 20 McTavish, c and b Matheson .... 8 Jones, b Matheson 0 Nicholson, c Kerr, b Vivian . s . . 13 Anderson, lbw, b Merritt ...... 3 Tod, c and b Vivian . . . .. .. 19 Simpson, b Merritt 0 Hiddleston, retired hurt ....... 0 Watson, retired hurt . . .-i f . . . 0 Baxter, not out 0 Extras ...... 7 Toial .. .. .-. . . ~-..110 Bowling.—Mills took no wickets for 1; Kerr, none for 0; Matheson, two for 29; Merritt, three for 36; Allcott, none for 6; Vivian, three for 31.

VISITORS AT DUE HAM. NO PLAY ON SATURDAY. RAIN PREVENTS START. (Received July 19, 5.5 p.m.) DURHAM, July IS. The New Zealand cricketers were to have commenced a match against Durham to-day, but no play was possible as it rained all day. Lowry, Weir and Dempster are standing out of the New Zealand team for this match.