ENGLAND FAVOURED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21378, 30 December 1932, Page 7

ENGLAND FAVOURED

TROUBLESOME ATTACK CHOOSING AUSTRALIAN SIDE PROBLEMS FOR SELECTORS .Although interest in cricket in New Zealand has been centred :ri the Plunket Shield matches during the Christmas holidays attention will now turn to the second (est match between England and Australia, which commences at Melbourne today. Owing to its easy victory by 10 wickets in the first Wt at Sydney the prospects of England are- again strongly favoured. Tho failure of the Australian batsmen, with one or two exceptions, to withstand the formidable attack of the English fast bowlers has caused considerable alarm, which has been openly admitted by the critics. Whether the Australians can effectively counter the leg theory of Larwood and Voce on this occasion remains to be seen, and there is no doubt the selectors are faced with a problem very difficult to solve. McCabe, Richardson and Singleton were the only batsmen to play the attack at all confidently in the first test. Although Ponsford scored 32 in the first innings it was said he was not comfortable. Ponsford has done little since to justify confidence if selected for to-day's match. However, he would be hard to dislodge once properly settled down. Capabilities of Richardson The report that Woodfull is likely to stand down does not cause surprise, as he appears to bo right out of form. Richardson would lie the obvious choice for captain should Woodfull not play. Richardson has already proved a fine leader and Australia should lose little in regard to tactics if he leads the team. O'Brien, tho Victorian left-hander, who scored 45 and 4 for his State against England, is likely to find a place. Australia badly needs a left-hand batsman of test standard and one of the type of Darling, Hill, Ransford or Bardsley would be invaluable in the present tests. Ironmonger, the left-hand trundler, who was excluded from the first test, should take his place in to-day's team, and if Oxenham is also included, one of the slow bowlers may be dropped. , Interest in Eradman Great interest will centre in the performance of Bradman, who was not available for tho first test owing to ill-health. Australia's chances will be greatly enhanced should lie get a start. In six innings against the touring team to date Bradnian's scores are as folows:—For Combined team, 3 and 10; for an Australian team, 36 and 13; for New South Wales, 18 and 23. One or two changes are anticipated in the English eleven. Tate is expected to replace Allen, and if a spin bowler is needed Brown is the likely choice. The 13 players from whom the Australian team will be selected are:—D. G. Bradman, New South Wales; J. H. Fingleton, New South Wales; C. V. Grimmett, South Australia; H. Ironmonger, Victoria; S. J. McCabe, New South Wales; L. P. O'Brien, Victoria; W. A. Oldfield, New South Wales; W. J. O'Reilly, New South Wales; R. K. Oxenham, Queensland; W. H. Ponsford, Victoria; V. Y. Richardson, South Australia; T. M. Wall, South Australia; W. M. Woodfull, Victoria. The English team which defeated Australia in the first test was:—D. R. Jardine (captain), H. Sutcliffe, M. Leyland, Nawab of I'ataudi, W. R. Hammond, R. E. S. Wyatfc, L. E. Ames, 11. Larwood, W. Voce," H. Verity, G. 0. Allen. Record of Tests To date 125 test matches have been played between England and Australia, the latter having won 50 and the former 48, while 27 have been drawn. Sixty-eight of the matches have been played in Australia, the home team winning 37 and England 29, two being drawn. Fifty-seven of the matches have been played in England, Australia winning 13 and England 19, while 25 have been drawn. Owing to rain, the match at Manchester in 1890 was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Australia at present holds the ashes, having won them in England in 1930. Australia won two tests, England one, and two were drawn. SUCCESSES 0E TOUR SUTCLIFFE'S FINE BATTING PRESENT AVERAGE OF 106 The solidity of the English batting is shown by the fact that in matches to date eight batsmen have averages of over 30. Sutcliffo easily heads the list with the great figures of 106.66 for 10 innings, including one not out, which was in the

second innings of tiiti first test, when lie made the required single necessary for victory. Already Su t cliff e lias scored five centuries, his highest score being 194. Hammond is second on tlio list with figures of 87.80 for five innings. The Nawab of Patatidi has an average of 61.60 for 10 innings) and Jardine 51.50 for eight innings, including two not outs. The best bowling average goes to the credit of Lanvood,, who has taken 18 wickets at a cost of just over 11 runs apiece. Mitchell has secured the most wickets, 28, at an average of 12.39 each, and is second on the list. Verity has taken 21 wickets, Allen and Voce 18 each, Drown 15 and Bowes 14. The averages arc as follows:

BATTING Ins. N.O. U.S. Buns. Av. Sutcliffe . 10 1 194 9G0 100.00 Hammond . 5 — 203 439 87.80 l'ataudi . 10 1G6 fil6 01.00 Jardine . a o 103* 309 51.50 Ames . 10 — :io7 407 40.70 Leyland 8 127 322 40.25 Paytiter s 7 I 102 240 40.00 Wyatt . 12 1 74 409 37.18 Voce . G 3 40 09 23.00 Lahvood fi 1 81 112 22.40 Brown • 9 51 187 20.77 Allen 7 ... 48 139 19.85 Duckworth . 1 5 1 27* CO 15.00 Verity 9 2 54* 113 12.55 Bowofl 5 0 5 11 3.00 Miichcll . 3 1 4 7 3.50 Tat" 3 3 52* 64 — Denotes Not Out. BOWLING Buns W. Av. Larwood 19!) is 11.05 Mitchell 047 28 12.39 Verily 315 21 15.00 Allen 342 18 19.00 Tate 127 ti 21.10 Pnynter 94 4 2.'!.50 Voce 100 18 25.00 Brown 399 15 20,00 Bow es 405 11 28.92 Wyatt 42 1 42.00 Hammond 219 5 43.80 Ames 61 1 51.00 Pataudt 12 1 _, . RutcHlTe 13 — ■ ..— .Tarrliue 21 — — . Leyland 42 —. «"•;.