CRICKETERS' TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21807, 23 May 1934, Page 18

CRICKETERS' TOUR

AUSTRALIANS IN ENGLAND PONSFORD'S GREAT AVERAGE V MOST WICKETS TO GRIMMETT Although only three weeks has elapsed since the start of the Australian cricketers' tour in England, the performances of the visitors have revealed several salient facts which should give the English selectors plenty of food' for thought, when tlio construction of their side for the first test next month is under consideration. The outstanding featuro at the moment is the ability of the majority of the Australians to mako runs, and the question of finding an attack capable of coping with this strength of the visitors will prove the most sorious problem for the Englishmen.

Granting that tho Australians have not yet had to moot anything outstanding in the way of bowling, nevertheless, the greenness of some of tho Australian batsmen, under conditions uttorably foreign to them, offsets to a large extent tho fact that tho opposing attack has been mediocre. Outstanding Batsman The tourists have proved in tho five matches played up to tho end of that against Essex that they comprise one of the strongest all-round batting combinations to visit England for somo time. In the past few series of tests Woodfull, Ponsford, Kippax and Bradman have formed the spearhead of the Australian batting, but the results to date show that the Australians will not have to placo such reliance upon these batsmen as in former tests.

At the moment, Ponsford, with his two fine double centuries, is the outstanding batsman, but, in addition to Woodfull, Bradman and Kippax—who can be relied upon to strike form when needed —Darling, Brown, McCabe and Chipperfield liavo all been responsible for splendid batting displays at such an early stage of the tour. In keeping with the start of the season in England, tho conditions have been favouring slow and medium-pace bowlers and the Australians, Grinunett and O'Reilly, have shown their ability to take wickets when the pitch is assisting the break delivery. Although none of the Australian bowlers of pace has shown much form to date, it must be realised that their turn will come when tho wickets become faster and give the necessary nip. The fast bowlers would have to adjust themselves to the English conditions and they should take some time to develop consistency. Century Makers

Among the Australian batsmen, Ponsford heads the aggregate runs, with 532 compiled in five innings, two of which were not out, giving him an average of 177.33. McCabe, with 383 runs for four completed innings, comes next, while Bradman has 276 runs for the same number of innings. Those who have scored centuries up to tho end of the Essex match are Bradman, McCabe (2), Ponsford (2), Brown and Chipperfield. Only two centuries have been scored against the Australians, both of which were made in the M.C.C. match, by Hendren and Wyatt respectively. 'Grimmett and O'Reilly have secured a big break on their fellow bowlers. Grimmett has the most wickets with 33 for 476 runs, giving him the average of 14.42, but O'Reilly shows slightly better figures in 28 wickets for 35b, average 12.6. Other bowlers to take wickets are Wall 12, Fleetwood-Smith 10, and Ebeling seven. Of tho-five matches played, the Australians have had threo victories by over an- innings, against Worcester, Cambridge and respectively, \wiile tho matches against the M.C.C. eleven and Leicester were drawn.