COUNTY CAPTAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 15

COUNTY CAPTAIN

RESIGNATION OF HOLMES LIKELY SURREY SUCCESSOR E. R. T. Holmes, who was generally understood to be in his last year of office, has resigned the captaincy of the Surrey County Cricket Club, and his successor, . according to the Evening Standard recently, will probably be the vice-captain, H. M. Garland-Wells. In four years Holmes has done much for Surrey cricket. He found the side suffering through lack of a regular captain, and in a stage of transition from one generation to another. Ho leaves it standing third in the championship, a stronger side probably than any in the last 10 years. His own attractive batsmanship has meant much to Surrey, and the Oval members will hopo he relents from his present decision to play rarely in future.

Garland-Wells is 31. He has played for Surrey, on and off, for 10 years. He was educated at St. Paul's, and played for Oxford in the University matches of 1928, 1929 and 1930 —making runs in all three years, and also a reputation for courage in a crisis. He is the type of aggressive batsman whose value to a team can never be properly expressed by his average. Many times he has pulled Surrey together in face of a collapse. Last summer, when he made more than 1000 runs, was his most successful. Garland-Wells will be Surrey's fifth post-war captain. C. T. A. Wilkinson held office in 1919-20; P. G. H. Fender from 1920 to 1932; D. R. Jardino in 1933-34; and Holmes from then until now.