TO DEFEND THE “ASHES”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12357, 29 January 1926, Page 8

TO DEFEND THE “ASHES”

CRICKETERS FOR ENGLAND PLAYERS REVIEWED THE NEW BLOOD Once a Rain an Australian team is on the eve of assembling to proceed to England to contest the "ashes/'' The selectors. Messrs J. S. Ryder, H. Lt. Collins and Cleih Hill, have made their iinal selection of the three remaining vacancies, with the result that W. M. Woodfull (Victoria), A. Richardson (South Australia) and J. S. Ellis (Victoria) have been chosen to participate in the English tour. Of those chosen Collins,. Bardsley, Oldfield, Taylor, Macartney, Andrews, Ryder, Mailey and ... Hendry have already represented Australia on Home wickets, and are consequently wellknown to the English cricket public. Principal interest will, therefore, naturally centre upon the "new blood" included in the team. Players who have not been seen in England before are W« H. Ponsford, C. V. Grimmett, W. M. Woodfull, A. Richardson, and J. L. Ellis. W, H. Ponsford, the young Victorian, has a remarkable average in first-class matches. In Sheffield Shield matches Ponsford's record is as followslnnings 19, not out 2, highest score 166, runs 1143, average 67.23, while in the last test matches in Australia he scored 468 runs in ten completed innings, thus averaging 46.80,, In all representative cricket Ponsford has a still more imposing record, In 40 innings, with one not out, he has scored 2909 Tuns, at an average of 74 per innings. Against Tasmania he put on the record score of 429, while he has knocked up a dozen centuries in representative cricket. Ponsford has a wonderful eye, plays a straight bat, and has some splendid scoring strokes, cleverly placed and not of the "flashy" order. Furthermore, he can claim to be the only Australian batsman who has Gcored a century against each of the remaining State elevens. CONSISTENT RUN-GETTER W. M. Woodfull, also of Victoria, is probably the most consistent run-getter in Australian cricket at the present time. Twice he has narrowly missed making two centuries in one match against South Australia. In 1923 he scored 123 and 94 not out at Adelaide, and this season 97 and 236. He has made five centuries in Sheffield Shield matches—three against South Australia and two against New South Wales. Until this season he was essentially a defensive batsman, but has lately been concentrating more . on run-getting strokes without impairing his defence. His Sheffield Shield batting is summarised in the following figures Innings, 28; not out, 4; highest score, 236; runs, 1603; average, 66.95. Woodfull was a member of the Victorian team which toured New Zealand last season. On that tour he scored 895 runs in 13 innings, in seven of which he remained undefeated, finishing up with an average of 149.16. A SURPRISE SELECTION In choosing J. L. Ellis (Victoria), the selectors have provided a surprise packet, as it was generally regarded by critics that H. S. Love's inclusion as second wicket-keeper was a "moral." Even A. Ratcliffe (New South Wales) was considered to have a greater claim towardß being understudy to Oldfield than the Victorian. Ellis, however, is easily the finest keeper in Victoria, and in the Dominion especially is held in great repute so far as wicket-keeping is concerned. As a member of Vernon Ranford's Victorian team which toured New Zealand last season, he. performed brilliantly behind the sticks. He is also a capable batsman, and on the Dominion tour , obtained an average of 29.61. Arthur Richardson, whose selection was generally considered as being a certainty, is South Australia's leading batsman. He has scored prolificiaily in Sheffield Shield matches and represented Australia in the majority of the test matches against A. E. R. Gilligan's English team, obtaining an average of 31.00. He is a forceful bat, a fine finger spin bowler, but is a trifle on the slow side in the field. C. V/'Clarry" Grimmett, the ViotoMan and ex-Wellington "bosie" bowler, has had a meteoric rise to fame in Australian cricket. Against the Englishmen in the last test matches in Australia he met, with remarkable success with the ball. He is a bowler of the "bosie" variety, and has a wonderful command over length, besides flighting his deliveries most deceptively. He is a good fieldsman and* this season has developed into auite a capable batsman. He will be the most-looked for player on the side when the team reaches England. STILL ANOTHER FAST BOWLER As the selectors have recommended to the Board of Control that another fast bowler should be included to aid Jack Gregory, the issue appears to lie between Jack Scott and Everett. Scott is getting on in years, and it is extremely doubtful whether at the present time he has. the necessary stamina to successfully withstand a strenuous tour. He has great pace for a few overs, but tires rapidly. Everett should be well in the running on account of his splendid performance in the recent New South WalesVictoria Sheffield ShiehLmatch. . Against Victoria in this match lie is reported to have bowled magnificently and with great pace, at times being almost unplayable. He will be remembered throughout the Dominion as tho express bowler of the New South Wales team under C. G. Macartney, which toured New Zealand in 1923-24. On this tour' in the two test matches against New Zealand he captured ten wickets at a cost of 17.4 runs aplce.