OLD WORLD SETTING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12433, 29 April 1926, Page 9

OLD WORLD SETTING

AUSTRALIANS’ FIRST MATCH HOLYPORT 'VILLAGERS EXCITED WICKET WELL PREPARED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. > Cable Association. LONDON, April 27. Three hundred villagers of Holyport, two and a half miles from Maidenhead, whose rustic delights would be called far-fetched on any musical comedy. stage, are agog with excitement in their preparation to receive in the oldest of Old World settings the cricketers from the newest continent, who play their opening fixture at tlie village. A meadow which hallows the memories of be-whiskered and top-hatted ancestors who played generations ago is studded with marquees and tents, amidst which stands a barrel of cider. The pitch- is in excellent condition, being well-drained, and not affected by the recent rains, though it will be slower than the Australians are accustomed to. Fleets of ’buses and char-a-bancs have been organised to run from Maidenhead station to the ground. The Australian team to meet Minor Counties will consist of H. I*. Collins (captain), Wi H. Ponsford, W. Bhrdslcy, W. A. Oldfield, J. M. Gregory, J. M. Taylor, C. G. Macartney. J. S. Ryder, C. V. Grimmett, A. J. Richardson, and W. M. Woodfull, with S. Everett as twelfth man. A. A. Mniley, H. L. Hendry, J. L. Ellis, and T. J. E. Andrews have been omitted. GRIMMETT ATTENDS PRACTICE C. V. Grimmett still has a bad cough, but indulged in his first practice at Lords. Tho team, including Collins and Andrews, settled down to serious work, each baying ten minutes on the matting and an over on the turf. Everett kept an exceptionally good length and was dead on the wicket, twice bowling llooufull. Critics nre impressed by tlie power Richardson is able to put behind his drives. Tho team spent the remainder of a dull morning in tiirowing tlie ball about. COMMENTS ON THE BOWLING Tlie pricket critic of the “Daily Telegraph” (Colonel Philip Trevor) says:—“Macartney particularly impressed me. He bowled to seven or eight players, none of whom emerged from the ordeal without a slip of some kind. Naturally-Grimmett was watched with interest, nnd he gavan object lesson in the value of length, combined with a judicious change of pace. The same remark applies to Mailey, who was extraordinarily steady. Tudocd I wished I could see a few bad balls by way of a change. . It struck me that Andrews was a bowler who counted altogether most favourably. “What impressed me was the general reliability of the Australian howlers, and T cannot think that Collins will ever have to overwork any of them. lam convinced that England will have to earn "their runs against Australia’s bowling, backed, as it will be. by splendid wicket-keeping nnd fielding.”