SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKETERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19107, 28 February 1924, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKETERS.

THE, TEAM FOR ENGLAND. A MODERATE SIDE. Our South African correspondent, writing on January 17, says: The South African cricket team to tour England this year has been chosen. I regard it as but a very moderate side, and I shall be surprised if it does much better than the disappointing South African team that took part in the Triangular Tournament of 1912. Still, it is not easy to be dogmatic in view of the time that has elapsed since then, and the very ordinary show put up by the M.C.C. team in South Africa a year ago. The South African team for England this year numbers the following 15 players: H. W. Taylor (captain), M. J. Commaille (vice-captain), A. D. Nourse, C. P. Carter, T. A. Ward, J. M. Blanekcnburg, H. G. Deane, M. J. Susskind, E. P. Nupen, D. J, Meintjes. G. D. Dixon, P. A. M. Hands, R. H. Catterall, G. Bissett, and G. Hearne. “Herby” Taylor, of Durban, the South African champion batsman, who has been appointed captain, is without a rival at present in that capacity. He was very unfortunate, however, in having to undergo an operation for appendicitis at Johannesburg when visiting Johannesburg with tho Natal team for the Currie Cup Tournament played at Christmas and New Year. The manager appointed by the South African Association was Mr George AUsop, the secretary of the association, and who was manager of the South African 1912 team in England. Mr Allsop is a good fellow and an old cricketer, and it is unlucky for him that his appointment has now been cancelled, owing to no fault of his own, but to the fact that the meeting at which he was appointed was an irregular one. An example of the old adage of tho more haste the less speed. There are now two other candidates in the field besides Mr Allsop—Mr Crockett, of Durban, chairman of tho Natal Cricket Association. and Mr Holmes, of the Orange .Free State. I do not know Mr Holmes, but Mr Crockett is a good business man as well as a keen cricketer. The appointment will be made within the next three weeks.

As to the calibre of the team, it is possible, as the Sporting Life prophesies, that the side will improve on tne 1912 record. This, however, is not saying very much, for the 1912 record was a distinctly disappointing one. The present, is largely an experimental team, and the data for forming an opinion is not 'very adequate. With this reservation, my view is that the 1924- team will not do much —if any—better than the last touring team of 12 years ago. Only four of the 15 players have represented South Africa before in England. These are Taylor (captain), A, D. Xourse. the evergreen batsman, 0. P. Carter, the evergreen slow bowler (all three of Durban), and T. A. Ward, the Transvaal wicketkeeper. In batting South Africa will have an unmistakable tail. It is unfortunate that Zulch, the Tranvaal’s best batsman, cannot go. One cannot be quite certain of Taylor’s health in view of his recent appendicitis operation; Nourse' is 46 years of age—though he keeps uo his fine batting form marvellously; and the remaining batsmen are Catterall, now of Rhodesia, but a Transvaal discovery of last year, M. J. Susskind (Transvaal), who has been scoring heavily this season, P. A. M. Hands and M. J. Comma ille, of Capetown!, and George Hearne, formerly of Capetown, but now of Ou-dtshoorn, South-western Districts. The bowlers are Blanckenburg, right-hand medium, on his day most destructive, but he has many off days; Carter, already mentioned, still very reliable; the Rand trio — Nnpcn, Dixon, and Meintjes: and Bisset. the young Kimberley fast bowler —a decided experiment. Ward is the first wicketkeeper and George Hearne the second. The selection of George Hearne is an interesting example of cricket heredity. His father, .Frank Hearne, was one of three brothers —George, Frank, and Alec, who played for Kent 30 odd years ago. Ho was a member of the first English team that toured South Africa in ISB9-90, and since then he has lived at Capetown, and made South Africa his home. One of the best of fellows, be has of late years had the misfortune to suffer severely from sciatica. I think bis son George will do credit to the historic family and to South Africa. Ho has a fine hard off-drive that reminds one of C. B. Fry. South Africa had in 1912 a distinctly poor captain in Frank Mitchell, the old Yorkshire amateur. This year South Africa will have in H. W. Taylor an ideal captain and leader of men, and colonial born, in addition to being one of the best batsmen in tire world at the present time. Opinion as to the fielding of the side is faltering, and it has not impressed me very strongly. Of what may be called outside, assistance, there has been an offer from Aubrey Faulkner, now in England, prompted by his admirers, not only to play for South Africa, but to captain the learn, but it has been declined. Faulkner was born at Port Elizabeth 42 years ago, and as bat and bowler was a conspicuous success in South Africa’s tour in Australia in 1813,. He headed the South African balling with the splendid average of 69.35 and captured 60 wickets, average 23.70. Two years ago he made one solitary but remarkable appearance against the Australians in England, and was the principal instrument in the first defeat administered to that all-conquering combination. Hall, of Johannesburg, and now qualifying for Lancashire, will ho available to play for South Africa in England, if required. His slow bowling was quite successful against the M.C.C. side here a year ago. Another outside bowler mentioned is Pegler, of the 1912 side, and now in East Africa,, but ho will not bo required.