ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19255, 20 August 1924, Page 8

ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM.

NOTES ON THE. PLAYERS. Interest is already being taken in the forthcoming visit of the English cricket team to Australia. When the last team to visit Australia left England (says “Mid-off" in the Melbourne Age), only 15 player's were selected on the side. It was subsequently reinforced by the arrival of the fast bowler Hitch. The last Australian Eleven to visit England, under the leadership of Warwick Armstrong, comprised 15 players. The new English combination, however, is to consist of 16 players. A second wicket-keeper has yet to bo appointed. In view of the manner in which 6. Duckworth, of Lancashire, has impressed the critics in England, it will be surprising if ho is not selected as the second wicket-keeper. Among those who hold a high opinion of hie wicket-keeping is the exinternational, P. F. Warner. In selecting 16 players the English selectors have had no doubt in mind the very indifferent health of Heaxnc, who, it will be remembered, had a serious breakdown when he last visited the Comm-mwealth with Douglas's team. Provided he enjoys good health, Hearno should prove one of the successes of the tour, _as in addition to to his groat all-round abilities he is the happy possessor of an admirable temperament for the teat games. As Gibson had not played in first-class cricket since he visited Australia with Maclaren’s team of amateurs two years ago. his selection is somewhat surprising. Ho has resided in the Argentine Republic since he was here last. His old captain prognosticated a very successful career for him in first-class cricket as a bowler and a fieldsman. In Australia and New Zealand his aggregate was 70 wickets, and his average 25.06. The diminutive A. P. Freeman, the googly bowler, who was also a member of Maclarcn’s team, captured the most wickets on that tour—viz., 82, at a cost of 21.76 runs Cer wicket. Freeman for some years has een highly successful with the ball on English visit to Australia he captured nearly 200 wickets, the biggest “bag” gathered by any bowier in England that year. Kilner, who is a slow left-hand bowler, was named by Wisden as one of the five best English cricketers last season. Ho first played' for Yorkshire in 1911, but did very little bowling before the war. In the 1923 season he captured 130 wickets for Yorkshire, and was third in the batting averages. Douglas’s inclusion may moan a great deal for the side, as ho is a great fighter, even when conditions are exceedingly adverse. In the opinion of no less a judge than J. B. Hobbs, Dougias is one of the finest bowlers in the world with a new ball. With the cares of captaincy off his shoulders ho is likely to give a good account of himself both with bat and ball.

As a batting side the new team is likely to be a much moro even combination than was Douglas’s eleven. In regard to that side it was a case of “five out all out.” Frequently the first few batsmen would put up a very respectable total, but the tail as a rule wagged very weakly, if at all. Dependable batsmen arc Sutcliffe, Sandman, Woolley, Hendren, Chapman, Bryan, MacBryan, Douglas, Hearne, and Kilner, whilst Gilligan, Gibson, and Tate may also prove troublesome with the bat. In regard to the bowling, the chief weakness apparently is the absence of an express bowler. Gilligan will be the fast bowler, but notwithstanding his undoubted enthusiasm, it is stated he tires after a few overs. Variety will be supplied by Woolley, medium left hand; Kilner, slow left hand; Tate, Tyldesley, and Gibson, right hand medium-; Douglas, fast medium right hand; Heame, slow right hand, and Freeman, “googly." As a fielding side the team is likely to produce much better form than its predecessors, who were particularly weak in the slips, and at times —with the exception of Hendren, of course —very slow in the outfield. Several of the selected team played in the first test match against South Africa in England a few weeks ago. Summing up his impressions of the English players in that game, the ex-intemational captain, Warner, writing in hie magazine, The Cricketer, said'"Gilligan has never howled better. He was fast, his length was excellent, and he made the ball break back on more than one occasion. Tate is a great bowler, and his energy and perseverance extraordinary. Gilligan managed his bowling excellently.” Although the absence of Hobbs will weaken the side, it is apparent the Elnglish combination will be superior in many respects to the team captained by Douglas. Its prospects are enhanced eomwhat by the fact also that Australia will be without the services of Armstrong and M'Donald, whilst Gregory has yet to prove that he can reproduce his form of 1920-21-22.