ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20743, 14 June 1929, Page 6

ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM.

NOTES ON THE PLAYERS. Although negotiations for the visit to New Zealand of an English team are not completed, it is now known that the invitation has been accepted and that the team, which will number 16, will include some of England’s best amateur and professional cricketers. It is expected that A. E. Gilligan will captain the team. The professionals mentioned are:—F. E. Woolley and W. Ashdown (Kent), L. Townsend and S. Worthington (Derbyshire), T. Shepherd (Surrey), and P, Holmes (Yorkshire). East year Woolley headed the Kent batting averages with 58.68 for 44 completed innings, and during the season compiled over 3000 runs. In recognition of his splendid services, Woolley was honoured with a benefit match, the second during his career. Woolley is also a useful change bowler. W. Ashdown finished the season third on the list of batting averages with 45.55 for 47 completed innings. He is also a good change- bowler. L. Townsend last year was one of the best all-rounders in the Derbyshire team. He was second in the batting averages with 30.03, and was really top in the bowling averages with 23.79, taking 87 wickets for 2070 runs.

S. Worthington also is an all-rounder. His batting figures were 29.25 fot 32 completed innings, aggregate 936, sffid he took 62 wickets at a cost of 26.72. W orthington’s best bowling performance was eight wickets for 41 against Kent, and Townsend’s 13 wickets for 111 against Sussex.

T Shepherd comes from Surrey (J. 1 B. Hobbs’s county). In batting last season lie scored 1213, runs for an average of 39.78, and in bowling was next to Fender and Peach so far as overs bowled were concerned, hig figures being 42 wickets for 1392 runs, average 33.14. P. Holmes is the opening batsman, with H. Sutcliffe, for Yorkshire, and last season the pair shared in 11 three-figure first-wicket partnerships, bringing their record for this series of stands for Yorkshire up to 52. In return for his services, Holmes was awarded the match against Middlesex as a benefit. He finished third in the batting averages to Sutcliffe and Leyland, his figures being 1882 runs for 31 completed innings, average 00.70. ■

A, E. Gilligaii, who is mentioned as the probable captain of the team, has played for Cambridge ■University, Sur? rey, and Susses, and captained an AllEngland team that visited Australia. Playing for Sussex last year, he was sixth in the batting averages with an average of 29,73, and fifth in bowling with 25.41 for 68 wickets. He was a member of the Test Selection Committee. In addition to his capabilities as a batsman and a bowler,' he is referred to as an “inspiring captain.” Prominent amongst the other amateurs is K, S. Duleepsinhji, who -made a name for himself at Cambridge University, and last season headed the Sussex batting averages with 60.11. He is related to the famous Eanjitsinhji. R. E. S. Wyatt, who plays lor Warwickshire, was the outstanding figure in the county’s batting last season, scoring 2020 runs for 32 completed innings, average 63.12. He is also a first-class bowler* but his effectiveness with the ball last season {says “Wisden’a Almanac”) was, owing to “muscular strains, materially reduced.” E. W. Dawson, captain of Leicestershire, was a prominent cricketer at Cambridge • University, and captained the county team last year. In county matches he made .five centuries, and is regarded as not only a sound defensive batsman, but strong in offensive. His batting average last season was 33.83. G. B. Legge played for Oxford University, and is now captain of the Kent county team, He had a comparatively poor season last year, his . batting average being only 21.82 for 39 innings, He was, however, a popular and efficient captain.

M. J, Turnbull, of Glamorgan, played with success at Cambridge University. Last season he was available only on occasions for county matches, playing eight completed innings for an averane of 24.07.

Taken all round, the team may be regarded as being very strong in batting and reliable in bowling, but without an outstanding bowler.