CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 3898, 27 November 1928, Page 59

CRICKET

By

Slip.

THE TEST TEAM. According to reports from Australia, the team which has been selected to represent the Commonwealth in the first test against the Englishmen is regarded as the best that can be put on the field, but it is questionable whether it is up to the standard of many of the previous test sides. Ryder’s selection as captain was a surprise, as it was generally expected that either Woodfull or Richardson would occupy the position. Ryder, who is 39 years of age, is a hard-hitting batsman and a useful bowler with test match experience, but as a captain he has yet to prove himself; Ponsford. Woodfull, Kippax, Oldfield, and Grimmett were obvious selections, but the selectors’ choice of Kellaway may come as a surprise to many enthusiasts. He justified his selection, however, ky bis Play in the New South vv ales match. In test matches he has a batting average of 32.07 for 29 innings, and has taken 37 wickets at a cost of 29.13 runs apiece. Gregory was the only fast bowler who could have been seriously considered for selection, and the newcomers to test cricket are Oxenham, Bradman, and Ironmonger. Oxenham is wellknown to New Zealanders, and his selection was expected. He is probable one of the best all-rounders in Australia. Bradman, who is only 20 years of age, earned his place by his performances against the Englishmen during the present tour. For a young batsman his play has been remarkably good, and he simply could not have been left out of the team. Ironmonger has been described as the best left-hand bowler in Australia. Blackie is apparently now a back number; and Richardson, in spite of his fine double-century innings against the Englishmen, has been regarded as not up to test standard. The Englishmen’s chances seem to be favoured, and serious doubts are entertained with regard to the strength of the Australian bowling. NOTES. C. G. Macartney, famous Australian cricketer, has returned to the Commonwealth from his business and pleasure trip to England. He says he has quite made up his mind not to play any more first class cricket. No other English cricketer has equalled D. R. Jardine’s feat of making a century in each of his first three knocks in Australia. Jardine’s scores so far are 109 against Western Australia, 104 against Victoria, and 140 against New South Wales; he did not play against South Australia. Commenting on his batting in Melbourne, the Sporting Globe says: “A tall man, with a good reach, he is distinctly a stylist, plays everything with a remarkably straight bat, and quite obviously has the right temperament for the big occasion. As we had been led to believe, the strength of his play is on the on-side, but he is hardly so deficient in off-side strokes as had been suggested. F,or a good part of Friday the bowlers took good care not to give him too many opportunities to show his strength in onside play, but he managed to get a good many runs there, and in between made some very good cover and straight drives and cuts. Throughout it all there was a soundness about his batting that made it clear that he is going to be a terr.oly hard man to dismiss. We are certainly going to find him well up in the records of the season, and no batsman in the English team is more likely to hit up a big score than he.”