FOURTH CRICKET TEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16866, 1 February 1929, Page 4

FOURTH CRICKET TEST

i COMMENCEMENT TO-DAY “A TRAGIC OMISSION” The fourth cricket Test between England and Australia, is to commence at j Adelaide to-day, the onlv South Australian to shape really well against the j tourists this week was Vic. Richardson. I The latest performance of this fine 1 player endorses the opinion previously expressed that the Australian selectors have erred in omitting Richardson from the team for the fourth Test, especially as the match is to be played on Richardson's home ground. | W ith regard to the choice of players to represent Australia in the fourth Test, the selectors have come in for ' much adverse criticism. “The selection cannot he regarded other than with disj may by anyone who had hopes of constructive work or the fostering of young players likely to regain our prestige oil English wickets,” is the way in which one, prominent Australian journal sums up. ft, is considered that the selectors have missed a, golden opportunity of re- ' constructing the Australian Eleven, by adhering to practically the same team ior the Fourth Test as that which lost Ihe Ashes, 'file only change is that Vidor Richardson lias been dropped and 1 A. Jackson included in the 12 selected. JACKSON’S INCLUSION

No one will cavil at the selection of ! Jackson. Tn this instance the claims |of youth have not, been ignored. Jaek- ! son has been a prolific, scorer it) interj State cricket since he gained a permanent place two seasons ago, in the absence of New South Wales members of the last Australian Eleven. In that ■i year he had a habit of failing in the first innings and more than redeeming himself in the second. Last season, ! after an indifferent beginning, lie was deputed to open for his State, and, in the first match in this position, achieved the signal honor of making a century in each innings of the game in Sydney against South Australia. Jackson, with 162 and 90, nearly accomplished a similar feat in the recent match between N.S.W. and South Australia at 'Adelaide. He struck his best form at: the right time. A stylist, a master of nearly every stroke on either side of the wicket, his one weakness has been a penchant for nibbling at off deliveries, early in his innings, when the bowlers ! are nipping from the pitch. Had lie been able to restrain this tendency to hick at fresh bowling, his place in all j live Test matches this season would have been assured I RICHARD SON’S OMISSION [ One cannot believe, however, that the j substitution of Jackson for Richardson 1 will strengthen the side. The omission of the South Australian captain, liecause. as an opening batsman, lie has several times failed to score heavily, is tragic, particularly considering the match is to he played on his home ground. Richardson’s services in the field cannot be fulfilled by any among the chosen 12. Another most surprising feature of lhe selection is the retention of howlers who have failed to dismiss the Englishmen, for even a moderate total, and m the third Test could not take advantage of a wicket on which, according to a consensus of expert, opinion, the visitors should have been doomed to utter collapse. The Australian attack will again comprise a’Beckett, Oxenham. (iriminett, and Blackie, reinforced by the up and down bowling of Hendry and Ryder, that is, unless Andrews, for his fielding, is to displace one of his superiors as a batsman. How favored are the “veterans!” It us a badly balanced attack, and one cannot, conceive that Australia will rely on it for the tour of England in 1930. “ADMISSION OF POVERTY’' The only interpretation one can place on the selectors’ work is that they think there are no other bowlers in the Commonwealth, and none at all with Australian Eleven potentialities. It is an admission of poverty not shared bx those with any flicker of optimism. Why Wall, the best of our fast medium-paced bowlers, particularly after his startling success in Adelaide recently, should have been overlooked, will always remain a mvstery. ’lhe capture of the wickets of Bradinan, T. J. Andrews, and Kippax for 14 runs is an effort unsurpassed bv an Australian in this season’s first-class cricket. Moreover, .the match will be played on his home ground, but this consideration does not come within the selectors’ range of vision. Their practice has been to display the new talent on grounds of other States, as evidenced by the treatment of Nothling, Ironmonger, Oxenham, and Richardson. Even as a fielding side the eleven is far removed from Test match standard in individual prowess, as well as in team understanding. Several important positions will he inadequately filled, whoever is decided upon as twelfth man. M.C.C. TEAM UNCHANGED HEAVY RAIN IN ADELAIDE fElec. Tel Copyright— United Press Assn.) ADELAIDE, Jan. 31. 1 The English test team is:—Chapman, White, J-arclinc, Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hammond, Hendren, Tate, Larwood, Geary, Duckworth, Leyland twelfth man. . . There lias been heavy rain at Adelaide, but the wicket has been covered, and should roll out nicely tomorrow. Cool, line weathei is pitdieted.