M.C.C. TEAM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17911, 15 October 1932, Page 9

M.C.C. TEAM

NINE NEW MEN I UNCERTAIN* QUANTITIES LONDON, Sept. 1. More tlum half the members of the .M.C.C. team which leaves on September 17 for Australia have never before been there as members of an official party. There are sonic most interesting cricketers among- these .new men, and some, particularly among the bowlers, whose prospects of success must bo regarded as gamble, inasmuch as the hard, true wickets of Australia have destroyed many reputations gained on the variable -wickets and under the fickle skies of England. Wisely, however, in choosing their new bowlers, the selectors have honored those who, irrespective of their performances on the tour, have many years of cricket loft to them in which to I apply the lessons they will learn, j We have, unfortunately, seen little | f liis season of that charming and I splendidly-equipped batsman, the Nawab of Pataudi, since his grand cenI tury for the Gentlemen against the Players at 'Lord’s in July was the determining factor .in his choice for the tour. The wash-out tost trial ■at Cardiff gave him only a email opportunity of demonstrating his class; he did not qualify for Worcestershire until the end of' July, and, after only a few appearances for the county, he went to India to join the remainder of the English team at Colombo in October.

| Nevertheless, thero is no reason to doubt his ability, nor his prospects of run-getting in Australia, and, had lie been an Englishman, his selection could never have .been in doubt. It was natural that the selectors should have some 'qualms over sending two Indians, but Mr P. F. Warner, the 1 chairman of the committee, having publicly described Pataudi as one ot' the first four batsmen in England, could, have been a party to omitting him only on grounds other than, of ■merit. The assurance of Australia’s welcome for the two Indians must have settled the selectors’ doubts RELIEF FOR LARWOOD I

Allen, of Middlesex, may be something less than a great fast bowler, but ho has periods of deadlincss. and an ability to make the ball “lift,” which, with his great energy and determination, his batting and fielding skill, and hie tirelessness, should make him an asset in Australia. Allen s stvle, though rather more aggressive, is reminiscent of A. E. E. 'Gilligan when the latter was a bowler to bo reckoned with, and, (bv taking some of the strain off Larwood and Tate, he should become, very valuable to the team. R. E. fit. Wyatt, for many years captain of Warwickshire, and once, in a moment of panic., thanklessly saddled with the leadership of England, is one of those sound, capable, unspectacular cricketers upon whom the limelight rarely beats. Batting in a solid, restrained manner, and getting his runs mostly in front of the wlekot, lie has earned, rather belatedly, though he is only 31, his place for Australia. Ho lacks nothing in holds well, is useful as a change bowler, and, if all goes well with him may fill the position about which England is most anxious—that of accompanying Sutcliffe to the wicket in 'place of 'Hobbs. Wyatt -will provide no 'fireworks, but he is a most comforting man to have in a side. v ■ , , E. R. Brown, upon whom England relies to do for her what Grim me tt does for Australia, is a born sportsman. Pl'aying Rugby football and hockey as well as cricket, he was first heard pf as a batsman, became a bowler at the expense of his .batting powers, and hnR now roeoverod these .so satisfactorily that, at 21, there are hopes of his developing into one pf England s

best all-rounders. At Cambridge, when he was 19, he hit a buccaneering half-century against Australia. Neither in 'batting nor in bowling is he likely to be overawed by reputations, which ia a great asset to a young man launched on the Australia adventure. He is a gorgeous, and yet methodical, smiter, whoso double century for Surrey against Kent last month was a classic in big hitting. 1M MATUKE PO WEK S Brown is a little faster than most googlv bowlers, and he obtains eousidera'ble life from the pitch. He turns the tiall very considerably—sometimes, indeed, 100 much —but his skill has not ye't matured. Failing to strike a length, he may come in for heavy punishment, but, more than most of England’s newer bowlers, he seems certain to improve. Even now he is a fine bowler, and if he can gain more control of length success may come to him in Australia. W. Voce, left-handed, well above ■medium pace, and bowling rising balls, often with a “suicide club’’ of short-leg fieldsmen, is quite the most hopeful of the other bowlers, and one of (lie few who seem certain to be better on Australian wickets. The Australians here in 1930 were not displeased, it is whispered, when he was omitted from the tests against them, die and Larwood are the spearhead of the Nottinghamshire attack, and, in partnership in Australia, should 'be a most awkward pair to handle. Voce is tall and strong, and his stamina should help him in Australia, where, for the first time, he will bowl to Bradman. His batting is one of the reasons .-why England claims, with justice, that the present team is one of the strongest,"in this respect, ever sent to Australia.

England speaks of Hedlcy Verity (Yorkshire) and T. B. Mitchell (Derbyshire) in more subdued tones. Verity, whose slow to medium lefthanded deliveries have greatly helped to carry his county to the championship again, ia undoubtedly good here, but nobody is banking on his success on the tour unless ho is favored with rain-affeetod pitches. lie lias not the subtlety of ,J. C. White, Who was not to be despised on any pitch. Mitchell, great as is his capacity for spinning the ball, may not be equal to the Australian ‘batsmen’s speed of foot,- and he is not expected, at the moment, to figure in the tests. ■Paynter’s last minute selection was a surprise, but, had lie shown in representative cricket the great form displayed for Lancashire early in the season*, his choice would have been obvious. As it was, M. W. Ley land, running into a patch of Patting, success, presented himself as a candidate of superior claims, and was until last night, the only first-class left-hand batsman in the team. Pa voter’s natural game is aggressive, he drives

and pulls well, but has vet to prove himself in the best company. His methods strike one as timorous, and lie is, apparently, an uncomfortable starter who requires a lengthy look at the bowling before he is able to get the ball in the middle of the bat. He suffers from the “flicking” tendency -often found in left-handers, but is always interesting. [Note: W. E. Bowes (Yorkshire fast bowler) has since been included in the team, making the ninth new man.] — Sydney Morning Herald.