CRICKET IN ENGLAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18386, 2 May 1934, Page 5

CRICKET IN ENGLAND

AUSTRALIANS PRACTICE v ■ ; ; FAST SCORING TROPHY A :T (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Pres* Assn.) (Received May 2, noon.) LONDON, May 1. Sir Walter Lawrence has offered' a trophy, plus 100 guineas, to the player scoring the fastest century in . Ike coming season’s first-class cricket. Therefore Bradman may «be regarded as among the prospective beneficiaries. The selectors, Mr Perrin and Captain Higson, saw the Australians at practice, while Chapman at an adjoining net had a lengthy spell at batting, indicating hope of regaining his form to warrant' his candidature for the English captaincy. The hours of play in the matches between the Australians and the counties will be, on the first day, from noon to 6.30 p.m., on the second day from 11.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., and on the third, 11.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., or 11 to 5 p.in., to facilitate travelling. ENGLAND'S CAPTAIN FOUR POSSIBILITIES IjONDOX, April 22. “Wyatt, Chapman, Allen-and Lyon are the only possibilities for the captaincy of England, and Wyatt is the only one at present worth his place as a player,” writes P. G. H. Fender, former international cricketer, in the Evening News. “Chapman has seldom shown sufficiently good form.as a batsman, and it is doubtful whether Allen will be as valuable a bowler in England-as-he was in Australia.

Furthermore, it would be a trenendous strain for him to undertake the captaincy when he is both a fast bowler and a batsman. - “Lyon is the best captain is England,” continues Fender, “but he must strike good form early in the season to be worth a place.” Fender says he considers that Sutcliffe, Hammond, Ames, Verity, Wyatt, and probably Walters, aro the only certainties, with Nichols, Clark, Townsend, F. R. Brown, Lcytend, Voce and Mitchell (Yorkshire) possibilities for the test matches.

“ A lot depends upon Larwood's fitness, otherwise England is not only likely to lack a winning bowler, but its personalities will be stolid, and the side a solid rather than a brilliant one.” We will want successors to Hobbs, Woolley, Hirst and Jessop to thrill the crowds, says Fender.. GRIMMETT’S FUTURE MAY RETURN TO LONDON LONDON, April 18. It is understood that negotiations are proceeding to enable C. V. Grirnmett, the South Australian slotw spin bowler, who is a member of the Australian test team, to return to London after the tour as coach at A. Fairfax’s indoor cricket school. 1 THE OPENING MATCH WORCESTERSHIRE-’S STRENGTH LONDON, April 22. "The Australian cricketers must find their land legs quickly, as six days after they land they open at Worcestershire, namely, on Slay 2, says' the Sunday Times'

"The bowling should be to their liking, but the county has improved its batting. Walters, Pataudi, Gibbon and Nichbi should give the Australians good Adding practice "It almost seems a jplot to keep the English bowlers away from the Australians until the test matches.

“The only possible bowlers they will meet in the opening matches are Nichols and Fames, the Middlesex amateurs, and the Marylebone contingent. "It is doubtful whether the Australians will master Larwood and Clark at their best, while the Australian, opening bowlers lack vepotn.

“The attack can only be regardable in advance as dangerous on' the supposition that it will be suited by the English wickets and atmosphere. "Nevertheless, the Australian batsmen will be more punishing than England’s, and may be quicker at seizing the advantage when the bowling has lost its sting."

The opening matches of the Australian team’s tour of England are: May 2-4. —v. Worcestershire, at Worcester. May 5-7.—v, Leicestershire, at Leicester. May 9-11.—v. Cambridge University, at Cambridge. May 12-14.—v. M.C.C., at Lord’s. May 16-18.—v. E)?sex, at Chelmsford. May 19-21.—v. Oxford University, at Oxford. May 23-25.—v. Hampshire, at South* ampton. May 26-29.—v. Middlesex, at Lord’s. May 30-June T.—v. Surrey, at the Oval. The first test match is to be played at Nottingham on June 8,9, 11, and 12.