FIRST VICTORY

Southland Times, Issue 20648, 21 November 1928, Page 5

FIRST VICTORY

ENGLISH CRICKETERS AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN DEFEATED EIGHT WICKETS TO SPARE (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.5 p.m.) Sydney, November 20. The cricket match England v. an Australian eleven was resumed in glorious weather on an excellent wicket. There was little impressive play in the balance of the Australian innings. Jackson, after running to 61, tried to turn Tate to leg and was caught by the wicketkeeper. His display was sparkling at times, but lacked soundness. Nothling (29), who was the only other V atBman to reach double figures to-day, played solidly. Tate was again keeping a good length and swinging awkwardly while Geary was accurate. England required 118 for a victory and starting the second innings, Hobbs and Sutcliffe had scored 54 without loss at the tea adjournment. After tea Scaiff fielded instead of Nothling whose shoulder was injured. Hooker completely beat Sutcliffe who played a sound- innings. Jardine went early. Hobbs and Mead then carried the Englishmen to victory. The former is still the master batsman, making safe strokes and displaying versalitity against all kinds of bowling. He hit only four fours while batting 106 minutes. Hooker, who is a right-handed mediumpaced bowler, and Bettington, a slow break bowler, won admiration and it would not be a surprise if both were playing in test games. The Englishmen fielded well having a win in view, but the outstanding feature to-day was Duckworth’s wicket-keeping which was magnificent. His catching of Jackson on the leg side together with his work there was superb. This match is England's first win of the tour. The attendance was 6400 and the receipts £468. Following are the scores:— AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. First Innings 231 —Second Innings.— Richardson c Geary b Larwood .... 21 Harris b White 56 Andrews c Hobbs b Geary 25 Jackson c Duckworth b Tate 61 Bradman lbw b Tate 18 Morgan b Geary 9 Nothling not out 29 Bettington b Larwood 8 Oldfield run out 7 Scott b Tate 0 Hooker c Hendren b Geary 1 Extras 8 Total 243 Bowling analysis: Tate took three wickets for 65 runs, Larwood two for 81, Geary three for 42, White one for 47. ENGLAND. First Innings 357 —Second Innings.— Hobbs not out 67 Sutcliffe b Hooker 31 Jardine lbw b Bettington 13 Mead not out 5 Extras 2 Total for two wickets .. ..118 Bowling analysis: Scott took no wickets for 38 runs; Hooker one for 42; Bettington one for 25. Morgan none for 11.—Australian Press Association. AUSTRALIAN TEST TEAM. OMISSION OF RICHARDSON. RYDER APPOINTED CAPTAIN. The selectors have chosen the following 12 players from whom the first test team will be selected: J. Ryder (Victoria, captain). W. H. Ponsford (Victoria). W. M. Woodfull (Victoria). H. Ironmonger (Victoria). H. L. Hendry (Victoria). J. M. Gregory (New South Wales). 1). Bradman (New South Wales). C. E. Kelleway (New South Wales.) A. F. Kippax (New South Wales). W. Oldfield (New South Wales). C. Grimmett (South Australia). R. K. Oxenham (Queensland). The surprises of the team are the inclusion of Hendry and the omission of Richardson. The twelfth man will be chosen on the day of the match.—Australian Press Association. HENDRY TWELFTH MAN. (Rec. 11.5 p.m.) Sydney, November 20. The consensus of opinion among cricket experts and visiting journalists is that the test team is about the best the Australian selectors could pick. It is now stated that Hendry will be twelfth man.—Australian Press Association. ENGLISH CRITICS SURPRISED. RYDER’S CAPTAINCY DISCUSSED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, November 20. The test team reviewers agree that the big surprise is Ryder’s captaincy. Woodfull and Richardson had been regarded as the only two candidates with Kippax a distant third. Apart from this aspect the general opinion is that the selection was obvious with the exception of Richardson’s omission. Mr. P. F. Warner admits that he is surprised, but says Ryder is senior to the others and has had much test experience. He is seen to the best advantage when in a forcing role. Mr. Warner adds: “He is a pleasant easy man and will make a nice opposite to our captain.” The Daily Telegraph recalls that Rydfer accomplished so little in the tests in 1926 that he was dropped for the final test at the Oval. It confesses that it is unable to understand why Richardson was dropped. Furthermore the preference for Hendry as twelfth man over Andrews is one of the pronounced features of the selection in its opinion. The Daily Chronicle says: “Itus a strange position for Woodfull, who is Ryder’s State captain, to find himself serving under one of his own men.” With regard to Ironmonger it says: “It is said that more than one expert on legitimate bowling action is not satisfied as to the fairness of his delivery.” Strudwick, the Surrey cricketer, expressed surprise at Ryder’s captaincy, but added: “You can take it from me the Australian selectors know their business. In my experience they made very few mistakes.”—Australian Press Association. ABOUT THE PLAYERS A WELL-BALANCED SIDE. THREE SECURE FIRST “CAPS.” The first test between England and Australia will be played at Brisbane, commencing on November 30. Following is a short description of the twelve Australians chosen by the selectors, Messrs Bardsley, Bean, Hutcheon and Dr Dolling. J. S. Ryder (Victoria), who has been chosen as captain of the side, has had plenty of test cricket experience. He is one of the all-rounders of the side. In the last series of tests in Australia he was not able to play till the third when he made 201 not out and 88 by magnificent cricket, keeping up his end splendidly while the side was in difficulties. He is essentially a u forcing batsman, helping his defence by attacking methods. W. H. Ponsford (Victoria) is one of the world’s (all time) greatest run-getters. Ha is really a great run-getting machine, and is

a very much better player under adverse conditions than many imagine. Noble in his book “Test Cricket Certainties and Possibilities,” quotes: “Against Glamorganshire in 1926 I saw him make 143 (not out) out of a total of 283 runs on a fast wicket which had some fire in it, making the bowlers so difficult that the next highest score was 25 made by Ellis. Ponsford saved his side from disaster and revealed unexpected skill in executing strokes all round the wicket. Let me just add here that if there is any weakness in Australia’s batting, it will not be manifested in the opening pair (Ponsford and Woodfull). Apart altogether from their known ability, Ponsford and Woodfull are accustomed to playing for Victoria and are great pals—a fine asset in a long partnership.” W. M. Woodfull (Victoria) is another of the “too well-knowns” to require much description here. Apart from his actual batting ability it may be mentioned that he has personality, keenness and enthusiasm, in addition to being genial and popular. At the wicket or in the field he is always calm, collected, and imperturbable, and has often proved the sheet-anchor of his side. He is very hard to defeat on any wicket, because he watches the ball so closely. Ungainly and wearisome at times with the bat, he is always effective. In the field he lacks springiness, but is very good in the slips. It is batting, however, that will count and it is safe to say that the English bowlers will get tired of him before he tires of showing them the straight blade. A. F. Kippax (New South Wales), although having represented Australia before in test cricket, has not been to England with an Australian team. His and V. Y. Richardson’s exclusion from the 1926 team was the subject of considerable comment. M. A. Noble said: “No players ever did more to justify their selection in 1926, yet the selectors, with a lamentably stupid and visionless disregard of the future, passed them over.” As a batsman Kippax is aggressive, quick on his feet, very graceful, and has many strokes, the principal of which are the drive, the cover drive, the leg glance, a splendid one to square leg off a half volley on the leg stump. He is a splendid field at cover, third man, or in the country, with a low and fast return. Kippax, who has visited New Zealand on three occasions with Australian teams, is splendidly built and is one of New South Wales’s repr°sentative baseballers. 4 W. A. Oldfield (New South Wales) is in a class by himself as a wicketkeeper. As a batsman he has developed greatly in recent years, having some splendid strokes and being very difficult to get out. He had had neuritis badly for a few years and quite recently, with the aid of X-rays, small fragments of shrapnel were removed from his jaw, a relic of the war. He is now thoroughly fit for the tests. J. M. Gregory, (New South Wales) is stated to have bowled faster and better last season that he had done for several years. His splintered shin has healed and there is now no sign of lameness. Noble considers him still by far the best fast bowler in Australia, but even apart from this, his valuable left hand batting, his marvellous activity and uncanny anticipation in the field make him indispensable to the Australian team. C. V. Grimmett (South Australia) is different from the ordinary type of slow bowler in that he is often at his best on bad wickets. Last season he had a triumphant tour through New Zealand (he is an ex-New Zealander) where his bowling was the mainstay of the Australian team. Grimmett is one of the wiry sort and can stand up to a long day’s trundling. H. L. Hendry (Victoria) is regarded as one of the surprises, but his present season form was evidently sufficiently convicing to the selectors. He has quite recovered from the effects of the illness which was so disastrous to his play in 1926 when he lost his “possie” after the first test. Hendry is one of the soundest all-rounders in the game and though young, has years of test experience behind him. D. Bradman (New South Wales) played himself into the team by his recent performances against the Englishmen. He simply could not be left out. Here is M. A. Noble’s description of him: “He is a right-handed batsman, short in build, fairly strong, and very active. There is nothing stodgy about either the man or his play. He is a good starter, has plenty of confidence and pluck, is a quick scorer, and puts lots of power into his shots; indeed, one wonders where all the power comes from. He must have a very quick eye, for he is very fleet of foot, and walks down the pitch with great daring to make splendid strokes off deliveries which otherwise might be difficult even to play. . . He impresses with the idea that he is thoroughly enjoying himself.” Bradman is one of three chosen (Oxenham, Ironmonger and Bradman) to get his first “test” cap. R. K. Oxenham (Queensland) has been in the running for high honours for some time. He has been very successful for his State in every department of the game. In fact he is regarded as an excellent allrounder. His batting is rather orthodox and a bit slow, yet very effective. He Is a right-hand bowler, is very accurate, with variation in pace. Oxenham has been a consistent run-getter and wicket-taker for some seasons past and was a member of the Australian team in New Zealand last season. 11. Ironmonger (Victoria) gets a place wholly on account of his bowling. On worn wickets he is considered very dangerous. He turns the ball quite a lot and sends down a fast one that is very deceptive. He is scarcely up to test match standard in fielding and batting, but there can be no doubt of his value as a trundler. C. E. Kelleway (New South Wales) comes back into test cricket after an absence of three seasons. He first wore an Australian cap in 1912. Kelleway’s batting is of the solid order—the sort the Australian barracker does not like, but the sort that counts in the end. He is regarded as the “heartbreaker’* among bowlers, and can be relied upon to do his share at the bowling crease. Taken all round, the selection is a good one, well-balanced and versatile, and quite capable of extending the best English side.