AUSTRALIAN CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 22214, 5 January 1934, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET

MAILEY PICKS TEST TEAM.

FLEETWOOD-SMITH’S CHANCE.

Sydney, December 27. Some weeks ago when discussing the selection of the Australian team I chose nine players whom I thought would form the nucleus of the team (writes Arthur Mailey in the Sun). They were Woodfull, Ponsford, Grimmett, Wall, Bradman, McCabe, Kippax, Oldfield and O’Reilly. After watching the New South Wales matches against The Rest in Sydney and those against South Australia and Victoria, I have not seen anything that would cause me to change my opinion. In discussing further candidates for the team, it must be understood that figures alone are not taken into consideration.

One must understand and appreciate the conditions under which certain performances were registered. For instance, Fleetwood-Smith’s bowling against Bradman in the recent match entitles him to more consideration than his actual figures would indicate. In this he was undoubtedly assisted by the splendid field-placing of Woodfull.

Fleetwood-Smith’s length was not perfect, but this very often is an asset when batsmen are determined to dig in. Fleetwood-Smith has a lot to learn but at the moment he has much more natural beauty, I think, than any bowler in Australia, excepting perhaps Ironmonger. The former needs the latter’s mellowness, and, what I might term for the purpose of this comparison, self-control. Fleetwood-Smith is sure to have many more trouncings and these probably will make him better fitted io take his place in the Australian XI.

In thinking about this bowler, I have compared him to Chilvers, who, I think, would do well in England. I feel that Fleetwood-Smith would be a more valuable bowler in Test matches because of his peculiar and strange style of attack, and for that reason I would choose him in preference to Chilvers, especially as O’Reilly and Grimmett, two right hand slow bowlers are likely to be chosen. Darling, too, should find a place irrespective of subsequent happenings. He has a decided weakness on the offstump, but he is young enough to remedy this fault, and after all a batsman who is prepared to make scoring strokes like Darling must take occasional risks. Hans Ebeling is a knotty problem to me. Some say he should be in the team, but I am sorry to say that I am not convinced regarding his value in a touring side. If he were a first-class batsman, 1 would have no hesitation in picking him but I know how difficult it is for medium-paced bowlers to get wickets here and in England, as far as I can remember, every Australian medium pace bowler has been a first-class batsman. Otherwise, I doubt whether he would have been in the team. Hendry, Kelleway, Ryder, a Beckett and many others, had the advantage of being able to score runs. Ebeling may be a useful batsman, but so far I have not been able to see him make many runs. . , , „ I am at the moment inclined to prefer Tobin, of South Australia, because he has a little extra speed and may develop into a faster Tobm bowled rather well against N.S.W. Adelaide, especially when he concen-

trated on the leg stump. Wall is probably the best fast bowler we have and should be chosen for that reason, but I understand from very good authority that McCarmack, the Victorian fast bowler, is at the top of his speed. His form against South Australia will be watched with interest. Nitschke, Richardson, Fingleton, Brown, O’Brien and Bromley are further candidates for batting positions, while the choice of second wicketkeeper lies between Walker and Barnett. I think Ironmonger is below form, while Hill, the New South Wales lefthander does not in my opinion fill the position. If the selectors decide not to choose either of these bowlers, Bromley’s chance of selection might be brighter,