ENGLISH CRICKETERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 142, 6 September 1927, Page 11

ENGLISH CRICKETERS

NEWSPAPER’S SUMMING-UP HIGH PRAISE FOR HAMMOND By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Sunday. The cricket writer of “The Times” says:—“This' has been Hammond’s year. He is a fast-wicket batsman. If the wickets had remained firm there is no telling what records he would have broken. His methods may be a trifle adventurous, but Fry, Hayward, Abel, Ranjitsinhji and other great runmakers*might well have had their great aggregates surpassed. Hammond is now established as a batsman of the very highest class. If he curbs his inclination to score unnecessarily fast he should be even a greater force on Australian wickets. HOBBS STILL THE BEST “Hallows has a better record on paper than he had in 1926, but he sacrificed much of his batting charm because his mission was to see that a match was not lost rather than won. Mead has been a tower of strength, but he was consistently under-rated, especially when a test match was being played to a finish in Australia. Hobbs is still the best batsman in the world, and he can be trusted to give a perfect exhibition under any conditions. Sutcliffe is not far behind. “Jardine has introduced a greater variety of strokes. An England team, especially one touring in Australia, would "be incomplete without him. Bates, Layland, Ames and Barling may next July be regarded as very high-class batsmen. The fact is there is a wealth of batting talent in England. DOUBTS AS TO BOWLERS “The bowlers provide a less cheerful outlook remembering our chief task when the Australians visit England in 1928. Tate is making too many runs. A much-needed rest should restore his full glory. Larwood was bowling better than ever when he injured his knee, but we must be pessimistic when a fast bowler damages the leg on which he puts his weight. A most important matter is to find length bowlers who, in Australian test matches, count much more than fancy bowlers. “There have been wickets this season which would have helped combinations like Blythe and Fairservice or Haigh and Wainwright, but no bowlers gained a i advantage thereby. Sibbles has been wisely coached and offers the best hope. S. Staples also has great possibilities.—“ Times.”