“THE ASHES”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19308, 8 October 1932, Page 14

“THE ASHES”

' AUSTRALIA'S CHANCE Opinion of W. A. Oldfield Newspaper reports have been implying that all has not been well in health with W. A. Oldfield, Australia’s wicketkeeper. He spent a holiday at Trangi with Mr. Fred Body, a cricket enthusiast first, last, and all the time. His return to the city instead of playing in a local* match was due to pressure of usiness, writes “Not Out” in the Sydney “Referee.” “I feel as fit as a fiddle,” he said to the writer, as he squared his shoulders. And he looked it. Fresh in face and alert in eye, he looks ready for the bat and ball fray at any moment. “Do I think England will win the Ashes? No, I do not. I think Australia will win. Don’t you? We have our problems, of course, one of which is to find a right-hand, medium-pace bowler able to use the new ball, and one who can bat and field. We want a player of the type of Charlie Kelleway or Alan Fairfax to complete the combination; he must be an all-rounder. Otherwise we look all right.” “Possibly,” said Mr. Oldfield, “Australia generally finds the man wanted. The occasion produces him, when the selectors are on the look-out and prepared to promote him promptly. “Much as I admire England and Englishmen, they puzzle me in the treatment of their players on Test occasions. I do not think they give them quite the best of times. Take the last Test at the Oval in 1930. England had sixteen men there, and some of them did not know whether they were playing until the last moment. They had two wicketkeepers, Ames and Duckworth. Why this uncertainty? It only destroys a man’s confidence. It is unsettling. Then some said when the match was over that Duckworth did not have a good match. Now Duckworth is a grand wicketkeeper, and if he did perform below his best—and I’m not saying he did—can anyone wonder at it in the circumstances? “Another thing about this uncertainty in Test matches, played at home, is that when five men are to be left out some of those who play have no chance of thinking out their game. A bowler would like to dwell on his tactics and perhaps discuss things with his captain and others. And it does not give the eleven the right atmosphere for getting together as a team. And, believe me, Test matches are won—when they are won—by the side that teams best. “The coming team? Don’t you it an error to select seventeen jflayers” he said, turning interviewer. One agreed and suggested that piecemeal selection was unsound. “That’s what it looks like,” added W.A.O. “I never desire to seriously comment on anything the English selectors or cricketers may do. It is their own business. But as one who has seen a lot of cricket, I think they have made a mistake in thrusting aside A. P. F. Chapman, their most successful leader for ages. In him England had a captain who understands the professionals, who in their turn understand him. He has that ease of manner and geniality that makes things go smoothly. It conduces to a team being attuned to the best fighting pitch.

“England without Jack Hobbs at cover, Patsy Hendren anywhere, and Chapman in the gully, will miss three of the finest fieldsmen I have seen in my pilgrimages in Test cricket. “After all,” he said, “Chapman is a young chap still. They will miss that long left of his in pulling down the catches or in snapping them up when they seem to be yards away from him and the ball is shooting like a bullet from a rifle.

“Another thing, I have been behind the wickets when things have not been going too well for the batsmen of England. Then I have seen Chapman come in and show the real fighting batting. That century of his at Lord’s in the circumstances of the second innings was magnificent. And what about those wonderful catches that dismissed Don Bradman? “The selection of a touring team in sections is not right. Australia’s Board of Control acted with wise foresight in notifying their selectors in 1930 that the team must be completed before any announcement could be made to the Board itself.

“Why should a man like Tate have to wear his heart out as he apparently has done? Why should Bowes have had to fight so hard and strenuously to get in? If these men are good enough the selectors ought to have known it earlier and have chosen them at once with all the others. It looks as though the strain has told on even such a bighearted robust man as Tate. “We all know that selecting an international team is not a neasy task, while pulling it to pieces is every man’s privilege. There must be more or less heart-burning among players when six are standing out every time. But D. R. Jardine has had good experience out here, and that will greatly help him. His being such a fine batsman and fieldsman is also highly Important. “Despite their numbers,” concluded the Australian ’keeper, “you can stake your life the Englishmen are going to fight as keenly as ever. If the men hit their right form they will have a great eleven in the tests. They won bo handsomely on their last tour that that alone must give them confidence. St will help England greatly if Voce is

another Foster. But is he? “Anyhow, win or lose, I always enjoy these games. They bring out the finest cricket from both sides, and the feeling between the teams is always very friendly. Those who have been through the mill of a few Tests know that the two countries have their ups and downs. And that is good for the old game and for the public pulse.”