TOUR OE ENGLAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20930, 8 January 1938, Page 7

TOUR OE ENGLAND

SHOULD GRIMMETT GO? After the bowlers of the fast and medium varieties, we come to those of the slower types. O’Reilly (slowmedium) and Fleetwood-Smith (slow left-arm) are certainties, but we need a slow right-hander as well. That is essential. Should Grimmett or Ward be taken, or should we have both of them? says an Australian writer. For my part, I am doubtful about being able to put them both into the side and regard it as a question of which should go. On the one hand we have a veteran in Grimmett, with a world-wide reputation as the greatest slow bowler of his day; on the other hand a younger man who has done excellently in the past couple of seasons, but whom we cannot regard as a Grimmett. The former New Zealander always has been a terror to English batsmen in England, although he has

not caused them quite such anxiety in Australia. Can he, at 45 years of age, still be the terror that he has been on the last three tours of England? One can quite understand, and sympathise with, the plea of those who contend that youth should have the preference, but the contention has its

limitations where it is a question of ability. O’Reilly and Grimmett have been tire outstandng bowling combination in the cricket world in the past few years, and one believes that they would still be a great pair in England. Subject to what happens this season, one would prefer Grimmett to Ward as our slow bowler, despite his age. Then there is the question of whether we should have a left-hander of a | different type from Fleetwood-Smith. If we should, there are two who could be considered —White and Hynes; of the two one would prefer White. Something of the Verity type, with his accurate length and ability to spin the ball on a wicket that is not perfect, one fancies that he would be a very useful bowler in England. Finally, there is the question of the second wicketkeeper. The men in ths running are Tallon, Barnett and Walker, whose batting ability ranks as I have named them. Wicketkeeping, however, is the chief consideration, and as Fleetwood-Smith is likely to be one of our chief bowlers in England. I would pick Barnett if he shows that he is in his best form. He is accustomed to taking the bowling of the lefthander—the most difficult bowler in the world for a keeper to take—and handles him better than does anyone else.