SUMMER SPORTS.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16736, 12 March 1926, Page 6

SUMMER SPORTS.

j AUSTRALIAN TEAM. j COMMENTS BY HOBBS. | WEAKNESS IN BOWL!NO. The champion of champions, Jack Hobbs, has penned an interesting commentary on the Australian team. He writes:— Ho not suppose that Australia inis not her problems and her worries. I dare to say that seldom has a team with a like sequence of successes behind them, set out to retain the “Ashes’/ in such an uncertain irame of mind. > When we were in Australia last winter it was evident that the Australians’ chief concern was their bowling strength, and particularly the lack of good medium-pace bowlers. So long as tho Tests were played in Australia and J. M. Gregory, Mailey and Grimmett were available, with Macartney, Kelleway, Hendry and Ryder there to be called upon at any time, the situation was satisfactory up to a point. But a tour in.this country, with he range of choice restricted to 15 players, presents less comt forting features. The fact is that of all the bowlers played, against us after Macartney’s illness. Gregory, Mailey and Grim-, met were the only ones who could be depended upon to get wickets. The others were largely of the useful vari- . ’ ety, used with the idea, of keeping things going while Gregory, Mailey or Grimmett were rested. j Imagine a breakdown of Gregory when in England—and my latest in- 1 formation is that his knee is still not too sound. His absence would be bad ; enough in one Test match, but in Aus- • 1 tralia he could have been replaced m j the next by something better than t}ie j useful sort. On an English tour a i substitute or substitutes have to be 'at hand. Various other contingencies have to be prepared for, and it may . 1 be that in providing for them the bat- | ting and fielding strength has to be ' impaired. ■ SKIPPER COLLINS. j ‘ H. L. Collins will again be the skipper,- and we know we can rely upon him to play the game in the best spirit—the spirit of 1 give , and take on little points of difference which crop | up more frequently than the public■■ realise. , J w:

C. G. Macartney's selection is pleasing proof, it any were needed after the recent trials, that the ever confident “Governor-General’’ has recovered his old vitality and shill with both bat and hall.

J. M. Gregory is probably the most indispensable member of the side, and 1 never for one moment put any faith in the statement cabled a month v.r two ago that he might find it inconvenient to make the tour. Australia would see that it is made convenient, for there are no illusions down under as to the vital part Gregory’s fast deliveries are to play in the coming tests. Gregory is not quite so fast as he was in 1921, but he is still faster and more dangerous than any fast bowler we have at home.

j His height and reach are not only a great howling asset, but make him a magnificent slip fielder, for which alone ho is almost worth playing. Especially to a googly bowler do his great height and reach allow him to come close up to the wicket and make him equal to almost any other two slips. He brings off extraordinary catches. Ho is a fine batsman—batting lefthanded—and scores dangerously fast if he gets set. Warren Bardsley is entitled to another chance to prove that he is still a great batsman. He suffered from a streak of bad luck in the' tests during i our last tour in Australia, but r consider his century for New South Wales was the best “knock” against ; us during the tour. And Tate was I bowling his best in that match. But j Bardsley is, like some others of us, turned 40 years of age. j Though good fast-medium, J. S. ! •Ryder, who did hot get many chances during his last tour here, is nob aj bowler likely to go through a side. But , he is good enough for chance purposes, and gets an occasional wicket. He is also a good ,bat, his best stroke being a drive between mid-on and the : bowler. J. M. Taylor is'stiff a. line load, and 1 is so vastly improved as a bat that it would’not surprise' me if lie were to get as big an aggregate in the Test ; matches as any other member of the side. W. A. OJdfield ,-the wicket-keeper, is such a sound batsman that he would be dangerous if he came, in to ppen the innings. Few members of the side j want so much getting out. I . ' THE NEW MEN. j Very great interest must he centred | in The first appearance in England of j W. H. Ponsford, for does he not hold the record ‘for the highest ‘score in first-class cricket? . j Wo found he had a great reputation j in Australia, and I confess to just a ; Jittle disappointment when 1 saw him j at the wicket. Judged by English standards, his execution is faulty in several respects* ,and he always struck mo as being somewhat nervous at the his innings. But ho may got a lot of runs, for he is clever enough to adapt himself to English conditions. and after a tour of England ! he will probably lie a really great p layer.

As a batsman the stylist of the team

is T. J. E. Andrews- who is also the best cover-point in Australia. You iiave to be careful in running when the ball goes anywhere near Andrews. C. Grimmett, the South Australian, bowler, will vie with Ponsford in public interest.

Though a googly bowler.,he differs from Mai ley in tlpat he does not spin the ball so much. But he sends down very few bad ones, f had six balls from him during the last tour and, he got me stumped, though it was a decision that was hotly debated at the time. Ho keeps a good length, but, to use ?m expressive phrase, his “wrong ’un” can be seen a mile off.

Like all googly bowlers, he il tiiible to be found out and prove expensive; but 'I confess that had we in England one as good as Mailey or Grimmett he would go into the England side did the selection rest with me. Arthur Richardson will be vet another “new* chum.” Richardson is quite a. capable bowler, with a ball which seems to bring back and often has a considerable off-break. Occasional! lie bowls a straight faster one. His chjef fault is that be is inclined to pitch short, and unless be pitches them further up when here, he is liable to offer splendid opportunities for “pulling.” This is a phase of hatting little used in Australia, and the ball monies off the ground with greater quickness and a flatter trajectory. Ho is a little bit slow in the held, and his appearance does not suggest the ideal cricketer. But he is a dashing bat when, he gets going, although he. wears glasses, and is one of the few Australian batsmen who .will come up to Mr. A. C. Maclaren’s requirements in respect to driving ability.

GOLD FOR GOALS

SOCCER COMMERCIAL!SAT lON,

Never in the history of Association football has there been such a rush across the Border of English clubs for Scottish players. Nevo.- nave the t-h----fers'of Scottish clubs been enriched by the transfers of so' many .talented players. The following is tli e list of leading players transferred to English clubs:—

INTERNATIONALS OF 1925

Harper, Hibernians’ goalkeeper, to Arsenal. ■,

McCloy, Ayr United’s left full-back, to Manchester City. Alec Jackson, Aberdeen’s outside right, to Huddersfield Town. Russell. Airdrieonians’ centre; forward. to Newcastle United.

Gallacher, Airdrieonians’ inside right, to Preston North-End. Morris; Raith Rovers’ centre halfback, to Preston North-End. *Townslev, Falkirk’s centre halfback, to Leeds United.

Mames. Raith Rovers’ inside left, to Preston North-End.

this season by Scotland. INTERNATIONAL TRIAL PLAYER OE 1925.

' Steele, Hamilton Academical’s halfback, to Burnley. INTER-LEAGUE PLATERS.

Halliday, Dundee’s centre-forward, to Sunderland.

Ferguson, Motherwell’s centre-for-ward, and'record goal-scorer of 1920-21 to Cardiff City.

These were eleven of Scotland's leading lights. The following transfers of prominent players have to bp added: — James Jackson, Aberdeen’s bandy man. to Liverpool.

Walter Jackson. Aberdeen’s eentre(forward, to. Preston North-End. MeLachlan, Clyde’s outside left, to Citv.

Gibson, Kilmarnock’s left full-back to Preston North-End.

Gillespie, Queen of the South's outside right, to Preston North-End.

Allan, Airdrieonians’ reserve fullback, to Leeds United. Scotland is apparently; undisturbed. Mr. T. White, the chairman of the Scottish Football Association, intimated that nobody is taking any steps to check the practice of English clubs taking over crack Scottish players, and says that English money is required to keep the Scottish clubs going. The Scotsmen usually can look after their own affairs, and if English money is necessary there lias'been a whole Jot of it—£ss,ooo —for the various clubs concerned in the transfers. Preston North-End in their endeavour to get out of the second division have spent over £20,000 for transfers of Scotsmen, while Newcastle United in their acquisition of Gallacher are refuted to liaVe paid out £IO,OOO.

ODDS AND ENDS. Professional rumping, which has 'long proved a great public attraction in Victoria, is fairly booming this 'summer. Various towns have their hig annual Sheffield handicaps for which big prize money is given, and one of the biggest isports meetings is that held at Bendigo at Easter. This year the prize-money amounts to £770, of which £475 is allotted to running events, the chief even being the Bendigo Easter Charity Gift, the winner of which will receive £l6O, second £SO, third £2O, fourth |£lo and £lO will go to heat winners. The cyclists are catered for to the extent of £l2l and £65 will be devoted to wood-chop-ping events.

When it became- known that the Marylebone Cricket Club has decided to purchase, at a cost of 100 guineas, an oil portrait of Dr. W. G. Grace, in order to present it to the National Portrait Gallery, several of tile county clubs expressed a wish to he allowed to subscribe, and to this the M.C.C committee agreed. ft is expected that all the county clubs will want to subscribe to this gift to the nation, which the National Portrait Gallery authorities have signified their willingness to accept.

Although t appears that under-sized cricket balls have been used for some time in first-class cricket, this fact was tiot brought to the notice of the M.C.C. by the umpires until last season, (says a London paper). In this connection, therefore, it is pointed out that either Law 4 (which determines the size and weight of cricket halls) should bo altered, or steps taken to seo that the law is enforced. The county representatives have decided to insist" on the legal dimensions and

weight, and the M.C.C. has issued instructions to the umpires to see that weights and measurements are correct. In future, balls used for firstclass cricket will be stamped and guaranteed correct in respect of weight and dimensions bv the makers.