FIRST TEST MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7415, 29 May 1902, Page 3

FIRST TEST MATCH.

The eyes of the English cricketing world will b 0 turned to-day towards Birmingham, where the Australians will be engaged in the -filet q'l the five Test Matches. Interest in the present series of games promises to be particularly keen. The Australians may be relied on to make a great struggle to retain the supremacy which has been theirs since they defeated Stoddart's team in. Australia, in 1897-98. The Englishmen, on the other hand, have a considerable number of recent defeats to "wipe right off the slate," and are certain to put forward a great effort to turn the tables on tl}e colonials. The English selectors have gdt together a great- team for the first match. A noticeable feature, however, is that of the thirteen players from which the team will, be finally «bosen Llewellyn is the only one who has not previously taken part in a Test Match. Mason and -Braund have never played in one 'in England, but have done sq in Australia. Of the other ten, some have represented England both in Australia and at Houne, and all played in one or more of the matches against the Australian team which visited England in 1899. This is a matter for some surprise, as it would naturally be expected that a larger proportion of the younger playere would have shown tnat improvement in thi? interim which would have warranted their inclusion in the English Eleven. The constitution of the . team must be gratifying to Maclaren. When ho left for Australia with hia team, the English critics considered it a very weak one, yet six members of the combination aro included in the thirteen from which the English team today will be finally picked, T,ho strength of the Englishmen undoubtedly liel in their batting. Half a dozen of them are admitted stars with the bat, as they have proved on many occasions when opposed to Australian bowlers. Even then, however, the "batting talent is not done with, as there is scarcely one of the thirteen who cannot; be relied on for his share of the runs. In many respects the English and Australian teams are very "similar, .as the Australians also possess a strong batting side. It is doubtful, however, if the bowling of either team is of an equally high class, Llewellyin, the new raan oh the English side, attained considerable success for Hampshire last season, but it is doubtless to Rhodes and Hirst, the Yorkshire cracks, that the Englishmen look to lead their attack, and neither could claim muoh of a record against the Australian)*? in 1899, though with Mason, Hayward and Jaokson Ato assist there are plenty of changes. The Australians, like their opponents, have a goodly array of bowlers to fall back on, . but the quality is another matter. The in--jury which Truimble received shortly, after his arrrival in England has proved more serious than waa expected, and he will be greatly missed if he is still unable to play, as he is the most consistent of aU the 'colonial trundlers. The latest news from England is not very reassuring in the matter of weather, and the match may resolve itself into a question of luck and a scramble in the mud. With fine weather, however, a heavy scoring draw seems probable.