16TH MAN CHOSEN FOR CRICKET TOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17758, 30 January 1926, Page 1

16TH MAN CHOSEN FOR CRICKET TOUR.

EVERETT TO BE SECOND FAST BOWLER. By Telegraph—Pres® Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, January 29. It is officially announced that S. Everett has been included in the team as the second fast bowler. SUCCESS DEPENDS ON GRIMMETT AND GOOGLIES. LONDON, January 28. In a most critical and most informative review of the Australian team “Plum” Warner, writing exclusively in the “Morning Post” declares that he has a suspicion “that the selectors leaned over ■readily on the oldsters, and also were in too great a hurry to select a team. Their policy seems to bear most harshly on the youngsters who have been prominent since 1921, and are now passed over.” Warner mentions V. Richardson, Pritchard, Rymill, Kippax and Alexander, and adds: “Nevertheless, it would be a harsh critic who would venture to say that the selected men do not deserve inclusion in a representative Australian side.” Unable to produce a pair of fast bowlers, the Australians banked on googlies. Grimmett was new to English wickets. Therefore, he was convinced that the ability of the Australians to win the rubber depends largely on whether Grimmett is successful. “I am told that Grimmett’s arm is low, though that does not affect the efficiency of a googlie bowler, because the less ‘air’ he gives the ball the more difficult it is for a batsman to jump in to drive. Whether the Australian bowling turns out successful or not, there is no question about the tremendous batting strength of the team. The last four batsmen will probably be Richardson, Gregory, Oldfield and Grimmett. Our bowlers may well have sleepless nights wondering how they are going to dislodge them.” The batting strength of both sides makes it doubtful whether there will be a definite result in the first four matches. There, is a strong feeling that four days should be allotted.

Referring to Ponsford, who is alleged to have unsound methods, Warner says this is not borne out by his brilliant consistency. “Perhaps Ponsford is the one rare batsman with a touch of genius rising superior to the ordinary rules of orthodoxy,” he adds. “I am disappointed at the non-inclusion of Kippax, whose admirers claim that he is the worthy successor of Trumper.”

The article concludes: “I firmly believe the English side will be wisely chosen, and I have every hope that our top batsmen will equal the Australians. Tate is the finest bowler in the world. Our fielding should be superior. It is the Australian tail which may mean England’s undoing, as it has done so often previously.”