HERBERT COLLINS SEEMS WORRIED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17878, 21 June 1926, Page 9

HERBERT COLLINS SEEMS WORRIED.

SOME OF TEAM NOT SO FIT AS MIGHT BE. LONDON, June 9. Herbert Collins, the Australian cricket captain, is having his worries. These arise from the fact that some of the Australian players are not as fit. as they might be. There was great disappointment today when it was announced that Ponslord would not be able to play, as he is suffering from tonsilitis. His condition is, not serious, but he has gone into a'nursing home at Bradford. Ponsford notified Mr Smith, the manager of the team, at Bradford on Tuesday morning that he -was not feeling well, and Mr Smith recommended that he should stay in bed and rejoin the team at Sunderland. There was some doube at Sunderland as to whether Ponsford would play against Durham. Before pla>' started, the lists of' the Australian team handed to the scorers included Ponsford's name, and it was not uiitil the teams entered th,e field that it was found that Oldfield, who was not included in the lists, was fielding instead of him. . It was then found that Ponsford had not arrived on the ground. During *he afternoon Mr Smith received a telegram stating that Ponsford had been removed to a nursing home. Jack Gregory, the fast bowler, is another man about whom there is some anxiety, as he is still troubled with a sore muscle in the leg. It is hoped, however, that the rest from now until Saturday will put him right. Australians Not Tired. It is all rubbish to say that the Australians are tired. They have done nothing to make them tired, said M. A. Noble, in a special message. It is a mistake to judge them on their form against the general run of counties, because they are fairly easy. The only time to judge the Australians is in the vital matches. They are all right. They are in high