Are Australian Players Too Old For Test Play?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18639, 17 December 1928, Page 12

Are Australian Players Too Old For Test Play?

ENGLISH CRITIC SAYS SELECTORS SHOULD GIVE YOUNGSTERS A TRIAL

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, December 15. Next to the King’s illness, the test match is given prominence in the Press. Due regard is given to the unlucky Ponsford. P. F. Warner heads his article in the “Morning Post” with Adam Lindsay Gordon’s lines: “No game was ever yet worth a rap, to which no accident, no mishap, could possibly find a way.” Mr Warner points out that he came across the lines before the test opened, little dreaming that an accident would put Australian without her “scoring machine.” He continues: “The goddess of chance seems at the moment to be working against Australia. Believing, as many do, that this is one of the best teams ever sent to Australia, we would fain meet our opponents at their full strength. The first day’s play put England in a strong position, if rain does not fall.” Mr Warner says that many hard things have been said about the “barracker,” but, as a fact, he is a keen and impartial judge of the game, if occasionally over-demonstrative. This is due to an excess of zeal. Mr Warner does not think he would like it on English grounds, but in Rome we must accept Roman customs. In any case the barracker loves cricket. His applause is in nowise confined to his own side. “So far it looks as if many people will have to revise their opinion of the English bowling,” says Lord Tennyson (formerly the Hon Lionel Tennyson) in the “Daily Chronicle.” “Luck is still against Australia. The loss of Ponsford, one of the most brilliant bats in the world, is irreparable.” Lord Tennyson thoroughly agrees with Warwick Armstrong that Australia is facing certain defeat by sticking to the veterans. “The Australian selectors should take their courage in both hands and choose some youngsters, such as Bradman and a’Beckett. Four selectors is an unfortunate number, as it is highly probable that they have been unable to agree on the claims of certain youngsters and have been forced to compromise.” He pays a glowing tribute to Woodfull, and says that to bat on unperturbed when colleagues’ wickets are falling is the hardest thing to do in cricket. Responsibility revealed great gifts in Chapman, who is recognised on all sides as rapidly becoming one of England’s finest captains. F. * E. Woolley, in the “Daily Chronicle,” says that the injury to Ponsford is a most severe handicap to Australia. It is not putting his ability too high to say that he might have performed as Hendren did at Brisbane. Chapman’s manner of using the bowling had much to do with the low scoring. No doubt the Australians suffered from over-anxiety. They should have played their natural game. Provided that the weather holds, he anticipates that England will secure a lead of 200 in the first innings, even though the Australians add 50 per cent to their total. Clem Hill, cabling to the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “The Australians have shown no real fight thus far. Larwood seems to have got some players frightened.” He regarded Australia’s chances as good when Ryder won the toss, but, though everything favoured them, the batsmen failed miserably. Well as Geary bowled, he believes that Larwood and W T hite were mainly responsible for Australia’s failure. The "Daily Express,” in an editorial, deplores the casualties, because England wants to meet Australia at her best. Maclaren’s Criticism. A. C. Maclaren, in an article in the “Sunday Times” entitled: “Test Play at its Worst: Men Who Bat like Juniors,” says: “That the Australian selectors should have kept to the same policy of including average bowlers and batsmen is suicidal. 1 estimate that Macartney would stand out in this weak eleven. The Brisbane test destroyed Australian confidence. Woodfull alone can possess confidence. It is astonishing that the Australians persevere with players who have never been in the top class, and that Macartney and Andrews are put aside for second raters.” Maclaren denounces Tate’s bowling failure. “ It is time that it was realised that Tate is in his thirty-fourth year, and, apart from that, his performances leave much to be desired. I reckon that Tate is far likelier to play the earlier batsmen in than out.” Maclaren expressed the opinion that Bettington is Australia's best bowler. Referring to the Kippax incident, he says: “ After the umpire had said ‘ not out ’ our men had no right to say one more word. Kippax should have continued his innings.” “ Has a decline set in?” asks the “ Evening Standard,” commenting on the comparative failures of Hobbs and Sutcliffe. It recalls that on the last tour a century from either was a commonplace, but they are now comparatively easy victims. The paper adds: “ Perhaps we expect too much from Hobbs.” It is significant, however, that the same paper, commenting on Hobbs’s presentation, heads the paragraph: “But Jack has a Boomerang.” Leicestershire, which not often provides test cricketers, is overjoyed at Geary’s success. The county club has cabled Geary its congratulations.—Australian Press Association.

ENGLISHMEN MAKE GOOD BEGINNING.

SYDNEY, December 16. The weather was warm at the commencement of the second day’s play in the test match. The Australians added only two to their overnight score, and were all out for 2q3. Ironmonger played stubbornly for three overs, scoring a single. He was then taken left-handed by Duckworth. The innings lasted five hours. Oldfield batted for 102 minutes. He hit three fours and gave a brilliant, gritty display. England opened with Hobbs and {Sutcliffe, to the bowling of Nothling and Grimmett. The batsmen took no risks, generally just tapping the balls back and occasionally stealing singles. Grimmett beat each batsman with balls slower than usual, but failed to hit the wicket. Ironmonger and Blackie were tried, but the batsmen were together till lunch, when the score was: Sutcliffe 11, Hobbs 25—none for 36. On resuming Hobbs added a single, and then Sutcliffe snicked Ironmonger to Hendry, who took the catch in the slips. The Yorkshireman played a chanceless innings, though it was not bright cricket. The light had now become duller, and a storm was indicated when Hammond came in. He had scored 12 and Hobbs was 36 when, in the bad light and a drizzle, play was adjourned at 2.50 p jn.

Thousands now left the packed hill, those remaining covering themselves with newspapers. Though conditions continued to be bad, the crowd yelled for a re-start, sections indulging in counting out. Some of the onlookers scaled the fence, but were removed by police or officials. During the lull M. A. Noble, on behalf of the citizens, presented Hobbs with a boomerang and a cheque for £46, in honour of his forty-sixth birthday. Accompanied by Noble, Hobbs walked round the ground, receiving a great ovation. A small boy jumped the fence, and Hobbs autographed his bat amid cheers. After two inspections by the umpires play was resumed following a two hours’ stoppage. Hobbs soon went. He reached forward to a ball from Grimmett, just touched it, and was splendidly caught by Oldfield. He batted for 105 minutes and hit two fours. He did not show any enterprise, but was thoroughly sound, except on a few occasions when facing Grimmett.

Neither Hammond nor Jardine was very comfortable against the slow bowler, but both were together till 5.55, when, after two appeals regarding the light, stumps were drawn. All the Australian bowlers showed good form, with Grimmett, whose wicket cost 52 runs, the most troublesome. The fielding was sound, Richardson and Hendry being brilliant. Oldfield kept wickets magnificently. The attendance was 58,464, and the takings £6200, both records for one day in any test. Scores AUSTRALIA. First Innings. V. Y. Richardson, b Larwood ...» t 7 W. M. Woodfull, lbw b Geary ...» 68 A. F. Kippax, b Geary 9 W. H. Ponsford, retired hurt .... 5 H. L. Hendry, b Geary 37 J. S. Ryder, lbw b Geary 25 O. E. Nothling, b Larwood 8 W. A. Oldfield, not out 41 C. V. Grimmett, run out 9 D. D. J. Blackie, b Geary 8 H. Ironmonger, c Duckworth b Larwood 1 Extras 15 Total 253 Bowling analysis.—Larwood, three for 77; Tate, none for 29;; Geary, five for 35; White, one for 79; Hammond, none for 18. Fall of wickets—One for 51, two for 65. three for 152, four for 153, five for 171. six for 192, seven for 222, eight for 251, nine for 255. ENGLAND. First Innings. J. B. Hobbs, c Oldfield b Grimmett 40 H. Sutcliffe, c Hendry by Ironmonger 11 W. R. Hammond, not out 33 D. R. Jardine, not out 23 Extras 6 Total for two wickets .... 113 Fall of wickets—One for 37, two for 65.—Australian Press Association.

HAT TRICK TO EBELIN&, MELBOURNE, December 16. In the Sheffield Shield match Victoria in the first innings scored 259. Queensland in the first innings made 97 (O’Connor 44). Ebeling took seven for 33, including the hat trick and four wickets in one over. A’Beckett took three for 29.—Australian Press Association.