SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLISH TOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18785, 14 June 1929, Page 7

SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKETERS IN ENGLISH TOUR.

FIRST TEST IS TO COMMENCE TO-MORROW

, _ The South African cricket team that k is touring England will play their first test game to-morrow, when they meet a very formidable combination. The Africans are on about the same level as New Zealand at cricket —a good . average county side. There has beerf a remarkable improvement since the debacle of their ? tour in 1924, as their present record against the counties shows. Twelve matches have been played, of which the visitors have won 5, lost 3 and drawn 4. They beat Surrey, Middlesex, Oxford, Cambridge, and Glamorgan. They were beaten by Gloucester, Marylebone, and Lancashire. They drew with Worcestershire (Africa 444 for eight, Worcestershire 284 and_ 262) ; Leicestershire (Africa 354 for eight, Leicestershire 208 and 191 for seven); Yorkshire (Africa 441 for five declared and 220 for seven, Yorks , 338); Derbyshire (the first innings was ■ not completed owing to rain). A Daring Gamble. Unfortunately, the South African team has not been cabled, but the following are some personal notes of the African players. A clean sweep was made by the selectors and only three members of the present team were included in the 1924 team. They are H. G. Deane (captain), H. W. Taylor (vice captain), and R. H. Catterall. So surprised were the critics, when the team was announced, that it was described as a daring gamble. 11. G. Deane, the captain, was paid very high tributes by the last M.C.C. team. He sets his men a wonderful example in the field, taking close up positions which he alone will occupy. He is fearless to the point of recklessness. He gives the opposing batsmen no rest. Playing against Oxford on the present tour, he made 48 and a useful 58 against Glamorgan. H. W. Taylor, the vice captain, is well known as a batsman having visited England previously with the South Africans, and having met the Englishmen on his own ground. Recent scores to his credit are: Against Worcester 109; Glamorgan 57, Marylebone 43. R. H. Catterall was said to be one of the gambles of the side owing to a nervous temperament. He has, however, shown himself to be a big-match player, and has notched a steady list of useful scores on the tour. He made

ot useful scores on the tour. He made i 41 against Surrey, 57 against Oxford, 44 against Marylebone and 46 against Lancashire. I. J. Siedle is one of the young members of the team, being only twentyfice, but he has proved himself to be one of the best bats in the team. He is an orthodox opening batsman, whose repertoire of strokes is actually much larger than he generally uses. There is an indication, now that he has p l ayed himself in. that he is exploiting his ability more generally. His scores include 75 against Lancashire, 169 against Leicester, 90 against Oxford, 168 against Yorks. H. B. Cameron has also put up an excellent showing with the bat, and in addition has the very useful accomplishment of being a first-class wicketkeeper. lie is a great asset to his side. Against Cambridge, he knocked up 120; against Yorks, 85 and 55 not out; against Worcester, 102; against Gloucester, 50. With Bat and Ball. P. B. Morkel was said to be one of the doubtful members of the team. That doubt has been dispelled, judging from the meagre cable reports. With both bat and ball he has achieved results that place him as one of the team’s most useful members. He is described as a batsman of the impetuous order, with a large variety of attractive strokes. He is a right-handed medium-paced bowler. His batting figures include 62 against Oxford, 68 and 59 not out against Yorks, 43 against Gloucester, and 70 against Marylebone. Bowling against Cambridge, he took four wickets for 13 runs, and against Middlesex, seven for Gi. The principal bowler, again judging by cabled results, is A. L. Ochse, though , he, also, was described as “a pronounced gamble.” He is a very fast bowler, < but has not much control over length i or direction. Nevertheless, against ■ Cambridge he was responsible for lour , wickets for 37, and four wickets for 34; against Lancs., four for 46. Quentin MacMillan, before this season, had never played in first-class cricket. At the trials he scored 61 and 185, and in three games took seventeen

wickets for 278. His age is 25. On the tour he took five wickets for 45 against Cambridge. Neville Quinn, aged twenty, is another player without experience. He is a fast-medium left-hander, with a lovely action and a dangerous in-swing. He was educated at the Christian Brothers’ College, Kimberley, and owes a lot to Astill, of Leicester, and Wensley, of Sussex. Against Oxford he took six wickets for 96. E. L. Dalton, picked as a very experienced player, is a fine forcing batsman with a variety of attractive strokes, and is a brilliant field. His only recorded score is 30 against Marylebone. J. A. J. Christy, “distinctly not a gamble,” though only 23, has an almost impenetrable defence, and is a good all-rounder. Against Gloucester he scored 76. B. Mitchellis a slow left hand bov.’ler, only 20. He has an impressive African batting record and scored 83 not cut ; against Worcester and 101 against Yorks. The above are the only players that have received a mention in the cables, though there are several others, the ; whole touring party including sixteen playing members. The departments in ; which they are really strong are leadership. fielding and keenness. The side ’ is extremely young, but so anxious are ] the members to improve that, given reasonably good weather and fair luck, i they should develop into a great side < —A. H. C. £