BRITISH TEST CRICKET TEAM IS NOW SELECTED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 146, 22 June 1931, Page 1

BRITISH TEST CRICKET TEAM IS NOW SELECTED .

Jardine will Captain Strong Side against New Zealand, (Unitea Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received June 22, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 21. The Test team to meet the New Zealanders on June 27 is as follows: M.R. Jardine (captain), I. A. R. Peebles, R. W. V. Robins. Middlesex: K. S. Duleepsinhji, Sussex; H. Sutcliffe, Yorkshire; H, Larwood, W. Voce. Nottinghamshire; W. R. Hammond. Gloucestershire; L. Ames, Kent: A. H. Bakewell, Northants; A. C. P. Arnold, Hampshire; and M. Nichol, Worcestershire, twelfth man. Woolley will replace Sutcliffe if the latter is not fit.

NEW ZEALAND WILL FACE STRONG TEAM. ENGLISH SELECTORS ARE NOT TAKING ANY RISKS. Looking at the chosen English team apparently the selectors were of the same mind as the writer in the “ Daily Telegraph ” who said that the form shown by the New Zealanders was so good that England could not afford to take any risks. The eleven that will face Merritt and Co. is probably the best that could be brought together, and a high compliment has been paid the Dominion cricketers. In spite of the criticism that has been directed at his abilities, Jardine has been appointed captain, but, strangely enough, one of his few supporters, Maurice Tate, fails to find a place in the selection. Though it is hard to forecast what English selectors will do, the fact that Jardine has been picked and made skipper is something of a surprise. Certainly he was the “ rock ” of the English side in Australia in 1928, but since then he has played very little. He did not appear for Middlesex in 1929, and he only appeared on four occasions last season. Though in the Oxford Eleven for three years, he did not captain the side, and has served under Nigel Haig when playing for Middlesex. When in form there is no doubt that Jardine is a sound defensive player of the best class. Once again there -will be much criticism in the Old Country of its test captain. First Chapman, then Wyatt, and now Jardine, all within twelve months. The inclusion of H. Sutcliffe (Yorkshire), W. R. Hammond (Gloucestershire), H. Larwood (Notts), and I. A. R. Peebles (Middlesex) was to be expected from their past re.cords. “ Barney ” Sutcliffe is now thirty-six years of age; all the others are in the twenties.

ly playing as well as ever for the centuries have been coming up beside his name quite frequently this year.

Chief interest will, however, be in the new names. L. Ames (Kent) was understudy to Duckworth in the Australian tour in 1928-29, and on performances is very little inferior to the Lancastrian. Wicketkeeping to Freeman, the famous googlie bowler, Ames gathers in some 120 odd victims each year. Ames is a sound batsman who makes his 1000 runs per season and it is a wonder that he has had to give way to Duckworth at all. Bakewell, of Northants, is quite new to county cricket. He is only twenty-two years of age, came into the county side in the middle of 1928 and in the next two seasons scored 1485 and 1617 runs. lie is quick on his feet, an attacking batsman, but his defence is not yet perfect. Last year, Warner proclaimed that he would be the natural successor to Hobbs as one of England’s opening pair. With his 109 made in fine style the New Zealanders know what Bakewell is likely to do. It is hardly necessary to say anything about K. S. Duleepsinhji (Sussex), for New Zealand has had a taste of his magnificent batting and his uncanny work in the slips. He is in great form this year and in his latest county game made 97 and 109. With 333, made against Northamptonshire last year, he holds the record of making the highest score ever put on for Sus--86 Both R. W. V. Robins (Middlesex) and W. Voce (Notts) have been leading bowlers in England for several years, although the former played very little last year. Newcomers to an English team are J. Arnold (Hampshire), and M. Nichol (Worcestershire), the twelfth man. Arnold is a promising young batsman who headed his county averages last year and is said to be a really fine performer with an excellent temperament. Nichol is another man who will take a lot of getting out. For his county last year he made five centuries with an average of 35.90. One or two omissions will cause some surprise, and it w r ill be noted that H. Verity, who has been hailed as the successor to Rhodes, does not appear. It will be strange to have an English team without Tate, but his bowling is apparently not what it was. With Peebles, Larwood, Robins, Voce and Hammond bowling, and Duleepsinhji, Sutcliffe, Hammond, Ames, Bakewell, Arnold and Nichol batting, the New Zealanders will have to turn on their best cricket.

With Larwood hurling them down from one end and Peebles at the other the New Zealand batsmen will be called upon to meet one of the best attacking combinations in the world. Peebles’s six for eleven on Saturday shows what he is like on a wicket that suits him. If Sutcliffe is not fit the Dominion bowlers will have to tackle Frank Woolley, who is just as hard, if not worse, to bowl to. Ilis beautiful shots are well-known out here and he is apparent-