A TEST PROBLEM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 643, 22 December 1932, Page 8

A TEST PROBLEM.

Age as a Factor in Cricket. AUSTRALIA'S “ HANDICAP.” (Special to the “ Star.’’) MELBOURNE, December 12. On. the surface, it is not a good omen to see three bowlers in their forties among the thirteen, players invited by Australian selectors for the second Test match, but the influence of the age factor on future Test teams is not as perturbing as one London critic suggests. Writing in the “ Daily Express,” London, William Pollock says: ” One of the troubles of the Australians is the age factor. Not more than five or six of the men playing now will have an outside chance of coming to England. Somehow, somewhere, Australia will have to find an almost entirely new team. I believe Woodfull, Ponsford, Kippax and Richardson have batted for the last time at Lord’s and that we will not see Grimmett here again.” In 1934, when the Australians are to visit England, Woodfull, and Ponsford will still be younger than thirty-eight—the present age of Sutcliffe, England’s highly successful rungetter. Hobbs pulled his weight in England’s eleven at the age of forty-seven. Age comparisons of the seventeen members of the English team and Duleepsinhji (who withdrew because of illness) and eighteen Australians who are most prominent in Test discussions are:— 40 and Over. Australia (3) Oxenham (41), Grimmett (40). 40 to 30. Australia (5) Richardson (38) ; Woodfull, Oldfield, Kippax (35); Ponsford (32). England (9)—Sutcliffe (38) ; Tate (37) : Leyland, Jardine (32) ; Duckworth, Wyatt (31) ; Allen, Mitchell, Paynter (30). Under 30. Australia (10)—Wall (28) ; Nagel (27); O’Reilly (26) ; Bradman, O’Brien, Fingleton (24) ; Darling, Hird (23) ; M’Cabe, Fleetwood-Smith (22). England (9)—Hammond (29), Larwood (28); Ames, Verity, Duleepsinhji (27); Bowes (24); Voce (23) ; Pataudi (22) ; Brown (21). Even if it happens that the 1934 team includes none of the players who have reached 35, there is already a good nucleus in the younger brigade, with another season to be played in Australia before the selection. Other members of the under-30 group are A. Jackson (who scored a century in Brisbane on Saturday), H. Alexander and L. Nash, the Victorian fast bowlers, and such batsmen as K. Rigg, R. Lonergan and H. C. Nitschke.