CHAPMAN AS CAPTAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20282, 17 April 1934, Page 1

CHAPMAN AS CAPTAIN.

“ Only Possible Choice,” Says English Writer. LONDON, April 8. “ If A. P. F. Chapman is made captain throughout the season and »s given a fair chance. England should retain the Ashes,” writes B. J. T. Bosanquet, who w'ill report the Test matches for the “ Daily Mail.” “ England would win only after a hard struggle, fought in a good spirit, with plenty of give and take on both sides, but if Chapman does not captain the team and certain other possibilities eventuate, 1 fear what may happen. “ Only Chapman is able to save the situation and emphasise the previous good relations between England and Australia. “ Chapman is a magnificent and inspiring fieldsman and is a fine batsman, likely to produce runs when needed. “ From the moment of his first captaincy at the Oval in 1926, when he took Tate off after three maidens, thereby preventing Woodfull getting set for the day, his captaincy was fruitless. “ I have always believed that he is the only great captain against the Australians since MacLaren. Furthermore, he gets on capitally with the Australians. There is no other possible candidate. “ On the other hand, nobody who saw R. E. S. Wyatt’s uninspiring captaincy in a similar match in 1930 would wish to renew the experience. Who can forget that Whysall and Woolley were kept at deep-field most of the day. “ Wyatt batted nobly and fielded well, but I cannot see him leading England to victory.” Bosanquet appeals for the relinquishment of the custom of appointing “ three old gentlemen " as selectors. He adds: “Any cricketer, no matter hew eminent he has been, and however estimable his character, is totally unfitted to select the best team unless he is actively connected with the game, playing with and against both candidates and Australians “ The chairman might with advantge be an old player like Sir F. S. Jackson or Mr H. D. G. Leveson-Gower. preferably the latter, because Sir F. S. Jackscn has been abroad so long that he has lost touch. “ I should choose the other two selectors from Allen, presuming he is unfit to play. Fender, Carr and Eckersley. “ Such a committee should meat immediately and appoint a captain for the whole five Tests. The captain would automatically become a fourth selector, for how can a captain get the best out of his side unless it is the side he wants?”