CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 98, 28 April 1930, Page 12

CRICKET

AUSTRALIANS’ TOUR I / l_ " ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND. FULL OF CONFIDENCE. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, April 24. The Australian cricket Test team reached England yesterday. They were welcomed at Dover by Lord Harris and Colonel Troughton, and at Victoria Station, London, by FieldMarshal Lord Plumer, president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, and other other prominent cricketers, including Messrs Warner, Chapman, LevesonGower, Mann, and Gilligan. Che Australians seemed full of confidence that they would recover the ‘‘Ashes.” SOFT-WICKET PROBLEM MATCH AT WORCESTER. LONDON, April 25. The prospect of a soft wicket for the opening match with Wo-cester was probably in Mr P. F. Warner’s mind at the Australia House welcome, when he playfully recalled the days of King Canute, when tax-gatherers went to Worcester and were annihilated with battle-axes. He hoped it would not dismay the visitors. Youth was personified in Bradman and Jackson. Englishmen ,«rould bo delighted if either cam'’ out to rival the wizardry of the wondrous Victor Trumper.

A brief practice at Lord’s in the afternoon was not a real try-out, the bowlers not attempting strenuous efforts in view of the slippery ground and the soft pitch. Nevertheless most had found their land-legs and were most satisfactory, the batsmen shaping well. McCabe is improving. The practice was on a wicket which was almost a mud-heap. After watching, Colonel Trevor writes that Grimmett clearly retains all his powers. He can spin the googly and make what is an unusually low delivery effective.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE PRAISE FOR SELECTORS. Received April 26, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, April 26. When interviewed, Mr A. C. MacLaren, who is of the opinion that the Australians will surprise England, commented on the courage and discretion of the selector., who had picked a team which would form the foundation for the future impregnability. “The Australians may not win these Tests, but within three years the present promising material will become a solid phalanx,” he said. The 1930 Australians will probably establish the reputation of being the shyest team to visit England. They entered the crowded Coliseum to-night in the darkness after the commencement of the first act, but the watchful audience, to whom the cricketers were a greater attraction than the vaudeville, forgot the stage and gave the team an ovation. The cricketers occupied the royal box, which was draped in green and gold. Lord Lonsdale, smoking his famous cigar and wearing a buttonhole, Chapman, Douglas, Hobbs, Fender, the Rugby player Wakefield, and other well-known sportsmen were present. McCabe is leaving his room to-day. He is not attending any functions, but expects to be able to practice to-mor-row. “Everyone else is in the pink,” says Mr Kelly.

THE WORCESTER ELEVEN PRELIMINARY CHOICE. Received April 27, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, April 26. The Worcester cricket team against the Australians will be chosen from the following—Major, Jewell, H. A. Gilbert, C. F. Walter, Root, Wright, Gibbons, Nichol, V. Fox, J. Fox, Jackson, Stylery Brook and Perks. The two last-named are new to Worcestershire cricket.