WISDEN’S FIVE BEST CRICKETERS OF YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 168, 20 July 1935, Page 4

WISDEN’S FIVE BEST CRICKETERS OF YEAR

THREE AUSTRALIANS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED

Wisden’s Almanac for 1933, which is just to hand, has named the following five cricketers as the best of the vear: W. H. Ponsford (Australia) S. J. McCabe (Australia) AV. J. O’Reilly (Australia . G. A. E. Paine (Warwickshire C. I. J. Smith (Middlesex) Ponsford, McCabe and O’Reilly were stalwarts iu the Australian side*which

toured England last year, and they un doubtedly won recognition by theii performances on that tour. Their name? are familiar to that vast Pacific audience which listened-in. so attentively t< the wireless broadcasts and so helped sundry electric power boards to main tain their revenue. Paine has achieved fame as a bowlei iu county cricket. He is a tall streak six feet, or just a little over, and h» gives a high easy delivery which achieved a new bowling record fot Warwickshire last season by taking Js.‘ wickets. Like nearly every good bowlei iif slower or medium pace, he relies argely on length. But for the fact that Verity had already come under the wing of the English Selection Commit tee, Paine would have been one of the

> first chosen for the bowling strength uf England iu the tests. Smith is 6ft 4in, and has won his place as a bowler. He bowls a fast ball which does not seek swerve, but relies upon its pace to “lift off the pitch” with plenty of life. Smith was a member of the last M.C.C. team which toured West Indies. O’Reilly was the only Australian bowler who came out of the 1933 disasters in Australia with his reputation anything like enhanced. Critics and writers predicted for him a blight future ami when he was included in Woodfull’s team for England in 1934 his selection met with general satisfaction. The tour proved that everything said about him was justified. McCabe was one of the most consistent batsmen of Woodfull’s team. Along with Bradman and Pons ford he became part of the side’s match-winning backbone from a run-getting point of view. Ponsford’s success at Home was surprising. He failed so dismally against Larwood in Australia that few expected him to be selected. The faith reposed in him by the selectorial powers, however, was fully justified. Before the advent of Bradman Ponsford had established himself as the greatest record-making of his time. His failure against Larwood dimmed the lustre

surrounding his performances, hut he time back to form again iu 1931 and it was with great gratification that Wallaby Land saw him sharing honours with the great “Don.” Woodfull’s team, which included the three Australians so recently added to Wisden’s, was chosen as follows: NV. M. Woodful (Victoria), (capt). W. 11. Ponsford (Victoria). L. S. Darling (Victoria). B. A. Barnett (Victoria). L. Fleetwood Smith (Victoria). E. H. Bromley (Victoria). D. G. Bradman (N.S.W.) (vice-capt.). A. !■’. Kippax (N.S.W.). I S. .1. Mct’abe (N.S.W.). 1 W. A. Brown (N.S.W.). j A. Z. Chipperfield (N.S.W,), W. A. Oldfield (N.S.W.). I W. J. O’Reilly (N.5.W.,. | (’. V. Grimmett (South Australia,. T. Wall (South Australia).