ENGLISH CRICKETERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 281, 30 November 1935, Page 4

ENGLISH CRICKETERS

THEIR ARRIVAL DATE NEAR BRIGHT MATCHES L OOKED FORWARD TO THREE TESTS AGAINST NEW ZEALAND LISTED The Marylebone cricket team now in Australia is due to arrive in New Zealand on December 9, a week from next Monday. It comes with a great reputation, and New Zealanders are looking forward to some sparkling play in the series of matches which are to be played throughout both islands. The side includes some of England’s best players, and it is strong in both batting and bowling. Eor the most part the players are young, but they will bring with them that quality for which cricket is noted in England. Playing in Australia they have had an opportunity to become acclimatised and to develop closer understanding of team work in an appreciation of each other’s ability. New Zealand has bright prospects from acricketing point of view and the visit of the Englishmen will help to further the cause of the game in this country.

Following is ihe personnel of the team with some interesting particulars written and supplied by a London writer: — The touring cricket team’s captain E. R. T. Holmes, who succeeded D. E. Jardine, as leader of Surrey in 1933, was born in Calcutta 30 years ago and went from India to study at Oxford, which university he represented at cricket in his first year. He was also a Soccer Blue. When not hitting a cricket ball about the place he is a wellknown figure on the London Stock Exchange. and is regarded by his friends as something of a laughing philosopher. Bowler of Much Pace. New Zealanders are very lucky t > have an opportunity of seeing H. D. Read in action, for he is undoubtedly one of England's most promising test players. English enthusiasts have great hopes of this 25-year-old fast bowler, who has to his credit so many good performances in the two seasons he has been playing county cricket that he was given a place in the England team which played South Africa in the final test. After seeing the game at the Ova) the writer feels that the English critics were more than justified in their enthusiasm over Read. He sends down a beautiful length ball, and can bowl tirelessly for long periods, lie is proving a great asset to Essex, and in their

game against Yorkshire last July, when the champion county were dismissed for 35, it was Read who was the cause of it all. In that innings he took six for 11 and was absolutely unplayable. In the touring team is another Essex player in A. G. Powell, who, however, does not turn out regularly for the county. He keeps wickets for Cambridge University, and will be the side’s .No. 1 wicketkeeper. The other wicketkeeper will be 8. C. Griffiths, a!>j of Cambridge. Fine Batsmen. Cambridge University has also- supplied another member of the team in J. H. Human, a fine bat who should be one of the “stars” of the side. Twenty-three years of age. he had a great season in 1934, when he topped the Cambridge batting average and scored five centuries. He had no doubt profited by his tour of India with the 1933-34 M.C.C. team. Oxford University is represented by Norman $. Mitchell-Innes, an allrounder who turns out for Somerset. It is a strange coincidence that, like the M.C.C. team’s captain, Holmes, he was born in Calcutta and went from there to Oxford. However, at 21 years of age, he is nine years younger than Holmes. New Zealand will see another promising test player in Joseph llardstaff. tire attractive Nottinghamshire

batsman who made his debut in county cricket in 1930. He is the son of a former Notts player who toured Australia in 1907-08 and is now an umpire. He is 24 years of age and is regarded in England as a professional with a great future. If the worst conies to the worst, Hardstaff can also send down quite a good ball. Sussex has supplied two members of the team, both of tnem professionals, Tn. James Langridge and J. H. Parks. Langridge will be making his second trip to New Zealand, having done a s-eason of coaching in Auckland with Ted Bowlcy. In county cricket Langridge has made over a thousand runs in every season since 1927, and in ' four of’ those seasons also took over 100 wickets—a very consistent allrounder. He bats and bowls lefthanded, and is equally proficient in either department. His highest innings is 159 not out twice, and as to bowling—in Sussex’s game against Yorkshire in 1934 he took nine for 34 in the Yorkshiremen’s second innings. He is 29 years of age.

Other Members. Parks is opening bat .for ISussex with John Langridge, brother of James, and is very consistent and reliable. He is one of the veterans of the touring side, being 32 years of ag?. James Sims, of Middlesex, is a good leg-break bowler and a useful bat. The writer saw him play in a Sunday game at Regent’s Park in London. It was a charity match between a team chosen from local clubs and a side led by “Patsy” Hendren, who still cracks them about in fine style. The team has a titled player—the Hon. Charles J. Lyttelton, who is the sun of Lord Cobham. He is vicecaptaiu of Worcester, and is a useful bat and change bowler. A. D. Baxter is oue of the side’s fast bowlers. He hails from Scotland and plays for the M.C.C. and Middlesex. The oldest member of the touring team is Wilfred Barber, who has been playing for Yorkshire since 1926. He is always high up in the county’s batting ax erages, and has now earned test honours. His age is 33 years. One jr.cmber of the side is a teammate of L. P. Townsend —Auckland’s ■ professional coach from Derbyshire. He is Denis M. Smith, also a professional. A. forceful left-hand batsman. Smith worked in a coal mine before he took up cricket professionally. The Itinerary. I Three Tests against New Zealand are included in t-hc list of 19 matches. The complete itinerary is as follows: December 9, 1935: Arrive at Wellington. December 13, 14, and 16: v. Wellington. December 20 and 21: v. Nelson. December 24, 25 and 26: v. Canterbury. December 27 and 28: v. South Canterbury. December 31, January 1 and 2, 1936: v. Otago. January 4 and 6: v. Southland. January 10, 11 and 13: v. NEW ZEALAND, at Dunedin. January 17, 18 and 20: v. NEW ZEALAND, at Wellington. January 22 and 23: v. Manawatu. at Palmerston North. January 24 and 25: v. Wanganui. January 28 and 29: v. Taranaki, at New Plymouth. January 31 and February 1: v. Rangitikei, at Marton. February 7 and 8: v. Hawke's Bay, at Napier. February 11. and 12: v. Poverty Bay, at Gisborne. February 15: v. Bay of Plenty, at Rotorua. February IS and 19 (probable): v. Pinko, at Matamata. February 21, 22 and 24: v. Auckland. February 28. 29 and March 2: v. NEW ZEALANDfat Auckland. March 6, 7 and 8: v. NEW ZEALAND. at Christchurch. March 13: The team will sail from Wellington.