AUSTRALIAN CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET

PREPARING FOR ENGLAND

TANGLE ABOUT SELECTION OF TEAMS

BRADMAN IS A CENTRAL FIGURE

V liile the .Englishmen are team- . building, first tu meet the Indians, and | then to invade Australia in search of the Ashes, we are nut altugclher iurgetful of the future and there has developed in Adelaide an intriguing position that may take some unravelling, writes A. G. Moyes in the JSydncv Sun. It may be taken for granted that next season there will be three men detailed by the Board of Control to choose our Test teams, and just as certainly may we assume that Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide will be represented on that committee. Queensland, of course, may gain representation, but that is scarcely likely with a committee of three. When Bradman, following his illness in England, decided to resign from the selection committee which he had for the first time been appointed, the board deputed Richardson to sit with E. A. Dwyer, and W. Johnson, to choose our team for South Africa. Richardson captained that team and apparently did the job well, though it will readily be admitted that with O'Reilly and Grimmett exercising such a definite superiority over the South African batsmen, the job was not as difficult as it might otherwise have been. Not His Swan Song The position, however, is that Richardson was a member of the most recent Australian selection committee and also captain of the team and the

position is made all the more intricate by the fact that he is not to retire from the game. Many people thought that the African tour would be Victor’s swan song, but Adelaide news is that he has decided to be available for fust class cricket in the coming season. Now Bradman was appointed a selector in the absence of Dr. Charlie Dolling, but that shrewd judge of the game is back again, had a trip through the States with the South Australian team last season, and has pickeil up once again the threads that. were dropped when he went to England a year or two ago. He definitely is available for the Australian selection committee so that from Adelaide come three personalities in Australian cricket—Dolling, Bradman and Rich a rd son. Logical Choice? Bradman, as the likely captain, would appear to be the logical choice, but there arc two things against it.

I Firstly, he is not seeking the posi- | lion, and, in fact, would prefer nut lu have it this year; and, secondly, it is nut a bad plan, if possible, to relieve the player of such responsibility in a big season. This is not always possible, but with Dolling available, the ay lies open. Dr. Dojling was an Australian selector for some years, and his, J think, the confidence of those who matter in tho cricket world. A player of real skill, ho is a tremendously shrewd judge of the game, is as straight as a gun-barrel, and a man with an Australian outlook. Bradman has, 1 know, great faith in Dolling, and it looks as though he "ill be the man. The only catch, apparently, is the possibility,' though not the probability, of a second nomination coming from representatives of another {State. State Captaincy Normally jt j s left tu the .State delegates to nominate the selector from that {State, but it is nut always the case, and 1 believe that when Richard son was nominated for the {South African selection committee the nomination did not come from his own {State. Ihe fact that Richardson is to plav this season brings a likely complication both in the South Australian selection committee and also the captaincy. V ie. was a selector for some years, but, of course, could not act during his absence in South Africa, and the three were Dr. Dolling, Hughic Bridgman and Don Bradman. Bridgman, a former Gt ate player, has had years of experience us a selector and is very popular, and if Vic. is to’ regain his place on the committee he must replace one of the three—not at easy job, though not an impossible one. Bradman's Success II is also worthy uf note that thi? selection committee will appoint th< South Australian captain. In a norma season this would be of tremendous in terest, with Richardson and Bradman the outstanding claimants, but this year’s programme in which there are so many clashes between Tests and State fixtures, the position is eased somewhat. It is obvious that Richardson cannot win a place in the best Australian side, tor he is not a sufficiently good player. Thus he will be available for thu State throughout the season, whereas Bradman will make few appearances lor South Australia. No doubt, while he is playing for Australia, Richardson will lead the State, for, after Bradman’s success last season, it is scarcely likely that the selectors will dennse him from State leadership. Their Problem But if the selectors (State) are Dr. Dolling, Bradman and Richardson, neither Don nor Vic. will be in an enviable position when the appointment is to be made. All these things are very interesting, but we may >• sure that those in Adelaide who have in their hands the unravelling of the twisted skein will keep firmly fixed in their minds the fact that Australia must come before the State. Next season is a tremendously important one. We need our best selectors, and from them we need our best eleven without thought of Stale. Then the board has its duty to do as regards the election of a captain, ami there should be little time wasted <>vcr that. The choice is obvious.