1938-06-10 — Page 21

1ST TEST AT TRENT BRIDGE TO-DAY

BRADMAN DOUBTFUL STARTER: HAMMOND'S FIRST CAPTAINCY

TREMENDOUS INTEREST

IN CLASH FOR THE

"ASHES"

From to-day until Tuesday, the County Cricket ground at Not- tingham (Trent Bridge) will be the centre of interest for cric- keters all over the world for teams representing the cream of cric- ket talent in England and Australia, meet for "The Ashes" in the first match of the current series of Tests.

There may have been many critics in recent years who have deplored the rut into which Britain's national game has fallen and decried the dull fare that has been served up in first class matches.

USEFUL TEAM

of

Be that as it may. Cricket The England team was selected fol- nowadays may not be of the lowing the Test Trial played recently. same standard set by

Thirteen players were nominated the whom two, Clay and Hardstaff, have "giants" of old, but it will be been forced to drop out through in- surprising if the ground at Not-juries. tingham will be adequate to ac- commodate the crowd that will; seek admission. For those who cannot actually see the game, tions did not meet with universal ap- As is only to be expected, the selec- foresee many long hours of lost proval, but there is little doubt that sleep, waiting by the radio to the team is a useful one and if it does follow as far as circumstances not win, it at least should not be de- permit, the descriptions cast by some acknowledged authority on the game.

feated in broad-match.

To-day's Test is likely to lose much of its glamour as a result of Don Brad- man, the Australian captain, sustaining a strained back a week ago, and at the moment he is a doubtful starter. It is sincerely hoped, however that "Don" will be fit enough to lead his team at Trent Bridge to-day.

GLOOMY OUTLOOK

the time allocated for the

W. R. Hammond, the former Gloucester professional, is now play- ing as an amateur and will lead the side. If he has not made a name for himself as a captain, his exploits on the field are well known and his ex- ample should prove an inspiration to the remainder of the team.

Thirteen players have been asked to attend at Nottingham and from these, a sound team should eventually be selected.

Several names, however, are conspi- cuous by their absence. That of Ley- land comes readily to mind.

The Australians in their opening matches displayed such amazing form that English pessimists shook their Many also thought that W. E. Bowes, heads most gloomily and saw little the Yorkshire fast bowler, would have prospect of a mere English team even been seriously considered and laying the Bradman bogey without there is Sims, of Middlesex, who was daring to presume an Australian de- considered to have a good chance of in- feat.

clusion, with his spinners.

They did not take into account the fact that the tourists had really very little opposition until the time they met Middlesex and, in addition, had been blessed with wickets which suited them down to the ground.

NOT INVINCIBLE

TWO BAD BREAKS

then

R. E. S. Wyatt, of course, intimated to the selectors that he would be un- able to take part in the test even if selected and the injury to G. O. Allen placed him out of the running.

Of those selected Hammond, Farnés, Barnett, Verity, Ames, and Paynter Recent matches have indicated that have represented England against the they are not so happy when the wic- Australians, while most of the others kets are on the damp side and they are have played against either the South up against a useful attack, and, gener- Africans, the New Zealanders or India. al opinion now, while admitting that The selection of Wright caused some they have almost as good a team as surprise. He is the 24-year old Kent has ever visited England, does not con-bowler who captured over 100 wickets sider them invincible.

last season, but at some expense.

SIX MATCHES IN "B" DIVISION FOR TO-DAY

Weather permitting, six matches in the "B" Division of the Lawn Tennis League will take place this evening, To-day's programme is as follows:

"D" DIVISION:

S.C.A.A. Radio

v. G.B.A.

v. C.R.C.

v. Recreio

v.

C.C.C.

P.R.C.

K.T.G.C.A.

K.LT.C. K.C.C.

V. 0.8.0.0.

IRC.

ONLY BIG PERFORMANCE

His only notable performance this season has been 7 for 77 against Glou- cester.

Edrich completed 1,000 runs in May and, in addition batted very well in the trial so his inclusion was certain, while of the other younger batsmen, Hutton and Compton have been so con- sistent that their omission was virtual- ly impossible.

THE BOWLERS

In the bowling line there is Farnes, the fast bowler, Sinfield, Verity, Wright, and George Pope, besides Hammond and N. W. D. Yardley, 'who should prove invaluable as changes.

J. C. Clay, of Glamorgan, and J.. Hardstaff, of Notts, will be missed, but the inclusion of Sinfield and the young Cambridge undergraduate, N. W. D. Yardley, should not weaken the team unduly. The former has been respon- sible for some excellent bowling feats this season, while Yardley batted u perbly against the Australians when they met Cambridge.

The final eleven will probably be de- elded upon at the last moment, depen- dant on the weather and the state of Athe

THE TEST PROGRAMME

The programme for the 1938 Test is as follows:-

First Test at Nottingham, Juno 10-15.

Second Test at Lords, June 24-29.

Third Test at Old Trafford, July 8-13.

Fourth Test at Leeds, July 22-27

Fifth Test at The Oval, Aug- ust 20-25.--Reuter.

ENGLAND

To be selected from the following: W. R. Hammond (Gloucester)

(Captain).

K. Farnes (Essex). Sinfield, R. A. (Gloucester). Barnett, C. J. (Gloucester). Verity, H. (Yorks.). Hutton, L. (Yorks.)..

Ames, L. E. G. (Kont). ̈ Wright, D. V. P. (Kent). Compton, D. (Middlesex). Edrich, W. J. (Middlesex). N. W. D. Yardley (Cambridge). Paynter, E. (Lancashire). Pope, George (Derbyshire).

AUSTRALIA

From the following:

D. G. Bradman (8.A.), Captain. S. J. McCabe (N.S.W.), Vice-Captain. C. L. Badcock (S.A.).

*S. Barnes (N.S.W.) (Injured).

B. A. Barnett (Victoria).

W. A. Brown (Queensland). A. G. Chipperfield (N.S.W.). J. H. Fingleton (N.S.W.).

.L. Fleetwood-Smith (Victoria).

*A. L. Hassett (Victoria).

*E. S. White (N.S.W.).

E. L. McCormick (Victoria).

F. A. Ward (S.A.).

C. W. Walker (S.A.) (Injured).

W. J. O'Reilly (N.S.W.).

*M. G. Waite (S.A.).

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