1961-06-19 — Page 9

ENGLAND FOR

But first

they must bring back May

This article was written before the England team for the Second Tost was selected. The England 13 named aros M. C. Cowdray (Captain), K. Barrington, E. R. Dexter, R. Illingworth, G. A. R. Lock, P. B. H. May, J. T. Murray, G. Pullar D. R. Smith (Gloucestershire), M. J. K. Smith (Warwickihiro), J. B. Stotham, R. Subba Row, F. S. Truman.

Don't panic.

analyse the situation

thon ro-group. counter-attack. After the surprise blitz of Australia's 516 for nine in the drawn first Tost at Edgbaston England might usefully apply that battle strategy to hor cricket situation.

I would offer it particularly to the England selectors who, this weekend, have the job of sorting out a team for the Second Test at Lord's. Clearly they must have been as shocked and then relieved as the rest of us as the Edgbaston story unfolded.

THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1961.

THE ASHES YESTERDAY'S SOFTBALL

Norman Yardley

len, served up far too many short deliveries. This played right into the strength of the Australian's powerful cutting and driving off the hack tool.

A bowling plan allied to a specific field getting, is vital when a wicket irons out sa well as this one did and when batsmen as good as the Aus- tralians get into their stride.

I don't supposo

these points escaped the perception of Gubby Allen and his co-selectors and, althougli they must have been happy about the way the game was saved. I anticipate Gorg | "re-grouping" of the England

lean for the second Test al Lord's next week.

First of all, tet me acknow- ledge how splendidly Dexter vindicated the selectors' gamble ad-on his knee, and how right Cow- drey was not to risk his batting potential by making him bowl. is 100 was a beautiful picce of cricket.

formance, shaky as it was, on spirit, it feld placings are the bad wicket of the first | jusled to try to contain them), day.

I call that utter nonsense. If any balaman is hitting a bowl er to the boundary time after time, it is the most elementary principle of crickel to take steps to stop him.

We all know that Australia's batting was strong and that England's support bowls.g was weak. But I don't think many

The luck of the weather, in thought the

first innings con-

fact, dictated early events almost trast would be quite so neute.

as much as the skill of the play- I know that many people are ers. But my experience is that

advantages highly suspicious of arguments weather

usually about weather and pitch con-level themselves out in a series. ditions; they tend to think of

But in tha them as excuses. analysis f consider them as facts.

Magnificent pair

"Buying" wickets

May's return

Finally,

and most important, Poter May will have to come back, England badly missed his commanding authority at the crease on that frat black Thurs- day. For while 1 concede that the wicket made the ball move awk- wardly many of the English bats- men produced quite a bit of bad balling to make things worse.

If May could have been there to steady the position and pro- duce a few shots, the whole op proach might have been differ- Anyway, he must surely ent. come back for Lord's and that must mean that Miko Smith wil have to stend down for him.

Narrow favourites

The last polni is that Eng. jand must now counter-attack hard if they want to make any real impact. Australia's run- getting rate must be matched, It means the English batamen must match dhak spirit, that state of mind, that willingtuczn to take risks.

From the selection commillee, through skipper May or Cow- drey, overy England player must be laid of this need. Every bats- man, in fact, should be told that

Thai in where I thought Colin But having said that, I think Cowdrey acted too slowly at we have got to rule Dexter out Edgbaston. He held a cluse, atat consideration as an all-round-his place depends on his willing- tacking field, too long.

er. With that suspect knee. ho ness to accept and live up to this.i

Dexter and Subba has to be viewed as a batsman challenge.

mare about England's bowl-the pattern and everyone else only. Other arrangements must Row have already established

must follow, ing balance.

Somehow, I don't think we There must be some fresh shall be disappointed. I see Aus- thinking on the idea of pinying | trolla's batting at Edgbaston and two off-spinners. Certainly at England's fine reply as the pro- Lord's, where the wicket usual-tude to exclling matches to come. ly helps the scamer rather than

But with May back, and Cow- the spinner, one will have to Rodrey still to come in with big As England will then need❘ runs, I still feel that England are another seamer. the obvious narrow favourites for the series. selection, if the selectors' pri- ginal thinking means anything at all, must be the Essex new boy Barry Knight. Whether ho has the experience or the fre for this responsibility, I just don't know, I haven't seen himm this year at all.

He needed a deep extra cover, a third man, and a deep e leg a long time before he ever placed them. In fact, I don't re- member him pushing a man deep at extra cover at any time.

Unwarranted risk

England's counter to this, sure-

O'Neill, When Harvey and ly must be first to devise bowling particularly, were in full spate, and fielding plans to curb Aus-à deep

acemed vitally trullo's hurricane rate, and se- necessary to me. Many of the condly-now that they know shots that counted as fours could they can do it--to ellmb into the | have been cut to singles by this fast scoring business themselves. move. When Dexter started his brilliant bitting, Benaud pushed his fielders Into the deep fast enough.

Clearly, Richle Benoud's basic polley is to use his powerful bat- ting to amoss huge totals at a fast rate, so that his more limited And the min fuels at bowling power-notably his two Edgbaston were thint England leg-spinner-will have enough batted on the first day on a wet ruts And time to "buy" their wicket, with the ball pupping wickets if need be. and turning, to be shot out for 105. Then Australia batted on a dry wicket which rolled out plumb and

and fast, to true build

their impregnable position on the second day.

When they batted again, with the wicket good, England collar- ed the Australian attack just as competently as the tourists had earlier commanded ours. And Dexter, Subba itow and Barring- tun bli the ball every bit as hard is O'Neill and Harvey had done.

up

When discussing this foster scoring, a lot of people seem to have got their thinking a illio confused about the fairness certain fteld settings.

nt

now

Because Australia arc This was the heartening as hilting the ball harder than wo pect of the match, for I doubt (have seen for years, the people to think it would be whether the Australians could appenr have equalled England's per- Ingàinst the brighter cricket

Four D. Jones BY MADDOCKS

FERDINAND

SO, WITHOUT BEING TORTURED OR THREATENED WIT

YOU GAVE THE NAMES

AND SECRETS TO THE

RUSSIAN SECRET SERVICE OP YOUR

OWN FREE WILL?

mun

Mind you, It would also have helped poor Cowdrey if his bowl- ers had used their heads a hit more.

Trueman was well below hle best, and I thought that both the off-spinners, Illingworth and Al-

LISTEN, MATE

I TOLD YOU THE

TRUTH, REMEMBER

I WAS TRICKED INTO ALL THIS SPYING

LARK

But he is young and strong and Is even beating Trevor Balley-- the man I would be thinking about

very. hard-for both wickets and runs this season so far.

YOU SIR, ARE A FILTHY TRAITOR

YOU NAVE

HOBBLED THE SUMMIT AND EMBARRASSED THE WEST, TAKE HIM OUT AND

SHOOT HIM?

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