England v. Australia
The shortage of paper which prevents The Spectator from reviving just yet its pre-war practice of devoting an occasional column to sporting events also prohibits in the meantime the publication of anything but the distilled essence of the most crucial happenings. By that standard the completion of the list of seventeen English players to tour Australia qualifies for notice. A study of the names prompts the forecast that if Australia succeeds in bowling us out she will win the Ashes. For if our batting strength is . impressive, our bowlers inevitably raise some doubts. The inclusion of Voce and Langridge, fine and experienced players as they have, often proved themselves to be, indicates the difficulty that faced the selectors. They seem to have tried to solve it on a basis of safety- first. No fewer than twelve of the chosen are over thirty years of age. The selectors clearly have no intention of risking the im- mediate for the sake of the more distant future and building up the nucleus of a new team with the experience which only an overseas's tour can provide. Possibly, too, they are beginning to doubt the wisdom of some of their earlier choices. Ikin has not recently fulfilled the promise of his batting in May and June, Gibb had a bad lapse in the last Test against India. The inclusion of Edrich is also something of a gamble in spite of his recent form. No-one has been given more chances in big cricket without ever quite justifying the faith placed in his undoubted ability. For all that, this team under the leadership of thd great Hammond gives evidence of the vitality of cricket in a country recovering from the loss of six years, and if it does not leave these shores with any great hope of returning with the Ashes, it will certainly leave with the good wishes of those who look forward with the usual mixture of pleasure and apprehension to the series of Test matches whose shadow, cast before, already lies on our breakfast tables.
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