1 FEBRUARY 1975, Page 5

Cncket critic

Sir: It was pleasing to see The Spectator open its columns to a review of the fortunes of the English cricket eleven in Australia (January 18) — the Ashes series being the ultimate manifestation of that most English institution. Moreover, it was encouraging to read yet another exhortation towards using the

Australian method of selecting a captain.

One can only reflect that if the Australian selectors had picked the side, Greig would be captain and the Ashes would be in the balance still. The 'only hope is that Bedser will do the obvious and choose a man of stature to be captain, in the place of a sadly fallible batsman.

William Boulter Junior Member, Sussex CCC, Hardwick House, Groombridge, Tunbridge, Wells, Kent