13 AUGUST 1932, Page 12

a query from " an old games-player " which I

am quite unable to answer. It refers to English games of the moment " Can you solve me this conundrum Y We possess in England one of the best slow bowlers in the history of cricket and one of the best doubles players in the history of lawn tennis. How does it come about that neither of these men, neither Freeman nor Mr. Collins, is selected to play for his national team ? " I would certainly endorse the verdict on the quality of both players ; and their absence from international matches must have puzzled perhaps tens of thousands of the followers of these games. Selection committees are in possession of many facts not known to the general public. This man or that may not wish, may not have the leisure for international compe- tition. He may have attributes that cancel his more obvious virtues. The public does not always think in terms of alter- natives ; but some explanation of such salient exclusions is

quite rightly desired. * * *