100 Years Ago: 18 September 1923

Amid cautious optimism, MCC depart for Australia

M.C.C. TEAM TO AUSTRALIA

A reminder of the M.C.C. team that left for Australia today:

Opening batsmen: Jack Bryan, Jack Hobbs, Andy Sandham, Herbert Sutcliffe.

Middle-order batsmen: Percy Chapman, Patsy Hendren.

All-rounders: Johnny Douglas (pace), Jack Hearne (spin), Roy Kilner (spin), Frank Woolley (spin).

Pace bowlers: *Arthur Gilligan, Harry Howell, Maurice Tate (also Douglas).

Spin bowlers: Tich Freeman, Dick Tyldesley (also Hearne, Kilner and Woolley).

Wicket-keepers: Herbert Strudwick, Dodger Whysall.

There was a large crowd at Victoria Station in London to see the team off, headed by Lord Harris, Henry Leveson Gower, Frank Mann and a number of other well-known administrators and cricketers.  Arthur Gilligan would not be tempted to make any predictions, but would only say, “We are all looking forward to the trip immensely.  We will be a very happy party, whether we win or lose, and we will try to keep up the traditions of cricket.”

The general feeling in England is one of cautious optimism, in view of England’s apparently greatly improved strength in batting and all-rounders since 1921, and the apparent weakening of Australia through the loss of Ted McDonald, the uncertainty whether Jack Gregory will be available and fit, and the retirement of Warwick Armstrong.  England are stronger than they were in 1921 (and they have only 17 players to select from instead of 30-odd), while Australia are probably weaker.  But Australia have home advantage.

On the other hand, last season in Australia saw the emergence of some new high-scoring young batsmen, especially the Victorian pair of Bill Woodfull and Bill Ponsford.  Their bowling is as yet uncertain, but England will also be rather concerned as to whether their own bowlers, so good on English pitches in a wet season, will be effective on hard, fast, batting pitches in Australia.  The fielding seems to have improved, especially when Chapman and Hendren are placed in the slips, though they are brilliant elsewhere too.  Both, and especially Chapman, owe their places in part to their brilliant fielding.  Of the others, Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Sandham, Gilligan and Bryan are all excellent outfielders, while Tyldesley is superb at short leg.  It could well be a high-scoring series, but with timeless Tests being played, there will be five outright results.

SOLLY JOEL’S TEAM TO SOUTH AFRICA

Barring accidents, Mr Solly Joel’s team to tour South Africa is made up of the following:

Opening batsmen: Ted Bowley (spin), Percy Holmes, Jack MacBryan.

Middle-order batsmen: Harold Gilligan, Jack Russell, *Lionel Tennyson, Ernest Tyldesley.

All-rounders: Captain Tom Jameson (spin).

Pace bowlers: Alec Kennedy, George Geary.

Spin bowlers: Father Marriott, Charlie Parker.

Wicket-keepers: Lieutenant Edward Bartley, Captain Fred Nicholas.

Frank Gilligan was invited as wicket-keeper, but was unable to accept. 

This is quite a strong team, close to an England second team, although a little short in bowling, especially if there are injuries.  They will be playing five unofficial Test matches against the full South African side, and may struggle against their hosts, who should be more dangerous on their own matting pitches and expected sunny weather than they were in England.  The fast-medium and leg-spin bowlers selected should be well suited to the matting pitches, but finger-spinners, like Charlie Parker, are more likely to struggle.  Among the batsmen, Jack Russell returns to the scene of his triumphs two years ago, and no doubt will be a valuable asset again, able to instruct his fellow batsmen on how to succeed on matting.

There are three good Army men in the team who rarely have the chance to play in county cricket.  Tom Jameson is probably the best known, a fine all-rounder whose leg-break bowling from a considerable height should be a major force; Fred Nicholas appears for Essex at times as an attacking batsman, while Edward Bartley is a wicket-keeper of high quality.

It will be noticed that George Macaulay, although top of the English bowling averages in the past summer, has not been selected for either tour.  This is almost certainly a consequence of his fiery temperament and ‘over-keenness’ at times on the field that helped to give the Yorkshire team a bad reputation in some quarters, although he was not called to report to Lord’s for a specific incident as was his team-mate Abe Waddington.

A third overseas tour had been planned, by M.C.C. to West Indies, but this has been shelved for a year, as with two other tours going on they did not feel they could select another touring team of sufficient strength.

John Ward is an ACS member and a long-serving Zimbabwean cricket statistician. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please either respond to the email in which you received it, or leave a comment below.