The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-07
BIG CRICKET MATCHES OPEN | BRITISH SEASON
AnglO.AustraIian I es s Offer Exciting Pros.
 poets
By IT. l.. PERCY Ginllad Ebl1sss SlaR (0pppan0illptit.

United Press Stan Correspondent.
 London (UP)-With tho excIt. ing prospect of tho Anglo-Aus trallan test matchcs, tho British cricket season is now officially under way.
 From now until September 17, first-c counties will play against each other and against tho Aus tralinns with five test-matchos be- tween Australia and m All-1cng- land side. intcrspcrscd.
 Points scored
 Points arc scored for the inter. county games and decide the coun- ty championship at tho end of the season. Yorkshire arc the present champions, with | percentage oi 70-namely, 315 points out of q sex wore runners-up last season, with 64,79 per cont. LeIcostorshIro finished last with 1920 per cent.
 Most of tho public's attention will bo concentrated on tho doings of the Australians, with interest and excitement rising to highest pitch during tho test matches. Tho best of i've will decide whether England retains tho mythical Ashes" tho only prize for the se- rios, or whether Australia con take thcm, In the spirit, back to Australia.
 Great Interest
 Considerable interest is attached to tho carly county matches, for 1t Is on the form of tho players in these that tho team for tho test matches will Do chosen. Brilliant, but isolated, batting or bowling feats will not be taken into acc count. It will be those players who show a consistently high aver. age that will be chosen.
 The English team is very much of an uncertainty at the present time. Tho chief trouble is to choose q captain. Donald R. Jar dine, who explained the last Eng lish team which won in Australia in 1932-33, has intimated that he does not wish to be captain again, or even be included in the team. Percy Chapman, q former captain. R. E. $. Wyatt, c. r. Walters, and I. A. k. Pecbles are mentioned as possible successors.
 Captain Amateur
 By tradition, although not nec- essarily. the captain must be an amateur player, but there is no particular anxiety to i'll the post. Apart from the responsibility, there have been rumors that the selection committee has, in the past, interfered too much fin what are ordinarily the captains duties, such as deciding the batting order, the lowing changes, and the plac- ing of the field. It was hinted that 1t was such Interference" that caused Chapman to stand down from the fifth test match in the 1880 series.
 Apart from the question of cap talncy, some names for the team are already being mentioned. These include Walter Hammond, claimed to bc the best all-rounder In the world at the present time, II. Sut- cllffe, H. Verify, Leslie Ames and Harold LarwoOd.
 Leg Theory
 Larwood's leg theory bowling caused q storm of controversy last year, nearly resulting in a govern mental dispute, until the cricket authorities of the two countries agreed to its virtual abolition. He may not be able to play owing to an operation on one of his toes. and in any case, his effectiveness ls considerably curtaiied by the ban.
 Generally speaking. at the pres ent time England seems to have more potential bowling strength than batting, whereas the Austra- lIans' batting is considerably supe- rior to their bowling. It is be- lleved that with any sort of luck England should retain the "Ashes'' in one of the closest series for many Q year.