BRADMAN DEFENDS HIS TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 25

BRADMAN DEFENDS HIS TEAM

Back in Adelaide from the tour of England, the Australian Test captain, D e G. Bradman, made reply to some of the critics of the touring team, and also issued a warning that Australia must prepare for a stern fight when England next visits Australia in quest of the "Ashes." According to reports, Bradman has completely recovered from his foot injury, and he looked fit and bronzed. It is hoped that it will be New Zealand's -good fortune to see him in action here next season.

"When we left Australia we said that we would do our best," said Bradman, "Well, we feel we have carried out our duties to the satisfaction of Australia. Actually,,the winning or losing of the 'Ashes' was incidental to the fact that we created a great deal of good will not only between the cricketers but the people of Australia and Great Britain."

Referring ' to the way the English people had behaved during the crisis when war seemed so near he remarked: "It seems obvious that all of us will be called upon to make increasing sacrifices in the interests of our country. , *

"There have been, some critics of the team," Bradman added. "It was said, for instance, that we had no wicketkeepers. I know Ben Barnett does not. prof ess to be a Hitler, or .even a Bert Oldfield, but in the Test he caught three men, stumped ■two, missed no chance, allowed no ;byes, and put up a batting .performr iance probably never equalled by an Australian wicketkeeper in. Test imatches.

"I have heard it said that O'Reilly was our ottly bowler," Bradman went 'on. "Well,'it is difficult to overlook a man who has proved himself the greatest bowler of this generation, and -one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of any generation."

Further defending the team, Bradman said that in only two matches of the tour did the Australian bowlers fail to dismiss their opponents for reasonable scores! ,

He characterised McCabe's double century in the first Test as the greatest innings he had ever seen, and said when Brown carried his bat at Lord's he completed the best innings of its kind ever recorded in Test matches.

In the dark, with rain falling, Hastett belted Fames all over the oval

•t Leeds, and largely helped to win that-Test for Australia. WHEN ENGLAND COMES. Warning Australia that she must build up a strong side/to meet the Englishmen in 1940-41, reports the "Befefee," Bradman said that English cricket was stronger: last season than * for many years. Hammond was a greater batsman than ever, and Bowes and Fames never bowled better. In Edrich,. Hutton, and Compton, England had a trio of coming champions, while . Wright-was undoubtedly a remarkx able type of bowler who would give ■* -ot 6t trouble in.days to come. The problem of providing an extra man would have to be considered by the authorities, Bradman declared. The'team was short of men from the outset. Barnes was out of action, and everybody knew that Chipperfield was far from well. Ultimately the team was left with only six batsmen, the minimum number needed for a Test. The team was so short of men at times that arrangements had to be made for a twelfth man by the opposing side. Other members of the team admitted that Mr. Jeanes himself was nearly called upon to field'on several occasions. Mr. Jeanes said that it could be relied upon that, in future, .Tests might no.t be confined even to four days, and that unfinished matches would almost j be unknown. There was definitely a | itrong feeling against unfinished Tests I

NOTE OF WARNING ABOUT ENGLAND'S SIDE

in official circles i.i_ England. Mr. Jeanes has a number of important recommendations to make to the board, particularly regarding future tours of England.