CRICKET METHODS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10385, 2 May 1925, Page 5

CRICKET METHODS

AUSTRALIA AND ENGLAND. THE BETTER SIDE WON. HOBBS' FRANK COMMENTS. (Per Press Association!—Copyright.) ("Sun.") LONDON, May 1. J. B. Hobbs, in an article in the " Daily News," refuses to attribute England's failure to recover the ashes to bad luck. Although Gilligan lost four tosses, there were periods in each of the test matches, he says, when England had more than a sporting chance. With just a little more luck, she might have won the rubber. The Australians were the better side, because their tail batsmen rose to the great occasion. " Undoubtedly these batsmen are better than our tail men. We were all painfully surprised at Oldfield's and M alley's resistance and ability. When the Australian tail was wagging, the ball always reached the fieldsmen with more spit and devil. The Australians were always downright optimistic, like cocksure Americans. Some of the tail batsmen whom I privately regarded as rabbits came to me and said: ' You will have to be smart to-day, Jack. I am going to get 100.' " That spirit prevailed in the entire Australian side, even in the tail which wagged us out of the rubber." In a second article Hobbs claims that English batsmen maintained a classic style more successfully than the Australians. He says: "We were repeatedly astonished to see the Australian batsmen connecting when playing a cross bat at a leg-spin ball, whereas the Englishmen would have "■ot right on to the pitch of the ball with a straight bat in orthodox fashion. The Australians seemed to be able to judge how a ball was coming. Probably after two years' experience in Australia wo will be able to hit for four many balls which went unpunished." Hobbs is convinced that the orthodox Australians will make a sorry mess of things on English wickets unless they alter their tactics. They are able to "alter their style, but only diligent practice will work the oracle. The writer says he considers Taylor and Bardsley "the best Australian batsmen.