ENGLISH CRICKET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 299, 1 October 1935, Page 5

ENGLISH CRICKET

NEW LEG-BEFORE RULE LONDON, September 13. In a special interview at the conclusion of the tour Mr S. J. -Snooke, manager of the South African cricket team said: “The team and! I hope that the new leg-before-wicket rule will be tested when the Australians are in South Africa. Undoubtedly it brightens til© game and has greatly improved English, cricket by preventing dreary patches of pad-play, which was beginning to ruin the game. “Also,” said Mr Snooke, “the rule gives bowlers n better cb&nce and would lie especially helpful on Australia’s shirt-front wickets. The South African players unanimously favour its universal adoption. I cannot speak officially, but I expect it to be recommended. tp the South African Association by the .president, Mr S. j. Pitts, who was most impressed. “There is a suggestion that Mr Pitts may submit to Australia that the rule be tested during tlie fofthcoming tour.”

Mr Snooke was not enthusiastic about the present-day standard of English cricket. He said that not one of the so-called fast bowlers would have been called fast before the war.

‘Somebody is as fast as were Knox, Kctze and Cotter, and I really think that none of the rising generation of English batsmen can compete with Woolley, Hendren or Sutcliffe,” said Mr Snooke. “We were particularly impressed with Smith (,Derbyshire) and Hardstaff and Mitchell (Yorkshire). Mitchell is a type who should succeed in Australia. Robins is easily England’s best all-rounder.”

Mr Snooke re-echoed the Australian team’s complaint that English tours are too strenuous, and expressed the opinion that the South Africans will hold their own against Australia.