COVERING THE WICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 36, 12 February 1925, Page 5

COVERING THE WICKET.

A CRICKET CONTROVERSY. NURSING THE AUSTRALIANS. BIFTEREIIT IN ENGLAND. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 2 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The collapse of the Victorian side against England on a wet wicket reanimated the controversy over the Australian custom of covering the wicket in the Sheffield Shield matches and the bad displays by the Australians this season on rain-damaged pitches. Cricket enthusiasts are inclined to be dubious about an Australian tour of England next year. They claim that covering the wicket had a deterrent effect on Australian batsmen. It is pointed out that the bowler is always a sufferer on a covered wicket where rain had delayed play, because he must grip and bowl a greasy ball to the batsmen on a billiard table pitch. In England wickets are not covered, and batsmen have therefore no artificial aids to success. Prominent players hold that bowlers should be considered. In addition Australian bowlers would lack experience it they met rain-damaged wickets in England. A suggestion is made that Sheffield Shield wickets next sea-son be left uncovered. This would enable Australians to enter the field in Kngland better equipped for their figght to retin the ashes.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) TRIBUTE TO AUSTRALIANS. DRY AND WET PITCHES. THE PROS AND CONS. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, February 11. The "Daily Kxpress," paying- a tribute to the Australians' batting consistency, save that but for the weather England had no chance in the third Test, but whatever the result of the Tests, three outstanding players of the tour are Hobbs, SutclitTe'and TnJe. who hadn't enough support from their colleagues. If it rains during the fourth Test we ought, to win. Our batting and bowling ia better than the Australians on slow wickets. We want to win if possible under equal conditions, but even with the help of the weather it would not come amiss.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)