AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 23 August 1926, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

TOO MUCH TRAVEL BIG MATCEES SI ILL TO COME. MORE OF. LESS HAPPY FAMILY. C - <7zV.~ —Press AFSwl&tioa —Cory-:?!:..■ LO>*IX)X. AigTist 20. Tie close of t~e Sna ; Test is a Siting tim* to review conditions of tbe Australian Teas:. It car. r>? authoritatively stated that the majority will be weE phas-ed v»:.!-n It ends. There is a ur.ani-mc-u? frtlsnp tba* tie tour involved overESiich travel, a's-o that the programme TT3J over-lengibv. The gases vet to be played .-ire by r.o atans inconsequential. and on two or three occasions tLey will be asked to me~t teams rinuaiir up to the English Test standard. This is regarde.i as unfair at the close of tbe strenuous tour. i':;ere is co disagreecwnt aznon£ flayers who naj be described as more ot less a happy family. but tbere are certain subjects of distinct disagreement between the r.:ayers awi tie mans err Players on Review. From a playing s:andpoiL:. eeverai —ere- meet •disappointing- Everett did not impress a: the cnrs?:, owing to leg trouble, and was oat of action for many matches. At one time, suggestions were even made thai rew payers should be brought from Ausira'.ia to nake good tae deSiiecc-y cao=-ed by ill health. It ■?rae also suggested tliai Murray, the Sooth Australian, tien in London, sbonld be asked to help, but tbe recovery of Everer: and Hendrr obviated this, and also guv-e a rest to the others. Taylor w;l= m«: brilliant in tie field, but failed in batting. Gregory was sever deadly as a bowler, and when he lad a suitable wicket -c failed to make tie ball St. Even in the fic-lii, he was not the wonder of previous s-easons. and failed to eOec-trifv tbe crowd. but as a batsman he often c-ame wkh a fine score at the

rigs: i:me. At the last. Macartney -sras easQy the most outstaadias member of the Australian team and was the subject of equal comment with England's idol. Eobbs. WoodrnH was most successful with the bat and in the neld. Ponsford proved a nw-getter, but was weak in the field. Richardson was not a≤ successful as anticipated. Mailey was at all times vigorous. Grimmett obviousiy 'was more suitable to Australian wickets, but proved useful CHdfi-eid i= siiH ™- equalled as a wicket-keeper. Andrews was admiraijie in the field. bnt was inconsistent with the bat. Eyder would have been more successful had he played his natural game, instead of porterins about. Bardsley justified his selection, savinz Australia in the second

Test and he confounded every critic Coilins ttes far from in gsod health and had a difficult task owing to the weakness of the bowling and the somber of players not provide up to standard in the'field.

Tfla Australian team was by no means equal to many previously sent to England. It i≤ obvious that cotild the selectors hare pat ba-ck the clock there would haTe been many radical alterations. . Matter of Courtesy. A question tendinz to disharmony was the fact that the Australians' reputation suffered considerably by the manner in which their hosts were treated. On numerous occasions there were more of them absent than present at functions all over England. It is considered this was damaging to their reputation, and there is every likelihood of less hospitality being shown to subsequent teams. It is also felt that the invitation from Prime Minister Baldwin and the members of Parliament should never have been declined. This was regarded as the highest honour and its refusal was the subject of considerable comment in certain quarters. The team feels that the Board of Control should place this question on a definite footing, because if invitations are accepted they should be attended. Wife Veto Criticised. Much was also heaTd aoout wives not travelling with the team. This prohibition was feK keenly by one player whose wife intended visiting relatives in England. It is considered by officials from Australia that this restriction should be definitely withdrawn, especially in view of the fact that there is nothing to prevent a player going from place to place with his mother-in-law, aunt, or any women friends from Australia who may be visiting England. Two members of the Board did not obey their own decision on this point. One of these brought his vrife and the other Ms wife and two daughters.

The team is unanimous that too many matches were played- It is the opinion of Australian officials now in England that the programme should be curtailed and players given a longer rest between Tests. The present tonr was a case of packing bags and rushing to the Tricket grounds. ♦ Financially, the tour was a great *ueee=s. despite the loss of days due to jam. a=d the receipts were" probably Jrreater than in 1021. The profit, how"----*vf-r. ig not big. owing to the increased *ir-endit"jre. Too Many Officers. J For example, except when the Tests are •plared and on a few other special oceaehjrs, the team have had to find their ■era., to the ground from their hotels in any oW way. The players say that tass -should be presided, and, as for the gets, tiat lbs Board should par. Sererzl go so far a* to ss s- that if it 'is a question of expert— the manager should consider tSaat and disp-nse with an assistant. 1257 say that this is unnecessary throughout ihs tonr. even if necessary at tie "ter-naing. in order to overtake OOTrespoodeiKe. lit is pointed out that Mr. Frar,k Larer had no assistant, end. besides played in over thirty gaznes. It j≤ seriously suggested among ih* plargrs that a round robin shonld be siga&d askiit? for 3lr. Smith to dispense with Mm assistant.— (A. and X^.)