BODY-LINE DEBATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 21, 26 January 1933, Page 7

BODY-LINE DEBATE.

SERIOUS SITUATION. Old English Captain's Fine Tribute to Australians. SER STANLEY JACKSON SPEAKS (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON", January 25. Sir Stanley Jackson, speaking at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club's annual meeting, declared that Marylebone had considered the Australian Board's cable in a conciliatory spirit. He hoped the Australians would accept the reply in the same spirit. Nothing in his cricket career had ever distressed him like this unfortunate affair. The situation was so serious that he would do anything short of sacrificing the honour and reputation of the British people to put the difficulty right., Everyone regretted that the board had thought it necessary to cable, and probably it is now regretted in certain quarters that it Avas ever sent.

It was essential that Marylebone would support the team, for it was impossible to think that they could have resorted to any method injurious to the game. It would be disastrous to cancel the remaining Tests. He hoped they would be continued to be played in an amicable spirit.

"We should all be careful," concluded Sir Stanley, "especially old cricketers, to say nothing to impugn the sportsmanship of another country. In my long expedience I never knew an Australian cricketer with whom we could find fault. The Australians had always observed the written and unwritten rules of cricket." What "Duleep" Thinks. "Let us keep cricket as a game and not mix it with polities," writes K. S. Duleepsinhji (whose illness prevented his being in the Tests) in the "Star." "I cannot imagine Englishmen refusing to buy Australian meat and other goods because there has been ill-feeling over a game. My only objection to the leg theory is that it makes the game uninteresting." Conflicting Views. The "Manchester Guardian," in a subleader, rccalls that protests against body-line bowling were heard long before the present tour in Australia. A fresh rule or interpretation seems necessary. Cancellation of the remaining Tests would be deplorable. The opportunity lias arisen for the application of that English genius for unspoken compromise. There is also an opportunity to redeem cricket by an exhibition of good temper.

The "Guardian's" sentiments are fairly representative of the more conciliatory attitude now prevailing in responsible quarters.

The "Sketch," however, says: "Both Australia's protest and our reply show the lack of a sense of proportion. If the Australian protest was a little rude our reply, was unnecessarily touchy and stiff.

"Surely it was not necessary to talk about the cancellation of the rest of the tour."

Francis Stanley Jackson, who was born on November 21, 1870, played in 20 Tests, in England only, from 1893 to 1905, inclusive. As captain of England in 1905 lie won tlie toss in all five Tests against Joe Darling's last side, and liis batting in that series was chiefly instrumental in regaining the "Ashes" for England. In his career he hit five Test centuries against the Australians. It was always a great regret that he never paid a visit to the Commonwealth.