M.C.C. TEAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1933, Page 17

M.C.C. TEAM.

CRYPTIC MESSAGE. PLAYING HOBBS AND WARNER SYDNEY, February 17. An announcement that the English team to play against Northern Districts at Newcastle to-morrow will include Hobbs and Warner has caused indignation. The fear is expressed in Newcastle that it will keep at leaet 5000 people away from the match. Accordingly, a protest has been sent to Jardine. A message from Melbourne states that Nagel will not be available for tihe final Test match next week owing to an injured arm. The Board of Control subsequently received the Newcastle protest against Warner and Hobbs playing against the Northern Districts team at Newcastle and forwarded it to Warner. Upon receipt of it Warner said he had no intention of belittling Newcastle, but it was essential that players be rested for the fifth Test. The position cannot now be remedied because eight members of the team are still in Brisbane. Oldfield has stated that he will be fit to play in the fifth Test.

LARWOOD THE GREAT

JARDINE'S SOLID PURPOSE. LONDON, February 17. The 'Daily Mail" and the "Star , say the Test match controversy should now be forgotten. A warm welcome awaits the Australians dn 1934. The cricket writer of the "Times" pays tributes to Jardine and Larwood who, he says, are almost entirely deserving of the credit for reversing Australia's form, which, in 1930, with a young team, promised lengthy superiority. Australian conditions demanded .particular solidity of purpose, which Jardine possessed very fully. He must .be given full credit for the splendid victory. Larwood, says the writer, transformed the Tests into a bowler's affair. His fortitude and stamina were remarkable, and he must be granted a place among the greatest of fast bowlers. Australia's heroes were Woodfull and O'Reilly. The Australian bowlers' perseverance was one of the resplendent features of the Tests. The "Manchester Guardian" says: "Larwood was the deciding factor in the Tests, for he solved the seemingly insoluble Bradman problem momentarily. There was only one blemish in the rubber victory—too many of England's batsmen played dull, stroke] ess cricket. The prize is not more than the game. There would soon be little of the game left if every cricketer set his mind entirely on victory." The "Yorkshire Post", is doubtful whether England has possessed .such a strong bowling side for 30 years.