New L.B.W. Law.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 272, 16 November 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

New L.B.W. Law.

" " 1 ■ i DIVISION OF OPINION. Batsmen Disagree, But the Bowlers Like It. There 3s a sharp division of opinion regarding the experimental leg before wicket rule, which has now been in force for three months of the cricket season (states London "Sporting Life"). Ample opportunity has been afforded batsmen to judge its effect on the game on every typo of wicket, but there is surprising lack of unanimity among them. Umpires, on the other hand, are almost unanimous that the alteration lias improved the game, forced batsmen to make more strokes, given greater encouragement to bowlers, and led to a larger number of games being finished. England's captain, R. E. S. Wyatt, is not in favour of the new rule being continued. His reason is:— "It encourages bowlers to bowl offbreaks and in-swingers, resulting in less off-side plav, and also affecting the hook shot. One"thing in favour of the rule is that it makes batsmen piny at more off balls." Contrast this with the view of A. B. Sellers, the Yorkshire captain, who believes that the new rule lias come to stay. "1 have found it helps the bowlers a great deal, and that is what was wanted. There are a good many batsmen who have got out when playing at the ball which last year they would have padded off or left alone." Surrey's captain, E. I\. T. Holmes, on the other hand, agrees with Wyatt, and declares that the rule has not achieved its object. "It puts a premium on forward play, and lias made little difference to forward players, but has curtailed the strokes of back players considerably." Even the Essex joint-captains cannot agree. T. N. Pearee describes the innovation as a great success; D. R. Wilcox says that on bad wickets off-spinners get quite enough assistance without it.

J. W. Seamer, of Somerset, welcomes it because it has got rid of those "interminable first wicket partnerships we used to have." Fagg, of Kent, one of the most promising of the younger professionals, does not think the change is doing any harm. He gives this advice: "TJie best thing for a batsman is to play his natural game, and not think about leg before. Thinking about it gets you out." Bowlers like it, naturally. All those invited to express an opinion gave the new rule their blessing, except Nichols, of Essex. He complains that the new rule is all in favour of slow bowlers.