CRICKET.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17259, 24 September 1921, Page 14

CRICKET.

ARMSTRONG ASSAILED.

A REPUDIATED DXTEBVIEW.

(By Cable—Press Ausociafion—<Jopyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,) I ./ . LONDON, Soptcmber saleable messages have been received in London indicating that Warwick Armstrong denied* in the. Australian Press, the authenticity of the interview attributed to*hkn. Armstrong's views appeared in the "Manchester Evening News" in the form of e> question-and-answer-interview, signed bj J. C. Clegg,' one of the beat-known- cricket writers. Armstrong, despite the criticism raging in the .fcnglieh Press, including the strictures of the Hon.'F. b. Jackson, J. B. Hobbs, F. C. 'loone, and Lord Harris, has. made no attempt in: London, to meet the; criticisms, not even to the. extent of attempting to modify the views expressed in tho Manchester interview, which had the widest publicity.' On the contrary, since returning to London, he has been besieged by London reporters, whom he refuses to see. >■ \ ■ ! The Australian , Press Association : interviewed Mi C.egg, who states that he spent I two and a-haif hours with Armstrong, who told him much more' of great interest to [ Australia which he did not publiih. Th» interview was duthentio to the last'comma. I Armstrong has not token any Bteps whatever with Mr Clegg to, repudiate the interview. : ■ .< Anniitrong informed the Australian Press Association to-night that he never gave "»n official interview regarding the tour for publication." Armstrong infers that any alleged interview which has been published arose from a casual conversation on a bowling-green at Manchester between himself, waiter Brearley, Clegg, and others, the whole talk being as between friends. [A few days ago Armstrong emphatically denied that he gave the interview which caused the protests, and which was republished in the London papers from the "Hah; cheater Evening News." .Armstrong said: "I have bean grouse shooting in Scotland for the past week, and have not seen any Press reporters. If a reporter claims that he has interviewed mo, he must have had a dream." Armstrong expressed goodhumoured astonishment at the attacks in the j London Press, adding that he had not read I the newspapers, and consequently was un- | aware of the interview. He did not take tho Press attack seriously. In_ the Interview in the "Manchester Evening Newa," Armstrong' attributed England's defeat _• to I the fact that she played too many profetI sionals, who took over much time to play themselves in to give England a chance to win in three days. Bad fielding was another cause. Australia would have secured the rubber on any wicket. He expected that future tcata in England would be spread over five days. England, he said, would never get an average professional to play as he shculd in a match restricted to three days. Some of England's players were too old, and gave away more runs in the field than they made with the bat. The Australians' "defeat was due to stateness. Towards tho end of tho tour the team was getting so stale that the players could scarcely lift a bat or bowl a ball. They lost at Eastbourne because England made 43 in the first innings. Had England made 143, Australia would have won.]