CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18369, 30 April 1925, Page 11

CRICKET.

ENGLAND'S FAILURE. SUTCLIFFE'S OPINION. <*T CABLX-PRESS ASSOCIATION-COrTRIOHT.) UtJSTEALIAN AKD K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATIOK, LONDON, April 28. tl. Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire batsman, in the •Daily Chronicle," replying to' F. R Spofforth's belief that the nerve of English batsmen is not what it used to be, says that it is true that there were certain failures in the recent tests.

-When we won the teas, however," he continued, "we won ill a single innings. The Australian policy waa 'playing for keeps, and some British batsmen couid not accommodate themselves to such a plan. So when the Australians won toss after toss and adopted the police of playing for keeps, often to exhaustion, the strain on our batsmen wa3 verv great. I differ from Spuffortb. The British "failure was not due to nerveless batting, but to persistent bad luck. "Considering the skiL of the Australian attack, and the heavy scoring side which balled -first, there is little reason to seek further for the cause of the lest rubber, nobbs and I were fortunate to make as many runs as we did. The strain comes alike in the pavilion and on the field. In such circumstances the batsmen are bound to treat every ball with almost abnormal respect, and cannot play true cricket. Sandham was unluckv until he found his real form. "AVhcn the Australians come in 1926 they will find Sandham a very different proposition. ' Chapman, a brilliant hitter, feil through Collins's fine tactics in specially placing the field. I fancy the English wickets and rains will bring things our way."