AUSTRALIAN VISIT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18570, 21 December 1925, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN VISIT.

ENGLISH CONTROVERSY. (AUSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, December 19. The opinion in cricket circles favours putting country before county in connexion with the projected suspension of county cricket during the Australian visit. There is a unanimity of opinion that anything tending to handicap England's chances of regaining the ashes should be eliminated. Douglas voices the viewpoint of another section to the effect that the smaller clubs would he ruined. He points out that many prefer to work to the last moment before facing the Australians. Professionals are inclined to disagree with suspension on the grounda of monetary losses. Tate, one of the hardest-worked cricketers, sums up thusly: "If selected —and I hope to be given a chance to skittle a few of the "Australians'" timbers—l shall ask to be allowed to rest The Australians nurse their men, and it should be possible to do the same here. It is not advisable for a player to rush breathlessly from a county- match to play the Australians. '' Colonel Trevor, in the "Daily Telegraph," stresses the urgency of team work, which only recently was. regarded as applicable to cricket. In past comparisons of English and Australian elevens it appeared on paper to favour the Englishmen. Nevertheless, the Australians persisted in winning, proving superior in team work, especially in relation bowling and fielding. Unfortunately England was handicapped in a way that the Australians are not by the fact that -first-class cricket in England is more of a financial business than a game, while the English public, is not so keen on tests as the Australian crowds. Therefore it may be difficult to suspend county matches. Xeverthlijss, England badly needs a victory to restore her prestige, which has suffered seriously, and which flimsy excuses have only made ridiculous. England n.ust run financial risk if she does not mean to run a greater risk of irreparably damaging her cricket prestige.'{