FIRST PRACTICE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 9

FIRST PRACTICE.

AUSTRALIANS EXERCISE AT LORD'S. big crowd present. (Bt CABLB—PBMS ASSOCIATION —COPTBIGHT.) (SIBUXI 'Sua" BKHVIca.; 0 LONDON, April 19. The Australian cricketers practised for two hours at the nets at Lord's, a big crowd watching. Everyone excepting Grimmett, who is suffering from a slight cold, bowled and batted, and did a short turn of exercises, mainly muscle-loosening. The men gave little indication of their true form. Th&y have hardly yet got their land logs, and are burdened with extra flesh, put on during tho voyage. CRICKETERS ENTERTAINED. (AUSTRALIAN N.2. CABLE ASSOCIATION,) LONDON, April 19. After attending tho opening of the Australian Apple Show, the cricketers were given a reception at Australia House, which drew a big crowd, including Sir James Allen and pjany leading Australians. Sir Joseph Cook, Australian High Commissioner, introducing the players, predicted that 1926 would see the best cricket and the toughest struggles for many years. Mr L. C. M. S. Amery (Dominions Secretary), welcomed tho playerß, on behalf of the Government, as good sportsmen and citizens of the Empire, which was largely held together by the love of sport, and the common desire to see the best side win. He suggested transporting the English cricketers' sweethearts and wives to Austra.1U; otherwise the testa would be played under unequal conditions. The audience demanded a speech from J. B. Hobbs, but he had slipped away from the platform. "DEMON" BOWLER ILL. (ACOTUUAK ANP X.f. (ÜBZ4S ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, April 19. The "demon-bowler" F. R. Spofforth is seriously ill, suffering from oilitis. [The famous Australian cricketer, Spofforth was an international figure in the seventies and eighties. He was a member of the first Australian team to visit England in 1878, when he took 106 wicketa at an average of 14.10 runs. He had played for Australia in the second Test of the previous year. He kept a wonderful length. In one Test, which was played in England in August, 1882, a remarkable feature of the game was that J. McC. Blaokham kept wickets for Spofforth without anyone behind him, and only three byes went past him. In this match Spofforth took seven wickets for 46 in tne first innings, and seven for 44 in the second. He visited Australia last year during the tour of Gilligao's team.]