BODY-LINE DEAD

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 14, 11 October 1933, Page 9

BODY-LINE DEAD

Cricket Controversy

AMICABLE ENDING

Australian Board andM.C.C.

TEXT OF CABLEGRAMS

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Received October 10, 11.10 p.m.)

Sydney, October 10.

The death knell of body-line bowling lias apparently been sounded judging from the text of cable messages that have passed between the Australian Board of Control and the M.C.C.. which was made available this afternoon.

The substance of the Australian board’s cablegram is that while legtheory bowling as practised for many years* is not open to objection, “we feel that the continuance of the type of bowling to which exception has been taken in Australia, while strictly not in conflict with the laws of cricket, would not be in fhe best interests of the game. May we assume that you concur and that the teams will be able to take the field in 1934 with that knowledge? We are giving consideration to the question of barracking, and you can rely on our using our best endeavours to have it controlled in future. We are most anxious that the cordial relations between Australian and English cricket lovers shall continue.”

The M.C.C. reply heartily reciprocates the d.esire for the continuance of cordial relations, and says: "Any point of difference between us seems rather on the question of fact than any point of interpretation of the laws of cricket or the spirit of the game. The M.C.C. agrees, and has always agreed, that a form of bowling which is obviously a directed attack by the bowler on the batsman would be an offence against the spirit of the game, and your team can certainly take the field with the knowledge and full assurance that cricket will be played here in the same spirit as in the past and with the single desire to promote the best interests vf the game in both countries. The M.C.C. much appreciates your action in regard to future control of barracking in order to keep it within reasonable bounds. Your team can rely on a warm welcome from the M.C.C.”