"BARRACKING"

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 15, 18 January 1921, Page 7

"BARRACKING"

CROWD'S COMMENTS AT TEST

MATCH.

(PSOM OSS OWN CO-RESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 10th January.

Much has been said about the way in which the Australian crowds "barrack" the players during a big cricket match. Here are some typical comments gathered during play in. the second Test match in Melbourne. It was a sweltering day —about 104 in the shade —and the masculine portion of the crowd carried its coat and waistcoat over its arm, or hung them to the nearest fence.

Howell came ou to bowl. "Oh, how'll you get him " bellowed the crowd's head punster—and gained a. laugh.

Douglas, the English captain^and a distinctly " clasay'.' young officer, was bowling. Douglas is anything but Australian in his ways, but the crowd loves him, and calls him "Johnny" and "Doug." quite affectionately, yirobubly because he is really a good sport. He has. a, curious habit, when bowling, of howling about until ho finds the exact spot from which he delivers the ball — and this, of course, is a godsend to tho crowd. " Two steps to the rear, Johnny, and mind the step "■ they shout. Then, as Douglas gets ready to deliver, "Ah, now you're rifrht." Douglas grins.

Pellew had reached his century, and Gregory was .approaching his, after a wonderful batting display. And then a tired voice was heard addressing poor Douglas, who had triad every bowler and every trick he had to break the pair asunder: "Oh, hurry up, Doug—they have to go to England in April."

But when England, went in at last, the barrackers turned their guns on the Australians, and Armstrong, the burly 'captain, had to endure much. A noisy admirer at the fence called him a " burly bosker.''

The very, long-legged Gregory went, sailing away after a. ball. "Don't step over the grandstand," pleaded a shrill, anxious voice. His nonchalant way of catching a throw-in tickled the spectators. "No wonder Fritzie didn't get you," someone shouted. "You could catch a 5.9 and throw it away." When one of Gregory's very fast balls caught Rhodes on the arm there was an immediate howl of "Stretcher-bearers."

Even the new Governor-General, Lord Forster, a keen cricketer, was not exempt. As ho strolled through, the crowd, there were friendly, if somewhat cheeky,' remarks made. "Say. Disr., could you stop one?" inquired one friendly voice, and His Excellency grinned appreciation. That is the famous " barracking"— distinctly stupid, as a rule, and quite harmless.