COVERED WICKETS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 118, 14 November 1925, Page 22

COVERED WICKETS

IN FAVOUR OF BATSMEN

GIVING THE BOWLERS A CHANCE

The decision of the Australian Board of Cricket Control to advise the various State associations that it does not consider the covering of wickets in the best interests of the game, will be received with general approval, states the Sydney "Daily Telegraph." A lesson, was learned in the third Test match played in Adelaide' last season, when the Australian batsmen crumpled up before the attack of Kilner ou a sticky wicket. In England many such wickets are likely to be encountered, and it must be generally admitted that some of the younger batsmen, who are sure to be included in the Australian team, will have had little experience in this class of wicket. Should rainy weather be met with this season during the Sheffield Shield and trial matches, theae batsmen will have an opportunity of rectifying this to a certain extent. Wiikets are not covered in Australia in matches against England, and such a practice is unheard of in England. The covering of wickets in Australia was decided upon mainly because of the public and the gates. With the wicket covered, when rain fell during a game, it was never damaged, and play was ways possible when it ceased. To a certain extent this covering of wickets has taken away much of the sporting element in Sheffield Shield matches. It catered purely for the batsman, who La already well catered for by billiard table pitches. In fine weather the bowl er has little to assist him, and the covering of, wickets made his task still harder in wet weather, for his foothold is slippery and the ball wet. The batsman (till had the tame wicket to bat on. > . , . ■

' Surely the batsman should not be considered all the time. The bowler should be allowed to take advantage of the weather conditions as well as th»' batsman. Wet wicket bowlers will be needed in England, and at the present time Australia has few bowlers who can take advantage o! a sticky -wicket How are we to develop such bowlers if they are always asked to bowl on hard wickets?

And there is also the other aspect What of our batsmen? We have many players who can be depended upon to do well on good wickets, but few of them have shown that they are capable of making runs under adverse conditions. A wet wicket does not necessarily follow- that,it is a bowler's wicket. But frequently in grade cricket we have seen sides collapse on a wet wicket which is' slow and easy.: Many batsmen are out practically before they go in if the wicket has had a little rain on it. This is because they are. so filled with the dread of a "sticky" • wicket that they do not play their usual game. Already this season Mr. R. J. A. Massie, of the University Club, has attacked the present methods of- coaching young, batsmen. He advocates the coaching adopted in the past, where batsmen were taught tkat the "best means of defence is attack," and to go for the bowling. A hard-hitting batsman who is prepared to take risks is the. batsman who ■■ will make runs on' a. wet wicket. Such » batsman wa* Bonnor, and many of his scores, made quickly on a .bowlers' wicket, have helped to win, matches.- :..-■■-

Let us hope (says the writer) that the State Association will agree with the board'a decision, and that some matches at least. will,be played under conditions which will-give"our players experience for the big matches in England.