A DISAPPOINTING TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 28, 2 August 1926, Page 4

A DISAPPOINTING TOUR

';; TOO MANY MATCHES DRAWN If-; AUSTRALIAN METHODS ■;.;. CRITICISED. ;-'.(United Press Association.—Copyright.) •>' (Router's Telegram.) •■! ' ■ . LONDON, 31st July. .'..lnterest now chiefly centres in the 'final Test match at the Ovul on the 14th •August. In many respects tho tour ;6an be written down as a most disappointing ever undertaken, and unless something unusual happens at the (O.val to retriove tho situation, porhaps $'o tour will ever be subject to such comment. There has been Wore provocative Press criticism and Store dogged misfortune than ever before. From the beginning, when the R'trike appeared likely to sound its' .dcathknell, the whole tour has involved jmtold inconvenience and expense, and •then followed a remarkable series of Misfortunes. The teams' personnel has fc'een now left with practically a bare Eleven to select from, culminating in ithe temporary loss of the captain (H. li. Collins), whose condition at one time. gave more or less concern, though he ■fcjas happily now recovered. Added to i\ua the weather has-been perhapsi the most atrocious possiblo, resulting in the Abandonment of the first Test, and a Serious financial blow, as well as'helping to minimise subsequent interest.

'Furthermore, every subsequent Test has been responsible for a controversial outburst, which may have been magnified rsomewhat by the-newspapers, but never•iheless was distinctly unfortunate. It 'is noticeable that: Australian methods ,'lave been the subject of much criticism, 'jrad there has been some suggestion ;that they did -not play cricket as under'Btood in England. There is also the •imputation that the Australians regard ;the county matches as nothing more nor •less than so much batting practice. This !inay or may hot be justified, but nevertheless the fact remains that with fourteen or more matches to go, the Australians have totalled 17 draws out of 26 played.

v Many people think that the policy of •regarding the Tests as the only vital matches detracts somewhat from the •purpose of international tours. i- Public interest in matches where a »draw is obvious from the first day were itrikicgly indicated by the fact that on 'jhe second day at Manchester the attendance was 34,000, and on the third 17,000. ; The public are assuredly •without interest in drawn matches, but whether it is correct to blame the Australian methods for this is a controversial point; The republication of Australian comments has greatly heartenedferities, who printed in double-column .headings: "Australian Denunciations." *'The. Australians feel that the tour involves a big strain in travelling, and more rest is necessary." This reads Somewhat strangely when the big distances in. Australia -are remembered; $nd the fact that English teams are required to cove* them. j| The fate of "The Ashes'' now defends on the match at the Oval, where »it is hoped the final and most inrpoitint game of the tour will be of such a oiaturo as to remove all possibility of [criticism.. ji An interesting note in this connection }% that the revenue.authorities have l'o'tificd.thc owners of about thirty houses the Oval that the money ipaid for'the privilege of occupying win' dows and balconies on the occasion of the match will be subject to entertjfinmeht tax. This is tho cause of the latest, if somewhat subsidiary, argument, which seems to be inevitably associated with the tour.