COUNTED OUT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 58, 12 March 1929, Page 11

COUNTED OUT

REMARKABLE SCENES

JOKING THAT BECAME

SEEIOUS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 7th March.

The remarkable scenes that were enacted on the Melbourne cricket ground last Saturday, during the return match between England and Victoria, have been described as a serious reflection on the sporting spirit of Australian cricketing crowds. It is doubtful whether such an all-round condemnation is justified. It seems that the whole thing started as a joke-—just good-humoured barracking when England's shock bowler, Larwood, was put on to bowl one of Victoria's worst batsmen,, Ironmonger. The trouble was that Larwood and the remainder of the Englishmen did not see the joke, or, if .they did, they did not appreciate it. Thoro is nothing that urges a crowd on more than the realisation that the other fellow does not appreciate the joke, and so it was that a harmless'incident at the outset developed into the most regrettable, and perhaps the most disgraceful, of the Englishmen's tour. The "Argus" says that there was nothing sinister in the first outburst, and had the whole thing been treated as a joke it would have been over very soon.

Australian cricket barackers have always been notorious for their trenchant criticism of players, sparing neither friend nor foe; but Saturday's scene was probably without parallel in the history of this country. The crowd in the outer reserve howled and hooted at Larwood for apparently no other reason than that he wai put on to 'bowl aga'ijst Ironmonger Su that the Victorian innings could be brought to a close as soon as possible. The demonstration was begun as soon as the ball was tossed to Larwood, and at first was

more in tho nature of ironical cheers. It developed as soon as tho fast bowler took his long run to deliver tho ball. It continued during the delivery of the first three balls, but there were real cheers when Ironmonger unexpectedly scored two from the first two balls. As Larwood was about to bowl the fourth ball, amidst the yells from the crowd, tho English captain, Chapman, realising that Larwood was being affected by the demonstration, held up his hand like a constable on point duty, and Larwood stopped short.

Members of the English team, w'.o had had a gruelling day in the field, sat on tho grass, apparently glad of the rest, and the crowd vigorously counted them out. The uproar lasted for several minutes, but when a momentary cessation was gained, Chapman again tossed the ball to Larwood to continue his over. But it was soon shown that tho vocal powers of the demonstrators had not been exhausted. Once moro they turned loose the unwarranted uproar, and Larwood did not deliver his itfth ball. Once again Chapman stopped him, and again the Englishmen sat down. Woodi'ull, who had played such a remarkably fine innings—27s not out— did his best to stop tho demonstration. With Chapnum he walked across to tho outer reserve and both players addressed the spectators. They soon had a huge audience, and were joined by Jardine. Quietness reigned once again, and Larwood prdceeded to finish his over. As soon as he handled the. ball again the demonstration wag renewed, and the Victorian captain, Ryder, then saved the situation by declaring the Victorian innings closed.

The hooting continued as the team filed, off.the field, and there was a counter demonstration from the members' stand. Chapman was greatly upset. In fact, he was so perturbed over the matter that lie was almost in tears when he returned to his dressing room. Chapman refused to discuss the .incident beyond saying: "The thing that amazed mo was the way in which the crowd treated Woodfull. He had "played a most wonderful innings, and~was on the verge of doing what no one else has ever done before—cany his bat through an infcings. against an English team three times in one season. When he and I walked over to the fenco in the most friondly manner to ask the crowd to be quiet, they would not listen to their own champion. They were utterly unreasonable. I do not think they would have listened to the angel Gabriel himself."

Mr. F. C. Toone, manager of the English team, made the following statement: "The incident was very regrettable, necessitating the cessation 'of play, which was quite a justifiable action on the part of the English captain. At the same time we would .be sorry to think, and do' notj that this small section of the .crowd represents the general sporting spirit of the people of Australia. We must always remember that this is a game of cricket calling for the highest traditions of character. With that in view, I am confident that there will be no repetition of such incidents."

Naturally, Australian cricket officials have roundly condemned the demonstration, and they have assured the English captain that the spirit displayed by tha crowd last Saturday did not represent the spirit of Australians generally.