AUSTRALIAN CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 21

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET

"ET THE DOLDRUMS"

"The Fight for tho Ashes, 1928-29." By M. A. Noble. London: George G. Harrap and Company, Ltd. Certain opinions held by M. A. Noble regarding Australians present standing in the cricket world were made known by the publication of a cabled message some weeks ago, and they made the game in the Commonwealth appear in a very bad light. Australian cricket had drifted into a pit" (as the Press cablegram stated) through sheer pigheadedness, and much of the blame was thrown upon the Australian Board of Control—a board that seemed to bo as barren of perspicacity as it was incapable of fostering the best interests of the game. Never had Australia been so weak in all departments; opportunities to encourage youth had been neglected; men of experience were never consulted; and unless the powers that bo showed more imagination than in recent years, he (Noble) did not see a prospect of escaping from the pit. So dark a view of Australian cricket, presented by an authority whom Lord Forster regards as ono of the most astute captains and judges of the game that he has ever known, and whose criticism is founded upon deep knowledge and wide experience, gives no little cause for concern to all who are interested in the welfare of the game J*ew Zealand is interested, as it looks to Australia for much of the guidance and help that will enable it eventually to come into line as a country well equipped for Tests with those groat cricketing countries which flglit for the Ashes. New Zealand was also deeply interested in the last fight for the Ashes, the result of which gave rise to the outspoken criticism made by Noble. It is in his book, "The Fight for the Ashes, 1928-29," that the exAustralian captain points out that it is Australia's turn to be in the doldrums. But the outlook is not so black as it would be made to appear by that section of Noble's criticism which appeared in the cabled message. After watching Chapman's eleven through the whole of a strenuous season, Noble has no hesitation in declaring that they havo definitely lifted England out of the slough of despond into which she had fallen duriug the last decade, and placed her on a foundation from which she will be hard to shift by any Australian team of the near future. There can be no doubt that England is on top,.and nobody appreciates the fact more than AI A Noble. "Yet," he says, "I am not exactly apprehensive about the future because force of circumstances must bring about changes that should be all to the good of tho game." One strong point he makes is that England gave an object-lesson to Australia in the manner in which it reconstructed after its structure had been shattered by the Great War, and in the success attained Australia must go and do likewise The need of consulting men of experience and proven ability is also stressed. I here are in Australia such men ready and willing to give to the utmost of their capacity in the interests of cricket. Yet they might as well l,u dead-ami all their experience with them—as far as the Auslrlliim cricket legislators aro concerned (says Noble). But to writing Is on the wall, whether tlicv are blind to it or not. What was writu-n of IM-'lmcliadnczzar of old may reasonably be inscribed over the portals of ihoir sanctum 10----art'foum'r'wantin 11'"^1' 0" '" "'C ll;llI1"<:c- aml Tlio last scrios of Tests is covered in a thoroughly interesting wanner in this book and Noble makes it nn absorbing story as well us a valuable record. Moreover, play and players aro dealt with so thoroughly as tv offer a wealth of points for cricketers in modelling their play upon right lines. The men who made good and the reasons for their success are dealt with quite apart from the story of the Tests and the other games. Chapman (as captain) Hammond, "Tho Old Firm" (Hobbs and Sutciiffio), Kippax, AVhite (this stalwart farmer-cricketer undoubtedly played tho leading part in the downfall of Australia, and Noble tells tho reason why), Jackson, Bradman, Rvder Jardine, Duckworth, and Larwood; these are tho men to whom Noble gives special attention. Of interesting incidents there is excellent measure, and timelimit Tests are discussed. A very liberal supply of excellent illustrations is also a featuro of tho publication. Having studied tho tour closely from start.to finish, Noble recognises that it was a great achievement for Ryder's men, beaten in four Tests, to rise'to the standard they did in winning tho final Test. The fact that improvement was registered from game to gmne demonstrated that the win was not n.urelv -i cliance one. Thus tho outlook for IUIIO becomes lmmo-isur nhly brighter from an Australian 1," Int. or view. Even takliiK our eleven as const luted in this last match, U should be al,l o toklvo 1 very Rood account of itself in Kiiclaml mil when to If. aro added several more rnmkw colts. Includlnc ono or two \Z hZZt -If mv yi 7'" n ° I' o',""1-"' 0 I'rospcct of a ,„(, „ royal for the Ashes next year seems to 'in ccr laln _ •> •""•Lin.-, 10 -it eirThis book is well worthy of a place in the cricketer's library.—"Not Out."