THE "GOOGLE"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1931, Page 21

THE "GOOGLE"

FIRST USE OF TERM

References have been made recently to the first use of the term "googlie" in cricket, and it was of particular interest to note that " Plum" Warner, the noted English critic, selector, and ex-player, gave Wellington the distinction of having applied this term to a particular type of slow bowling now much in use. In another recent reference to the -mutter it was stated that "googlie" bowling was so named in Australia. Drawing attention to this, statement, and with a desire that credit should be given where credit is due, Mr. R A. Keade, of Wellington, points out that the distinction belongs to Mr. Jack Barr, formerly of the "Evening Post's" staff, and now in Sydney.

Notes written by . Mr. P. F. Warner for this, year's spring number of the "Cricketer," regarding the second visit to England by a New . Zealand, team, included the" "following: "Writing of Blunis and: Hewitt as googlie bowlers reminds me that the first time I ever saw the word 'googlie' in print was in a Wellington newspaper in 1903, when playing for'Lord'.Hawko's team v. Wellington. B. J. T. Bosanquet was bowling and X/ H. Tucker was described, as 'walking out to. Bosanquet and bursting up his googlies with a heavy bat,'. It was during that tour that. Charles Bannerman, the famous Australian cricketer, who umpired for us, remarked: 'When' the next team goes to Australia, Mr. Warner, be sure that Mr. Bosanquet is in it. He bowls a lot of bad 'uns, but that off-breaking leg-break of his might win- a Test match.' Never was there a truer prophet." . __._

An effort is being made in Dunedin to introduce wrestling into the Otago University, and the Otago Wrestling Association^ is. prepared to provide the students with an instructor.. There are quite a number of would-be pupils, and it,is thought there are good prospects of establishing a class at the University which would give a big fillip to the amateur side of the mat game.