THE WISE COTJESE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 7

THE WISE COTJESE

AN AUSTRALIAN VIEW

Commenting editorially upon the jVLC.C.'s reply to the cabled protest by the Australian Board of Control) the "Sydney-Morning Herald" states that many Australians deplored the board's message. It was unhappy in its terms, and ought never to have been sent during the progress of a Test match. Soino harm had been done, unquestionably, to the spirit of the gamo by the dissension which had already arisen, but the"-situation was made worse by the use of words couched (it must have seemed in England) in terms of extravagance. The reply, as made by the M.G.C., could hardly have been avoided, "but," says the "Sydney Morning Herald," "we trust that it will serve simply to bring the board to a saner consideration of the situation."

"For the board to reply that it did desire to cancel the remainder of the fhe programme would be a catas-trophe,"-the "Herald" adds. "It would create a gulf between the two cricketing countries immensely harder to bridge tha"n the present difference, and nobody would be able to estimate the duration of the interval"before' Test fixtures were resumed. England would no doubt turn to* South Africa and New Zealand for international contests, and Australian feeling would then really become soured. The Board of Control must find some response with which to dismiss this impossible contingency. If we cannot play the' game in good temper, certainly it were better not to play'it at all; but the very statement of that alternative must reinforce in all players and lovers of cricket the conviction that there is only one course before us. A special responsibility in that direction lies upon the board itself if it is to retain its local authority. It can do no good to Australian cricket by hurling charges of lack of sportsmanship. On that score the English captain uttered a just and dignified rebuke the other day to the Acting-Mayor of Ballarat who, presiding at a luncheon in form of hospitality, accused his guests of 'bringing in brutal force to suppress skill.' 'It has been said,' replied Mr. Jardirie, 'that a cricketer is easy money —you can't libel him.' There is more than one way of not playing the game, and the Board of Control must bear some blame for having made itself the Ballarat alderman's bad example. . "But the argument must not be pursued in that tenor. It exacerbates the bitterness and spoils the case which upholders of the game in Australia have for representation. As for the merits of the case, we have pointed out that, however justified the Englishmen may claim to be in their new bowling method, representations against it must be considered "because of the damage demonstrably done (reasonably or otherwise) to the spirit of the game. So much; has become evident from the active, resentment of Australian players (some of whom are also engaged as public commentators on the play) and of massed spectators. That is one of the practical aspects compelling recognition of a real difference remaining to be settled. Another consideration is the condemnation of these bowling methods by Mr. "Warner himself, representing the M.C.C. Last year Mr. Warner declared that the -M.C.C. would have to intervene if the methods were not abandoned. Politically speaking, the M.C.C. had rather compromised itself in this matter; the Board of Control has now followed suit. We see no better course than that which wo have already suggested —that the two captains, with, the assistance (if necessary) of representatives of the two controlling authorities, should meet resolved to restore respect for the game and thrash out the whole disputo to a settlement. The good sportsmanship which each side professes ought of itself to prompt' them to that course*"