"BODY-LINE" BOWLING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 15

"BODY-LINE" BOWLING

LARWOOD'S MEMOIRS •

'A few weeks ago there was a possibility of the cricket war becoming amicably settled, but the publication of Larwood's memoirs has caused a further conflagration, owing to the fact that he lias played on the personal aspect of tlietour, -writes Arthur Mailey, who supplied special contributions to "The Post" throughout tho M.C.C. team's recent tour of Australia. This is Larwood's own personal affair, and if lie wishes to "write indiscreet or frank paragraphs about his opponents or Australian crowds he must be prepared to accept the backwash of these statements when his fame as a fast bowler is on the wane. Little notice will be taken of his remarks by tho M.C.C. or the Board of Control, but there is one point which deserves more than passing attention, DEFINITION WANTED. Larwood prefers to call his particular type of attack fast leg-theory bowling, while his critics call it bodyline. This is a point which very few people are able to decide with any certainty. Since the- Board of Control was tho first to make general use of the expression ''body-line," a definition is ■expected before the Imperial Conference is able to take action. If body-line means bowling at the body, then medium-fast off-break bowling on a sticky wicket comes under that heading. If, on the other hand, it is only directed at extra fast bowling, we are admitting thiit extreme pace is the crime. Consequently, when Larwood admits to fast leg-theory bowling, he has set up a barrier which, will protect him unless a clear definition of body-line is forthcoming. It does not matter what we think of Larwood or his opinions. We must bo fair on this question in justice to fast bowlers in general, i EFFECT OF BOARD'S KULE. . Had the board's rule empowering umpires to no-ball bowlers been in operation in England in. 1921, Gregory and McDonald, I am sure, would have been cautioned, if not debarred from bowling occasionally, yet there was nothing suggestive of body-line about their attack: I fielded in the slips most of the 'time to these great bowlers, and'expected every ball bowled i to come my way. Jack Gregory was" the sorriest man on the field if he happened to "ping" a batsman. Consequently, we are in danger of handicapping bowlers of the Gregory-McDonald type if we are not careful. ■» If Wall, with his speed, were able to bowl an off-break, he would be disqualified almost before he walked ou the field, because %c -would pitch in line with the stumps and hit the batsman twice in every over.' AN EMISSABY? If the M.CiC. accepts the board's suggestion, I, personally, would not care to umpire in a match where two or three fast bowlers wero operating. Most umpires, unfortunately, will be influenced by the placing oi the leg field. '■.-'■■; It has been suggested that 'Australia should send a representative to Lord's in order to put the■ Australian case against body-line. By doing this we would probably, create further argu-« inent and discussion. Just at the moment we need somebody truly representative of the spirit of cricket; somebody whose presence in England would heal th;osle wounds which legislation arid argument irritate • and • intensify. I could think of no better emissary than William. Woodfull, a man who1 is respected and admired all over the British Isles.