MEETING TODAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 9

MEETING TODAY

M.C.C. AND "BODY-LINE"

LORD TENNYSON OUTSPOKEN

Moro of the "body-lino" business is likely to be heard as a result of deliberations at cricket headquarters toaay. Tho M.C.C. meets today to review the recent Australian tour by its representatives, and it is expected to receive the report of the sub-eommitteo appointed to consider tho Australian Board of Control's proposed rule". According to cabled advices received in Australia, it is understood that the feeling of tho- picrnbcrs of the M.C.C. at its last meeting was that it was impracticable to legislate against "bodyline" bowling, especially by throwing the onus on the umpire. They realised, however, states one message, that _ the adoption of "body-line" was injurious to tho game, and wished, without appearing to let down the team, to devise a solution acceptable to Australia, and to avoid the possibility of interruption in Tests. , There was a belief that the report of the co-manager (Mr. P. F. Warner), and his discussions with the M.C.C. committee, showed that he was deeply unhappy about the whole business. He realised the strength of feeling in Australia, and was anxious to restore good relations. "OBVIOUS DUTY." In the opinion of Lord Tennyson, expressed in a recent contribution to the '' Mirror, "the M.C.C. *s duty is obvious. "It must refuse to put Jardiue and the other members of the team in the dock," he states. "It must tell the Australian Board of Control that it cannot enter into a discussion until the board apologises for its impeachment of the Englishmen, and expresses regret that) they were derided and barracked unwarrantably, and abused by the public Press. "I do not dispute Australia's right to doubt' the wisdom of specialising in legtheory, if they believed honestly that it menaced the game. But to impute unfairness in haste, the board 'mcouraged Australians to believe that Jardine was bludgeoning Australia, into defeat. The accusation that he conspired with Larwood to hit, and, if necessary, maim batsmen, surely exceeds the limits of forbearance. Bodyline bowling is another aame for attempting to win by a species of garrotting. Actions endorsed. "It is preposterous to suggest that Jardine was determined to win at any price. He is not a master of tact, but he is a sportsman, fearless, self-willed, unyielding to criticism, however vitriolic, and lie does not regret the mariner in which he used his bowlers. I would have acted as Jardine s did in similar circumstances. "The game will not be made worse; on- the contrary, it will bo bettered by leg-theory, which leaves the average man cold, though we discuss it until we are blue in the face. But the so-called body-line will eat into the very vitals of cricket. Marylebone must deny that Jardme has a case to answer. The Board,of Control must accept responsibility for the bickering and mud-sling-ing. If any crime was committed it was beating Australia. The most serious indictment against the team is that fairly, squarely, and above board they recaptured the Ashes." "M.C.C. IS MASTER." The "Sketch" achocs Lord Tennyson's views, declaring that 1$ is high time "this astounding Board of Control received a sharp and final reminder that Marylebone is master of cricket and requires no dictation or hint from anyone." The paper adds: "The board must be told frankly that if it chooses to frame local rules for the purpose of stopping its own possible evildoers, it must not bo surprised if "no English team consents to play under such farcical regulations. The cable sent on April 29, taken in conjunction with the one sent during the third Test, at Adelaide on January 18, is a tacit accusation that our bowlers were bowling with intent."