CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 23

CRICKET

AUSTRALIA AND LBW RULE

There is no doubt now that Australia will have to fall into line in regard to the new leg-before-wicfcet rule. This is indicated by the issue by the Marylebone Cricket Club of instructions that the new law be given the widest possible trial in the coming English season. The club points to the success of the law when it yras tried last season and requests. the cooperation of all concerned to ensur* its complete application. The appeal, it is said, is obviously directed 1o Australia, as well as to cricket organisations in England.

England, South Africa, India, and the West Indies are all in favour of the rule, therefore it is obvious that Australia must follow suit. The pity is that the authorities here, writes E. H. Baillie in the "Sporting Globe," did not a,dopt it completely for the current season here and for the South African tour. Kad that been done all our players would have gained experience of it, and there could have been no objection to its application to the Test matches here next season. As it is, we may now have to enter upon these games with the rule in force, and our players under the handicap against England that our authorities feared it the rule were applied to the Tests in South Africa. As we have previously pointed out, the handicap would be less serious against South Africa than it might be against England.

If the new law is to be applied to the Tests next season, it will mean that the only experience our Test men will have of it will be gained in th« games preceding the Tests, for if it i« adopted it will certainly be adopted for all first-class games.