THE AUSTRALIANS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 23

THE AUSTRALIANS

COMMENT IN ENGLAND

Commander C. B. Fry, a former captain of England, made the occasion" of the arrival of the Australian cricketers in England one for an attack on the defeatist psychology in England.

"Many people," he writes in the "Evening Standard," "endow the Australians with conventional superiority. They reason that because Bradman and O'Reilly are Australians, all Australians are Bradmans and O'Reillys. It is an obvious fallacy. Pessimists will, no doubt, retort that one Bradman and one O'Reilly are enough, which in one sense only is true," he says.

He asserts that Bradman's team is not as strong as Trott's or Darling's, but that it will not dishonour the high prestige of Australian cricket. "We must pull up our socks," he concludes, "to wade into them effectively, but we have plenty of legs to stand on."

'The "Yorkshire Post's" editorial welcome to the Australians says that there is every appearance of batting strength in the Australian team, with the redoubtable Bradman leading such col-

leagues as McCabe, Fingleton, Brown, Badcock, and Chipperfield. The brunt of the bowling will fall, presumably, on CTReilly, Fleetwood-Smith, and some variation of another "W Plan" involving Ward, Waite, and White.

The Australians are to be welcomed, says the article, not only for themselves,- but because they bring a stimulation to our summer pastime and provide us with a searching i trial of strength.

The "Daily Telegraph," under the heading, "Salute to the Australians," says our teams are assured of stern and lively fighting. Bradman does not tempt us to be optimistic, ■ for never was a batsman more likely to win a match against any team, but we need not resort to pessimism, which has helped us to lose many a game.

Mr. Malcolm MacDohald, Secretary for Dominions, sent a message to Bradman: "We are all delighted to welcome the Australian cricketers again, and wish you and your companions a most enjoyable visit."