THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS

Evening Star, Issue 17599, 2 March 1921, Page 7

THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS

FIFTH TEST: NINE WICKETS REVERSE. The last chapter of the fifth test match at Sydney yesterday was spiritless and uninteresting. With 68 required to win and all wickets intact, the result was a foregone conclusion. The outfield was heavy as the result of the rain, and the wicket was damp, bul not troublesome, 1 excepting to the bowlers, who required sawdust to ensure a secure foothold. Woolley and Parkin opened the attack, both W-sroen adopting astonishingly cautions methods, to*the surprise of the few hundred spectators. The first 50 was registered in fifty-four minutes. Wilson then endeavored te effect a separation, but the batsman wetebed the hall as carefully as if the '‘ashes" hung in the balance. With five run. ..to win and two for ihs half-century, Bardsley hit Wilson to square-leg for a brace, after ninety-two minutes’ play. Both batsmen pottered about for three overs, endeavoring to register tho necessary rims, and then Collins snicked Wilson * into Strudwick’s hands. His 37 had been made in ICO minutes. One for 91. Macartney scored two singles, one each from Wilson and Rhodes, and Australia won by nine wickets, losing one wicket for 93 runs. Scores: England. First innings 204 Second innings 280 Total 484 Australia. First innings 392 Second Innings. Collins c Strudwick b Wilson 37 Bardsley not out 50 Macartney not out 2 Sundries 4 One wicket tor •. ... 93 Bowling Analysis.—Wilson, 1 wicket, 8 runs: Rhodes, 0 wicket, 20 runs; Woolley, 0 wicket, 27 runs; Parkin, 0 wicket, 32 runs; Fender, 0 wicket, 2 runs, 1 no-ball. THE “ BARRACKING ” INCIDENT. LONDON, February 28. Wilson’s cable to the ‘ Daily Express ’ regarding Monday’s hostile demonstration merely says that when Wilson was stumped he had a memorable reception, even those on the members’ stand hooting him. Hobbs had a wonderful welcome, with three cheers both when walking out and walking in. Fender’s cable to,, the ‘Daily Nows’ says : “ There were extraordinary scenes, frequently one section of the spectators barracking bard, while the remainder, who were the larger part, provided a sympathetic demonstration, though even a certain section of the members barracked Wilson when* he was given out. Hobbs had a great ovation, as also had Douglas.” Tho ‘ Daily Express,’ in a leading article entitled ‘A Testy Match,’ says: “Good sportsmen will regret the scenes which maned the final test. In the first place a section of the crowd jeered at Hobbs’s slow movement, duo, as all must know, to an injury. When Wilson made criticism of this conduct the crowd retorted by subjecting him and Fender to violent barracking. The whole thing is wretched, and the explanation probably is that the. attack upon Wilson masked a sense of shame which the crowd would not confess. The ovation to Hobbs in the second innings bears this interpretation. It is important that the Marylebone-Australian Board should concert measures against the display of temper. We have been well and deservedly beaten, and it will be a thousand pities if our sincere congratulations to the winners should be mixed with any bitterness. If the test matches are to continue, if cricket is to keep its place as a clean, wholesome game, the decencies of sportsmanship must be preserved all over tho ground, and not only inside the boundaries."

The “Daily News' says; “It is unfortunate that the last test match, which nothing but a miracle can prevent ending in the complete discomfiture of the Englishmen, should be accompanied by an exhibition of ill-feeling towards the members of the English team. Fender arid Wilson have once or twice mildly criticised by implication the umpires’ decisions. They also stated that the spectators rather senselessly barracked Hobbs, who was lame and in pain, for his inactivity in fielding. The Australian cricketing public, while not exactly fastidious in its own attitude, seems surprisingly sensitive when a little plain speaking is directed against itself or its favorites. We do not think Fender has boon unfair or one-sided in his criticism. He bestowed ample praise on the Australians. Besides, there was no rancour in his remarks upon the umpire’s decisions. They are honest, and such as appear daily in the English Press during the season. One would have imagined that even the Australian papers occasionally allow themselves the liberty of saying that an umpire made a mistake. The barracking of Hobbs is in another category. It is impossible for Fender and Wilson to have made such a complaint if it was not justified. Moreover, at least one Australian paper admits that there was some jeering. Wc need not take such incidents too seriously, Australian barrackers are usually good-humored and impartial in their banter, and the crowd must not be judged by less sporting elements. Tile Australians won fairly and squarely because they have the better side.’’ “ AMATEUR JOURNALISM. ’’ LONDON, March 1, The ‘ Daily Chronicle ’ does not refer editorially to the scenes, but alludes to Fender and Wilson in the news columns as amateur journalists. Apart from the ‘ Daily News ’ and ‘Daily Express,’ which support their correspondents Fender and Wilson, the morning newspapers give little prominence to the Sydney barracking. In several cases the regular local correspondents set the events in a different prospective from the ‘Daily News’ and ‘Daily Express.’ Several, including ‘ Sporting Life and Sportsman,’ urge the Marylebone Club to forbid cricketers commenting on their own games, and the ‘ Sportsman ’ suggests that the Marylebone Board of Control should hold an inquiry when both teams arrive in England. “NEW BLOOD, NOT BAD BLOOD.” Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March L (Received March 2, at 9 a.m.) The ‘ Daily Herald ’ says: “The Australians do not object to Wilson and Fender as cricketers, but as journalists, and shocking bad journalists at that. Our former protest against the selection of amateurs as a social asset has been amply justified. Their capacity lias been for sending tactless telegrams reminiscent of the ex-Kaiser. What English cricket needs is new blood. These amateurs have only contributed bad blood. TACTLESSNESS DEPLORED. The ‘ Manchester Guardian ’ says editorially: “ However the barracking of Wilson' and Fender is, it was not altogether unprovoked. The main point is not whether the allegations of the barracking of Hobbs is true, but whether it is tactful that players should have reported the scene if the crowd made itself a nuisance. The tactful course would have been for Douglas to protest to Armstrong, leaving the latter to take action. This is not the first instance of tactlessness during the tour. _ There was, for instance, Wilson's disputing of the umpire’s decision in the first test. Such ‘ incidents in a country where partisanship runs wild do not assist towards an easeful, felicitous atmosphere. Why will players or spectators insist on importing dreadful seriousness into the joyous game?” .

IMPORTANCE OF SLIP FIELDING. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, March 2. (Received March 2, at 10.20 a.m.) The ‘ Herald ’ says: Probably no series of tests have been so completely devoid of match interest or the thrilling fluctuations of fortune. In the Adelaide match only was there the semblance of a close fight. Throughout the season the Englishmen have been handicapped by illness and accidents to players entitling them to the genuine sympathy of everyone. Australian superiority with the bat, the ball, and in the field has never been seriously challenged. The “bosie” style of bowling has been successful, and has been a dominant feature of the season’s play. Mailey deserves warm congratulations oh his success. Tho striking lesson taught has been the importance of slip fielding. It is impossible to estimate its influence on catches held or dropped during the season. It is a tremendous encouragement to bowlers to know that they are supported by good slips, who should bo specialists, just as wicketkeepers. Both countries are now level pegging—forty tests each. THE SKIPPERS DIFFIDENT. SYDNEY, March _ 2. Douglas and Armstrong were interviewed, but both declined to comment on the incidents of the game. NOTES BY “ ONLOOKER.” Tho “ bag ” of five tests, all decisively won, places the superiority of the Australians over the visiting English team beyond question. The games resulted : At Svdnev (December 17). —Won by 377 runs. Australia, 267 and 581; England, 190 and 281. At Melbourne (December 31). —Won by an innings and 91 runs. Australia, 499; England, 261 and 157. At Adelaide (January 14). —Won by 119 runs. Australia, 354 and 582; England, 447 and 570. At Melbourne (February 11). —Won by eight wickets. England, 284 and 515; Australia, 389 and 211 for two wickets. At Sydney (February 25). —Won by nine wickets. England, 204 and 280; Australia, 392 and 93 for one wicket. The unpleasant incidents which occurred on Monday as the result of _ indiscreet, cables sent to the London dailies by two plaver correspondents, which the “ barrackers ” resented, and as a result “took” to the senders, reminds one of the trouble on tho Svdncy ground, many years ago, when Lord Harris was made the object of a hostile demonstration. Should players act as newspaper correspondents? That issue will be raised in England as tho result of tho latest ground trouble. The answer should be unequivocal. How can a player criticise his fellow-mates without incurring hostility? The principle runs counter to discipline. Wilson and Fender—especially the first-named, who has been well named “ Cables ” for tho trivialities he has rent to England along the wires—have wielded the pen to more purpose than the bat. _ Jack Gregory has been tho outstanding figure of the test scries. In his eight innings (twice not out) he has _ made 444 runs —an average of 74. Ho failed in his first match, but afterwards did remarkably well for a “colt.’’ His contributions have been: 8 and 2, 100, 10 and 73*, 77 and 76*, 93. With Mailey he has borne the brunt of the bowling, and on this pair the attack on English wickets will mainly devolve. . After forty-five years of test cricket the records of England and Australia are equal, forty games each and nineteen drawn games. Who will win the centennial match, to begin at Nottingham on May 28?