BODY-LINE BOWLING

Evening Star, Issue 21318, 24 January 1933, Page 6

BODY-LINE BOWLING

M.G.C. IN REPLY TO PROTEST ALLEGATION OF “ UNSPORTSMANLIKE PLAY " DEPRECATED FULLEST CONFIDENCE IN CAPTAIN AND TEAM Prois Association—By Telegraph—CopyrigM LONDON, January 23. (Received January 24, at 10.30 a.m.)' Viscount Lewisham presided at a meeting of the committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club. It is ex-, pected that the committee is likely to send a conciliatory reply to Australia.! It is understood that the committee is anxious to smooth the difficulties which l have arisen without interfering with Jardine’s authority. The question ol> cancelling the remaining tests is not likely to arise. The meeting was still sitting at 5.15 this evening. (Received January 24, at 1 p.m.)

The Marylebone Committee has cabled the board:—

“ We, the Marylebone Club, deplore s'our cable and deprecate the opinion that there has been unsportsmanlike play. We have the_ fullest confidence in the captain, and in the team. The managers are convinced they do nothing to infringe the laws of cricket’ and the spirit of the game, and. we have no evidence that our confidence is misplaced. Much as we regret the accidents to Woodfull and Oldfield we understand that in neither case was the bowler to blame.

“If the board wishes to propose ai new law or rule it shall receive our; careful consideration in duo We hope the situation is not now as serious as your cable appears to indicate, but if it is such as to jeopardise the good relations of English and Australian cricketers, and you consider it is desirable to cancel the remainder oft the programme, we would consent with great reluctance.”

[An Adelaide cable of January 18 stated:—Mr Jeans, secretary of the. Board of Control, says that the following cable has been sent by the board to the Marylebone Cricket Club* “Body-line bowling is a menace to thai interest of the game, making protection of the body the main consideration. There is an intensely bitter feeling among the players, who are liable to be injured. In our opinion, it 13 unsportsmanlike, and unless it is immediately stopped it likely to upset tha friendly relations between Australia and England.”]