AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1938, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

L . SOCIAL AMENITIES a , 3 [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, April 26. ? Proposing a toast to the Australian f cricketers, at the banquet which he gave the team, the Lord Mayor (Sir Henry Twyford) recalled that he had played cricket at Hong Kong, CochinChina, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If international negotiations were conducted in the spirit of British cricket, they would be more suc- _ cessful. If Australia won, the cheers . would be as loud here as at Sydney or . Melbourne. ' Bradman, responding, said: “I am 1 stil holping to meet the man who i wants autographs for himself, not for . his nieces and nephews.” Referring , to the request for an additional play- - er, and the presence of the aviator, - Broadbent, at the banquet, Bradman I suggested that Broadbent might, uset fully be employed during the next • few weeks in flying backwards and ’ forwards, bringing the team up to J strength. It would be an economic disaster if international cricket were 1 stopped. Think of the employment it '■ gives, and think of the benefit to the Anglo-Australian tourist trade. Mr. Jeanes, referring to the menu, containing a sweet “Bombe Bradman,” congratulated the chef on the appropriateness of the title, considering Bradman’s explosive properties. Sir Stanley Jackson said that he did not think the good health of! cricket depends on the welfare of first I class cricket. Sympathising with Barnes, he reminded him that patience and fortitude were among the lessons to be learnt from cricket. “Maybe I am old fashioned,” he added, “but I do not like limitless cricket, and I wish you would get rid of it in Australia. It would be good for the i game.”

The “Daily Mail’s” sporting gossif wider suggests that if th Australians are realy hard Ip for a player to replace Barnes, their SOS need not travel farther than England’s cricket Press boxes, where Woodful and Oldfield are both sitting, or if neither of these old campaigners is fancied, he suggests that the Oxonian, Kimpton, could be asked to lend a hand. He is a first-rate, stylish batsman, a good bowler, and a useful wicket-keeper, and played for the Gentlemen v. j Players, last Summer, and is up to Test standard. He adds, however, that nobody will blame Bradman and Jtanes for trying to protect themselves against a possible emergency. Howard Marshall, writing in the “Daily Telegraph.” says: To do the Australians justice, they have not tried to create an inferiority complex. Bradman, who speaks in public almost as well as he plays cricket, has lulled us with fair words, stating that the risitors are determined to enjoy their matches. Their approach is not grim and purposeful, but friendly and co-operative. Bradman’s admirable speeches have struck a happy note. No Australian side ever won its way more swiftly or more surely in our esteemThere is such a thing, however, as a smile on the face of the tiger. Brad- ' man, at the luncheon table, and Bradman at the wicket, are rather different propositions. i

The special cricket correspondent of . the Australian Associated Press with /the team says: With Wednesday’s .! practice optional, the Australians will * have only four full-dress practices be- • fore the Worcester match. Despite [nine days in London, Bradman apparently does not attach much importance •to net form, relying on the relatively j comfortable matches a'gainst Wori cester, Oxford, Leicester and Cami bridge to prepare the team for the 1 mere serious trial against Marylebone. j Chipperfield, who flourishes under I English conditions, made an excellent ’ impression when batting. O’Reilly’s {bowling form is encouraging, his leg 'breaks lifting and turning sharply. Later, he practised bowling at a single stump, without a batsman. , The “Daily Mail’’ says: “Fleetwood-

Smith appeared to bowl a lower trajectory, with more accuracy 'than he did when last in England. Ward spun the ball with great violence, something like Mitchell, of Derbyshire, and kept an improved length.