Grey River Argus THURSDAY, August 23, 1934. THE ASHES.

Grey River Argus, 23 August 1934, Page 4

Grey River Argus THURSDAY, August 23, 1934. THE ASHES.

Facing a deficit larger than the first innings score of the Australians, no chance remained _ for England in the second innings in retaining the Ashes, which once more will cross the water as a sign that cricket supremacy does not yet permanently belong to either country. All things considered, the Australians have fully earned the Ashes on the present tour, during which only one defeat has been sustained by them. In batting they possess at least three men without superiors, perhaps without equals in England, and in bowling their record, within orthodox limits, has been finer than that of England. To people there, of course, the exelusion of the two most dangerous bowlers from the tests has been regarded with mixed feelings. Yet it is probable that a great, and what is likely to become a determinant, body of opinion in England is against the so-called leg-theory, which is now known in Australia as the “bodyline.” The non selection of both Larwood and Voce for the tests indicates that the controlling body, the M.C.C., wishes that style of attack to be dropped. Whether it will be remains uncer. tain, when it is considered that it has been still used in the final test by one of the Englishmen. The fact that it has been perfected means that it will remain a temptation for any bowler who is able to employ it, and. as pointed out when first it was questioned, the difficulty is to find an effective means of preventing it, except to exclude bowlers who use it. Apart from this complica-

tion, however, the Australians have every claim to be regarded as the world’s present best, and their recovery of the ashes is therefore an appropriate evidence of it. They have shown the better tactics. In the fourth test they went very close to victory, so that England may be said to have been on top in a single test ■out of the five. The publicity given to the series has perhaps made them bulk too greatly in the public mind, diverting it from matters of perhaps more serious moment. Yet interest has been heightened by the addition of the I radio description of play to the usual cabled account, and the occasion has served the purpose of showing the vast possibilities of wireless as a means of an intercourse among most widely separated communities. Following up the run of the play, listeners have been enabled to see that the Australians have almost invariably been able to maintain their tradi tion of rising to the c'.casion. Without the variety or pace in bowling that England has had at its disposal, the Australian trundlers have so shrewdly varied their spin bowling that any very prolonged stands against them have been very few and far between. On the other hand, the opening of the final test witnessed a remarkable stand by the visitors’ early batsmen, creating new records, and these just when they were most required. It is that adaptability which makes all the difference in a game of the nature of cricket, where the play may last for so long in a single game.

Now that the tour is Rearing a close, it may be said that another should not be undertaken until any differences are settled. Feeling has been so aroused that a recurrence might have worse eon sequences than any yet experienced. Among the public the international matches are regarded with more sentiment probably than among the participants, whose numbers are increasingly professional in character. The interest of professional cricketers is to see the game retain its vogue, and in England this disposition may cause them to regard the loss of the ashes with equanimity, as it means greater British interest in the next 4 team to be sent in quest of the ashes again. Present day tendancies of some sports towards becoming a business or an industry do dispose more people to make a distinction between the standpoint of those who perform and those who look on. It might, therefore, do no harm if the ashes were actually forgotten for a decade. In the meantime, however, there will be no less satisfaction in New Zealand than in Australia that they are returning to Australia, for the cricketers of that country in their trials with England’s best have always had the sympathy of New Zealanders, who will be pleased to think that the sister Dominion has once more vindicated its reputation of being second to none in its national game.