A CRICKET GENIUS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 197, 9 August 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CRICKET GENIUS

ABTISTBY OF DUOKWOETH PRINCE OF WICKET-kEEPErB The Trial match at Lordfs between England and the Rest, if it did not give ue much cricket of distinction, no doubt caused some private satisfaction to the Selection Committee (writes Neville Cardus in the "Sporting and Dramatic News’’). It demonstrated that no member of the Rest XI. had any reason for making a grievance because he had not been chosen for the other side. Best of all, the match made an end of the nonsense that has been long in circulation to the effect that Ames was in the class of Duckworth as a wicketkeeper. Ames is a good stumper, but not one inevitably born to the job. He might just as easily have been something else in the world just as good. Most of us may imagine ourselves developing into wicket-keepers as able as Ames —given training of profes--1 sional intensity and duration. But on the day that Duckworth was born, providence said, ‘ ‘ Wo ’ll make a great ' wicket-keeper this morning. Duckworth looks the part of England's stumper all over; not since Ktrudwick have we had a wicketkeeper who so completely cairied himself according to all the tradition*! conceptions of the important office. Ho is small, gets down low to the earth on his haunches, and stands up to all bowling that is not manifestly fast. And if he puts the polish and flourish of art on his stumping, if he sweeps off the bails rhetorically—well,, the game gains as a spectacle and the enemy is given some additional irritation to their nerves. A man is great in any calling when at times his ability suddenly transcends a level of normal skill, when by a magical impulse he is driven to the achievement of some deed that causes us to snatch at our breath. In almost every innings, Duckworth will compel us to at least one occasion to blink Our eyes and murmur: " Marvellous! ” Ho has imagination; he can create opportunities. Not only does he hold on to most of tho chances which come his way; he many times get a man out by an act of quite visionary foresight.