SOME COMMENTS ON WELLKNOWN BOWLERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 29 December 1923, Page 3

SOME COMMENTS ON WELLKNOWN BOWLERS.

It is interesting to note that in the Queensland team there is only one player under 30 years—Hornibrook— whom we are all waiting to see and study. He will be the most discussed man in Melbourne during the next week-end. Already there is a multitude of opinions about him by critics who have never seen him Ibowl. I can say that if Hornibrook succeeds in the peculiarly conservative atmosphere of Melbourne he will be hailed with open arms for the sake of the same, but if he fails then he should be able to take back to Brisbane a few souvenirs from the local press. The man next to Hornibrook upon whom the public has fixed its fancy is D. Blackie. He has undoubtedly been the most discussed man in Melbourne this season. It has been written of mm that he can- swerve, flight, break, nang i.n the air, come through fast off the pitch, and cut a thousand other capers with the ball. So, Queensland, look out for. yourselves! Blackie is. and always has been, a really good club bowler, who maintains a"consistent length, varied with ;an occasional swerve, or a ball with a change of pace. * Another bowler. C. Grimmett, has been commiserated with by the local press for a number of seasons because not more use has been made of him in big cricket. Grimmett is, I think, admittedly one of the best club bowlers in Victoria, and his figures are really astonishing. In the last three seasons m pennant matches he has captured 174 wickets at an average of 13 5 runs per wicket. But his figures in big cricket are not good. In 1920-21 Vic--1-104 and 0-30; Victoria v. New South 3^n(n Mn«?«?1<mm)- 4"91 ' Victoria r .MC-9- 2-50. It is possible that brrimmett has never been thorough! v put to the test. On the other hand it may be that class batsmen use their teet wisely to the slow bowling, md h f noe Gnmmett's bowling is not as vitriolic as it is in club cricket.