A CRICKET SENSATION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4608, 11 October 1934, Page 7

A CRICKET SENSATION

MYSTERY OF VOCE. AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS "BOOED." APPEAL FOR FRANKNESS. London, August 17. Another indication of the topheaviness of cricket news lias been given during the past few days. William Voce, the Nottingham left-arm fast bowler, adopted leg-theory tactics in the match against the Australians, and captured eight wickets in the first innings.

Before Voce changed into flannels on the last day of the match he was called to the secretary's office, and not until his absence from the field was observed and inquiries made was the following official statement issued: —

"Voce is suffering from a recurrence of his shin trouble, and on medical advice will not play to-day.—H. A. Brown, secretary."

This, and the demonstration by the spectators against the Australian team, made first-class material for newspaper sensation.

On the face of things, though it is neither affirmed nor denied, it appears that the Australians protested against Voce's bowling, and the Notts committee acted accordingly. The result was that the Australians were booed by the Trent Bridge crowd, and their departure was guarded by policemen. Several cricket correspondents seem to have obtained the same and only statement from Voce:— "I k'new there would be trouble. I suppose I should not have played at all."

Notts. Captain's Views.

The Daily Express correspondent publishes a long statement from A. W. Carr, the Notts captain, who was not playing in the match. He is reported to have said: "If I had been captaining the side to-day Voce would have played and he would have bowled. "When I arrived at the ground I told Voce that I thought he still stood a chance of playi'ng in the last test, and I was staggered when he told me he was not playing to-day.

"I was told that he was to be rested. I at once asked why. I was told 'there is nothing in the match now,' and that Voce had some hard bowling ahead of him. He would not have been rested to-day if I had had a say in things. "Although the officials deny that there have been any protests against Voce's leg theory on Saturday, when he took eight wickets for 66 runs, I still think something must have been said. "It is preposterous that such a state of affairs should arise, and it only goes to prove that something must have transpired. We have the best right-arm fast bowler in the country in Larwood and the best leftarm fast bowler in Voce, and neither is allowed to play against the Australians. 'There is nothing wrong with Voce." An Alleged Understanding. According to Mr. Trevor Wignall, the Australians definitely had an understanding with the M.C.C. before they played their first match at Worcester that there would be no bodyline bowling. The same writer publishes a statement from what he considers a reliable source. His informant said: — i "If by any chance Voce was invited , to play in the last test a very serious l situation will arise. The Australian , Board of Control cannot help but take action, and this may easily mean a cessation of test cricket between the two countries for some years. ' "The older members of the AustraI lian team at Trent Bridge did not take much notice of the demonstration made against them, but the younger players were most obviously affected. "One of the fears expressed is that a dangerous atmosphere has been created for the Oval game. We do not expect scenes or incidents in London, but there is the unfortunate possibility that the last test may finish in a most unhappy and unpleasant fashion. "The Australians are against fast leg-theory not because they are afraid of it, but because they consider it unfair. "However, it is now up to the M.C.C. and the Australian Board of Control, but there is also a certain responsibility resting on the selectors, Sir Stanley Jackson and Messrs. Higson and Perrin. If Voce is played—well, I would not like to be asked to accept the consequences." Cards on the Table. Mr. Howard Marshall, of the Daily Telegraph, make an urgent appeal to have the matter of leg-theory bowling cleared up once and for all. "Secrecy," he writes, "leads inevitably to gossip and innuendo, and illinformed rumour and speculation. It is unfair to the public; it is unfair

to the players concerned; it is unfair to the authorities themselves, if only they would realise it.

"This is an occasion for frankness. The cards must be upon the table. Let us know what the M.C.C. thinks of fast leg-theory bowling. They can trust us to take a common sense view of any statement they care to make. Let the Australians, in their turn, relax their vow of silence and give us their point of view.

"We sympathise with Mr. Bushby, the Australian manager, but he should be empowered to speak more freely. It is inevitable that his refusal to make clear the Australian position should be misinterpreted. I cannot believe that it is beyond the power of the M.C.C. and the Australian Board of Control to clear up the situation and clear it up swiftly at that.

Australia's Strong Feeling.

"It is difficult for us in England to realise how strong the feeling is in Australia against fast leg-theory. I have heard this from many trustworthy sources, both English and Australian, and we cannot dismiss it with a wave of the hand. There is no doubt, to my mind, that if Voce were picked for England and bowled as he did at Nottingham, test matches would be discontinued for many years to come. "There is every reason to make a gesture which may keep alive the spirit of representative cricket. That gesture is the renunciation of fast leg-theory bowling. Should we lose a great deal if we renounced it? Not nearly so much as we should gain. There is no reason to fear that our pride or our prestige would suffer." An Official Statement. As a sequel to the events at Trent Bridge a letter from Mr. H. A. Brown, secretary to the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, was issued : He wrote: "In view of the many conflicting rumours and also widespread statements made in the public press, I am instructed to say that the subject (of the Nottingham v. Australia match) is likely to be considered by my committee at the meeting to be held next week. The committee will then decide to issue a statement. Meanwhile will you please state: —

No telegram, mysterious or otherwise, bearing upon the non-playing of Voce on Tuesday was received. No communication whatever has been received on the matter either from the M.C.C. or the selectors.

No member of the committee has resigned or intimated his desire to do so.

The press statements by Mr. A. W. Carr are purely personal, and have been without the knowledge or approval of the committee.

Foolish Statements.

An equally emphatic denial of certain statements which have appeared was given by Sir Stanley Jackson himself in an interview on his return from Scotland.

He said: "Much nonsense is being talked about the test. A lot of people seem to forget that we are selecting a team to represent England at cricket. They imagine that all we have to do is to find someone to bowl their heads off.

"The whole question of who will play and who will not play will have to be decided by the selectors together, and it would make matters a lot easier if foolish statements regarding individual players were not circulated, and if people remembered that we are playing cricket. It can only be played successfully by well balanced teams working together in a sporting spirit." Regarding the statement that Woodfull would walk off the field with his team if Voce played in the test and bowled leg theory, Sir Stanley continued: "I think it is rubbish. All these statements are creating a difficult situation. Personally I do not believe that Woodfull would do such a thing, or even threaten to do such a thing."