ENGLISH CRICKET

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1926, Page 3

ENGLISH CRICKET

IMPROVED SINCE 1920. AUSTRALIANS ANSWERED. LONDON, March 30. “When the Australian writers are loudly praising their countrymen,” says tho Daily Mail’s cricket expert, “it is time to say a word on beliaff of the Englishmen. “Perhaps Noble is right when he says that Australian cricket is stronger than in 1921, but English cricket has likewise improved, because it has recovered from the dismal failure of Douglas’s tour of 1920, which was sapping the faith of both the players and the selectors. The intervening years have seen tho rise of Tqte, tho improvement of Sutcliffe, the development of McCaulay, the establishment, of Kflrier, and the entranco of many other promising players, while Hobbs, Woolley, Jupp, Strudwick, Holmes, and Hendren retain their excellence.

“As if to encourage the idea that all the Australians are super-men, famous Australians are suggesting that these new players are phenomenal and their veterans even more quick-footed and keener-eyed, but yet we are unconvinced that any Australian bowler is as good as McDonald, Moreover, Collins is not likely to possess Armstrong’s disturbing influence. “England chiefly needs confidence in her players. We must not forget tho axjom that an Australian halfvolley is not more menacing than those bowled by Black, of Derbyshire, or Dash, of Glamorgan.”