BODY-LINE BOWLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 166, 13 June 1933, Page 7

BODY-LINE BOWLING

STATEMENT BY M.C.C. “MISLEADING AND IMPROPER”

TERM

BOARD’S RULE NOT FAVOURED.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received June 13, 11.20 a.m. LONDON, June 12.

The Marylebone Cricket Club, in a cable of 700 words in reply to the Australian Board of Control, says that it has carefully considered the hoard's cable of April 28, also the reports of the English captain and managers. It adds:—

“Wo consider the term ‘body-line’ bowling to bo misleading and improper. It has led to much inaccuracy of thought by confusing a short, bumping ball, whether directed off the middle or leg stump, with what is known as ‘leg theory.’ The term ‘body-line’ would appear to imply a direct attack by the bowler on the batsmen. The committee consider that such an implication applied to any English howler in Australia is improper and incorrect. Such action on the part of any bowler would bo an offence against tho spirit of the game and would he immediately condemned. The practice of bowling on the leg stump with the field placed on the leg side, as is necessary for such bowling, is legitimate and has been in force for many years. It was generally referred to as the ‘leg theory.’ The present habit of batsmen to move in front of the wicket with the object of gliding straight balls to the leg tends to give the impression that the bowler is bowling at the batsman, especially in the case of a fast bowler when the batsman mistimes the ball and is hit.

“The new law recommended by the board does not appear to the committee to be practicable. Firstly, it would place an impossible task on the umpire. Secondly, it would place in the hands of the umpire power over the game more than dangerous, which any umpire might well fear to exercise. The committee have had no reason to give special attention to the leg theory as practised by fast bowlers.”

BARRACKING CRITICISED. “The committee will watch carefully during the present season and then express an opinion at a special meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference. Regarding the report of the captain and managers the committee, while deeply appreciative of the private and publio hospitality shown the Englishmen, is much conemed about the barracking which, is referred to in all reports and of which there is unanimous deprecation. Barracking is unfortunately always indulged in by spectators in Australia to a degree unknown in England. During the late tour it would appear to have exceeded that of previous experience, occasionally being thoroughly objectionable. There appears to have been little or no effort on the part of those responsible for the administration of the game in Australia to interfere or control the exhibition. The team naturally regarded this as a serious lack of consideration to them. The committee is of the opinion that cricket played under such conditions is robbed of much of its value as a game. Unless barracking in Australia is stopped, or greatly moderated, it is difficult to see how continuance of representative matches can serve the best interests of the game. The committee regrets that these maters were deal with by correspondence instead of by a personal conference. If duly accredited representatives of Australian cricket would confer wih the committee it would be welcomed by Marylebone,” adds the report. HELPFUL REPORT.

Received June 13, 8.50 a.m. LONDON, June 12. A prominent member of the Marylebone Cricket Club told a representative of the Sun Service that the subcommittee’s report on body-line howling would prove helpful in overcoming the trouble.

A cable from Sydney on April 28 mado the following statement:—Sitting until the early hours of this morning, tho Board of Control decided on action to prevent bodylino bowling in Australian cricket and asked tho Marylebone Cricket Club to take similar action. Messrs Hartigan, Noble, Woodfull and Richardson, who were appointed to consider the question, submitted the following recommendation as an addition to the laws of cricket: — _ “Any ball delivered, which in the. opinion of tho uinpiro is bowled at the batsman with intent to intimidate or injure him, shall bo considered unfair and ‘no ball’’ shall bo called and the bowler notified of tho reason. If the offence is repeated by tho same bowler in the same innings ho shall immediately bo instructed by the umpire to cease bowling and the over shall be regarded as completed. Such a bowler shall not again be permitted to bowl during the course of the innings then in progress.” The board resolved to accept the report and decided to send a copy of the new Australian law by cable to the Marylebono Club with the request that it be considered by that body with tho object of its application ,to all cricket.