M. A. Noble Is Reminiscent About South African Cricketers

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6541, 4 May 1931, Page 10

M. A. Noble Is Reminiscent About South African Cricketers

BOWLING NEEDS FOR NEXT SEASON

BITING, in the Sydney “Sun,” a. few days. ago, about the South Afi’ican ci-icket team’s visit to Australia next summer, M. A. Noble, the old Australian Eleven captain, became

i-eminiscent befoi-e he started to discuss Austi'alia’s needs for next cricket season. He wrote:— It was in 1910-11 that the South Africans last visited Australia. Shades of Reggie Schwarz, the off-break howler with a leg-break action! Strange to say, he could not howl a leg-break, and was comparatively easy once the batsman discovered his secret.

G. A. Faulkner, the great all-rounder and hosey expert, was the mainstay of the team. P. W. Sherwell, the skipper, was an excellent wicketkeeper; A. E. Vogler, medium-pace champion, with a vicious wrong-’un, was considered the

greatest howler of his time, but did not reveal his maximum capacity.

jimmy Sinclair was a mighty hitter. On a matting-on-turf wicket at Ncwlands, in Cape Town, in 1902, he twice hit Bill Howell out of the ground. A. J. Hopkins said, “What’s the matter, Bill? You ought to he able to keep him quiet.” The bee farmer twinkled at him, and said: “You have a try.”

floppy did, and was twice landed over the tall pine ti-ees sui-rounding the ground. “Why don’t you keep him

quiet, Hoppy?” said Bill. Unfortunately, Sinclair, like Gilbert Jessop, England’s crouching smiter, found our wickets too fast for his methods, and did not rcpi’oduce his hurricane form in Australia. These five men, most of whom have passed on, fox-med the backbone of a classy combination, and, although beaten, created tremendous public intei’est.

In the Test series 11. V. Hordern entered international cricket as an exponent of the wrong-’un. He bowled a wonderful length and had a determining influence in Ausrtalia’s victory. The Springboks are coming again next season; not any of the old brigade remain. A new team has been gathered together, and, like Australia’s young men, it has recently overcome mighty England. The fact that South Africa and Australia are level in points in the triangular contest lends added interest to the forthcoming tour; therefore, it is well to try and estimate the combined strength of the men likely to be at our disposal. It cannot be said that our bowlers failed us this season, but at the same time there is a disquieting suspicion that their efficiency may be found somewhat wanting against seasoned international batsmen. The fact that the career of 11. Ironmonger, C. V. Grimmett and P. M. Hornibrook is now possibly slipping behind them must not be lost sight of. We should, therefore, look around for necessary replacements. / It is to be hoped that the authorities will be able to find a combination of young men capable of being co-ordin-ated into a well-balanced side. That is, a real speed merchant, a right and left-hand spin artist, with disguise in action and variation in pace and flight, and a slow leg-break bowler with, if possible, a good wrong-’uu up his sleeve. We leai-n by practice, observation and actual contact with men of experience. Every cricketer knows that 50 runs made in a match are worth weeks of net practice. It is also a fact that the taking of five wickets in a struggle when the pressure is high and the opposition grim, determined and skilful, is of immense educational value. This is the type required in the highest grade of cricket. Brute strength is no match for skill. The spirit remains strong and the mind active long after muscles become weary and stamina fails.