CRICKET PHASES

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1933, Page 9

CRICKET PHASES

BODY-LINE CONTROVERSY ENGLISH COUNTIES HAD ENOUGH DISTINCTION DRAWN. “LEG THEORY” PERMISSIBLE.

(United Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) , (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. “The county cricket clubs have had enough of body-line bowling,” says the “Sketch.” It discloses that 15 out of 17 first-class county captains have reached a “gentlemen’s agreement” that the leg-side will not be packed to a fast bowler in such a manner that a batsman in defending his body will necessarily surrender . his wicket.

However, the leg theory, meaning howling for catches by a slow or .medium-paced bowler, will not be affected. The “Sketch” says this decision does not reflect on the Marylebone Cricket Club or Jardine. It is merely a proof that less accurate bowlers than Larwood are dangerous, while incompetent bowlers are a menace arid tend to ruin the game Rules will not be made, but it will be agreed that body-lipe bonding- :s unsportsmanlike. Apparently Jardine and Carr are the only captains who support body-line bowling.

SOME N.S.W. VIEWS. TRADITION MENACED. “TESTS MUST GO ON.” SYDNEY. July 14. . Speaking at the annual meeting of the Cumberland District Cricket Club, Mr Syd, Smith, Jun., referring to body-line bowling, said: “I feel sure thafall cricketers will agree that the lest matches must go on, and that Australia must send a team to England next year. Nothing can be done by cables and letters. A round-table conference, at which every aspect of the controversy on body-lino\ bowling Can be discussed and all points decided, will eventually lead to the game being played to the great standard and traditions of the past.” Mr W. C, Bull, treasurer of the’ Board of Control, said that, a resolution had recently been passed that body-line bowling was against the best spirit of the game, and clubs had been asked to. stamp it-out, so that in years to come /England and Australia would play with the friendly feeling that previously existed. “Mr Jardine came along,” he said, “and instructed his followers with this unusual and extraordinary class of attack. It is a great menace to the game, and the employment of these tactics by England has caused what was once a feeling of good fellowship to become something bordering on hate, ” Mr Bull appealed to all cricketers to stamp ou tthe evil. Every effort possible was being made to adjust the squabble, and he hoped that England and Australia would soon be the friends they were in past years. Mr K. Johnston, a member of the executive of the New South Wales Cricket Association, said he considered that the stand Australia had taken —whether a team went to England or not —w T as right. Australia would always know it w r as right in protesting against something that wmuld eventually spoil the game.