“I’d Swim the Whole Way.”

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1934, Page 2

“I’d Swim the Whole Way.”

Hans Ebeling, the new cricket captain of Victoria, played in only the final of the five Tests in England. Many Australians, and a few Englishmen, expected to see him in the whole five Tests. Maurice Tate, writing on the eve of the first, at Nottingham, told this one abotit Hans: —“Hans Ebeling, a right-hand medium-paced bowler, has a very big chance of being in the first Test match at Nottingham, because Australia will be in need of a bowler to ‘open’ in company with ‘Tim’ Wall. Ebeling is the most likely man to do it, for he is the type who can make a new ball swing a bit —certainly in this country. Those of us who stay at home do not always realise how keen are Australians to visit the Mother Country. Ebeling brought the truth of this to me very forcibly when I met him in Melbourne on the last tour. Between the overs, when he was bowling to me, I said to him: —‘How would you like a trip to England with the next team?’ ‘Like it?’ he said. ‘Why, if they asked me, I’d swim the whole way if there were no other means of getting there.’ ”

Nupcn 'May Bowl Again. E. P. Nupen. the South African Test cricketer, who a few years ago was considered the leading matting wicket bowler in the world, has decided to bowl again this season, according to “Sporting Life.” For some years Nupen has suffered from what he thought, was a strained back, and last season, finding himself unable to bowl for long spells, he had an X-ray examination, which revealed that the suspected strain was a spinal, injury. On medical advice he announced that his bowling days were over. Recently, however, Nupen had a series of X-ray photographs taken, and sent them to one of the leading orthopaedic surgeons in London. This surgeon’s opinion was that the injury was not as serious as at first thought, and could bo completely cured by an operation.

Springtime or Metcalfe? When a man can make dumb animals lake a keen interest in his activities to such an extent that they copy him. it is evident that ho must have plenty of personality about him. At the Sydney Sports Ground recently, Australia’s crack jumper. J. P. Metcalfe, was present to perform for Sydney University, and a small herd of sheep was in evidence to keep the grass cropped. The woolly fraternity grazed contentedly on a hill during the early events, but when Metcalfe went into action and began taking prodigious leaps off the ground they all scurried down to the fence in a most amusing manner, and appeared to be watching carefully. Soon after he had won the event the .sheep began to run back to their grassy lull. Several of the animals began to leap into the air in the best springtime fashion, much to the amusement of the spectators, several of whom considered themselves first-class humorists by declaring that the sheep had learnt a little technique by watching the champion in action.