BIG CRICKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 January 1936, Page 3

BIG CRICKET

TWO TEST MATCHES FOR LORDS (By Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 19. th December. For many years it has been the custom to play three of the five Test matches in the provinces, the grounds usually favoured being Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham. This iias left games for Lords and the Oval in London, and the arrangement lias always been regarded as a fair olio. It is now suggested, however, that Lords ought to have a. second fixture, and it is proposed to take une away from the provinces. The idea lias not been put forward by the authorities. In fact Ido not think that the M.C.G. want a second match at Lords, and they know that there will be an outburst in protest against the proposal. The new arraiigenient has been conceived by some of the counties, who see in it a chance to increase their share of the combined Test match receipts. Tests in London are, of course, much more profitable than in the provinces, not only through bigger gates; but because the admission charges can be made higher, but the interests of the public have to be taken into account, and I do not believe that any change will be made. None, at aiiy rate, is possible for the three Tests with the team from India next summer. These have already been fixed to take place at Lords, Manchester and the Oval. Tlie English authorities have now giv en permission to the Nawab of Pataudi to play for and captain the Indian team. He has, of course, appeared for England both in this' country and in Australia, but tlie rules permit him to change his cricket nationality, and, as I foreshadowed, consent to this has been given. The English captaincy remains to be settled, and the position will not be easily filled. R. T. Holmes lias announced that he intends to play for one more season, and lie will continue to lead Surrey. At the present time he, is in charge of the MVC.O. X1 J in New Zealand, aiul lie has done so well that I think he is sure to bo in the running for the captaincy against the Indians. I am afraid a statement that Holmes made in Australia has been misunderstood. lie declared that there was nothing in first class cricket for the amateur, but lie did not mean financially. Holmes is a member of the Stock Exchange, and his interest in the game is only in the pleasure he can derive from it. His remark, in fact, meant nothing more than that cricket seriously clashed with an amateur’s business activities, and that the two could not be reconciled. This is unfortunately truer to-day hail ever before, and it accounts for the comparatively few r amateurs who appear regularly in the county teams. It is also responsible for the difficulty experienced whenever an England captain has to be appointed.