CRICKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 23 May 1936, Page 12

CRICKET

• AUSTRALIA’S GESTURE • (By Air Mail—From Our Own <i Correspondent) I’. V LONDON, 30th April. The adoption of the new leg-before-wicket rule by Australia lias given great satisfaction to the English authorities. It has now been approved by the whole cricket world,'and it is felt that it will make for the betterment of the game. At.the same time I think the„benetit will be mainly in England, where in recent.. years of pad-players has

grown up among batsmen. As I have previously stated, Don Bradman lias been one of the strongest advocates of the alteration, but Australian players have not acquired tho same habit of covering their stumps to a ball pitched wide of them. In the circumstances the rule may be in their favour. But Australia’s action is a fine sporting gesture, and an indication of their desire finally to close the rift which occurred over the body-line controversy. An invitation has been sent to Lord Hawke and Mr Findlay, the retiring secretary ot the M.C.G. to visit them, and I do not think there is any doubt that, when the England team arrive in the autumn, they be received with all the old enthusiasm.