CRICKET IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 9

CRICKET IN ENGLAND.

COMMERCIALISM ALLEGED.

AUTHORITIES SURPRISED.

(Eeceived 5.8 p.m.)

United Service.

LONDON. Deo. 14.

The English cricket world is property shocked at the report that Mr. A. C. M.acLaren considered Australian cricket sporting all through, whereas commercialism interfered with English county cricket. The dictum so upsets preconceived English beliefs that cricketers are mystified. Douglas says he is puzzled, but made no further comment. Another authority says it is astonishing, coming from a man of Mr. MacLaren's status. If ho means the counties pay overmuch attention to gate proceeds, he will greatly surprise everyone connects with county cricket.

MR. MACLAREN'S CONTENTION

AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONALS,

Mr. MacLaren last evening expressed the opinion that cricket in England is more over-commercialised to-day than it ever has been in the history of the game. In his heyday the professional received only half the amount the professional is getting to-day. The war had lowered the Standard of English cricket, and amateurs could riot Sevote the same time to the game as in pre-war days. ; " The English authorities are shocked," said Mr. MacLaren, " but not 'half so much as I was when I saw th© deplorable exhibitions by England in the test matches against the Australians in England two years ago. Of the last ten matches—five in -Australia and five in England—not one had been won by England. It was no matter for surprise to old players, seeing how the teams were selected,' with very little regard to the all-important matter of fielding." Mr. MacLaren was quite satisfied that those who witnessed the defeat of the Australians at Eastbourne freely admitted that the 'brilliancy of the Cambridge fieldsmen, with the wonderful cricket of Aubrey Faulkner, and the excellent bowling of Falcon and Gibson, caused the overthrow of the hitherto unbeaten eleven.

Concerning the professionals, Mr. MacLaren further said they could not be blamed if they played cricket from a business point of view, and no one with any sense of justice could blame them for getting £30 a week compared with £10 in the speaker's day. How would the cricket authorities justify their attitude when players of the calibre of Harry Tyldesley, who is not considered good enough to play for the Lancashire first eleven, Mr. Clem. Gibson, and Mr. David ] Brand, grandson of Lord Hampden, could dismiss for 201 runs on a batsman's wicket a New South Wales team m which there were no fewer than eight Australian internationals, who took part in the English test matches. Dav' d Brand, Percy Chapman and Clem bioson, who are members of the team at present playing Auckland, were, said Mr. MacLaren, three of the best amateur cricketers in England to-day. In furtherance of his contention concerning the lack of appreciation of prom* isin* players, Mr. MacLaren stated that Tvldcsley, the leg-break bowler of the present team, had been offered an.engagement by South Australia, and would probably accept the appointment on his recommendation.