CRICKETING MEMORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18458, 23 July 1923, Page 8

CRICKETING MEMORIES.

. HOBBS ON AUSTRALIANS. <"■ ■ ; • .... ; ' ''.'''■■ ■ MERCILESS " BARRACKING." Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Eecd. 4.50 p.m.) . LONDON. July 22. J- B. Hobbs, the famous cricketer, continuing his reminiscenses in the Sunday Express, writes: 'The interest taken in wicket in Australia, is enormous. The crowds are fully conversant with the finer points of the '. game, and their comments are very audible and free. Strict impartiality is not a Btrong point, of the Australian crowd. Anything topical or 8* personal peculiarity is sure to be commented upon. J. W. T. Douglas had the nickname, 'Johnny won't hit to-day,' bestowed on him in the 1912 tour during a match against Victoria, in which ho took three r hours to make 38 runs. Someone shouted, 'Arrest that man for loitering.' Douglas was offered a bet that more trains would pass the ground in an hour than he would make runs. The trains won by 23. "Bill Hitch in the same match was bowling; his best to get the wicket. .'He's no good,' cried someone, 'give him a passage home.' Poor old BUI collapsed. He would have liked to get in among them, but it does not do to be touchy. If you keep cheery yon are all right, but. if yon show the slightest temper, they rub it in. We finished the tour with a football match against ; Western Australia, my one international Soccer cap. We then turned homewards."