FIRST-CLASS CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 13

FIRST-CLASS CRICKET.

LARWOOD AND BARRACKING,

/ PROPOSED NEW RULES.

THE VIEWS OF CHAPMAN.

[Br TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]' CHRISTCH'CRCH, Tuesday. "I feel sure that Harold Lar.vood was misreported when he was said to have stated he would never go to Australia again because of the Australian barracking, and in the other statements attributed to him on this subject. Lanvood is much too good a sportsman to take umbrage at the barracking." This is' the opinion of Mr. A. P. F. Chapman, the English captain, expressed in a brief interview-to-day prior to his departure for the North.

Mr. Chapman endorsed the view of the English team that Jackson's innings at Adelaide was the finest played against them on the tour, but ho declined to comment on Australian barracking. Trr lib holiday visit to New Zealand, Mr. Chapman is glad to escape from the atmosphere of test cricket, which lie confesses to have been a great strain. Higher and Wider Stumps.

The proposals of a special committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club to alter certain rules of cricket for county matches with a view to restraining the high and j

slow scoring, do not appeal to the English captain, "My own wicket is always easy enough to get," he remarked with a smile, "but I do not think that heightening and widening the stumps will make any difference to the first-class batsmen in general. There is, of course, a great deal of pad play, but I do not think that the proposed new lbw rule will stop the high scores. It certainly- will make the work of the umpires ever so much harder and their job is hard enough now.

"The' conditions of modern cricket are all in favour of the batsmen, and the bowler has a bad time, but I-think that the crux of the whole problem is overpreparation of wickets. If bowlers cannot get any spin on the wicket you cannot develop spin bowlers as much as is desirable." Duration o£ the Tests. The decision of the Advisory County Cricket Committee to, extend'the duration of the test matches" in- England next year fiom three days to four, with a proviso that the fifth shall be played to a finish if the' rubber depends upon it, does not lead Mr. Chapman to a belief thai the rubber can be decided without playing out the fifth game. "When so much depends upon it, you are not going to get the batsmen to hurry up in a four-days;' match,he remarked. "The long hours in one day's play, too, make it very hard, but with' the wickets as they are I don't see much chance of finishing a test match in four days. Of course, one has to remember that our Eaglish summer is funny, and the weather may make a big difference." Cricket in New Zealand. Mr. Chapman considered that New Zealand cricket has greatly improved as the result of the recent tour of England, but there was need of much further- improvement in bowling. He thought "the West Indies team' which played recently at Home would beat New Zealand owing to •' the superiority of its bowlers. The three fast bowlers of that sidty Constantino, Francis and Griffiths, were, he had no hesitation in saying, collectively tjie oest •playing cricket to-day. He did not consider that their superiority in this direction was due to the condition of their home wickets, but to their natural ability. The best way to improve cricket in the Dominion was to continue to use the services of professionals. ?

Mr. Chapman was entertained, at, luncheon to-day by the New Zealand Cricket Council, and left this evening for Wellington. He will spend a few days in Wellington and later visit Hawke's Bay. He will remain in the Dominion about another month. UPSET BY BAB,HACKEES. STATEMENT BY LARWOOD. Australian and N.Z'. Press Association. LONDON, April 20.The Daily News says to Australian barruckers at a presentation banquet, said: "They did certainly upset me a little; some of them would do anything if they knew it would upset the opposition." .