CRICKET TACTICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21577, 23 August 1933, Page 6

CRICKET TACTICS

D. R. JARDINE'S BOOK TOUR , NEARING CLOSE THE FIFTH TEST MATCH BY D. It. JAttDINE (Copyright) No. XVI. I havo said that one does not expect fcn Australian crowd to bo impartial. • Numerically, Australia is a small country compared with England, and I will go so far as to suggest that impartiality might even be construed as an unworthy sign in the less populated country, which, for that reason, feels "up against it." However, I can assure the reader that any fears of over-impartial-ity .may bo very quickly and safely dismissed. Much' of the trouble arises, I feel Bure, from the spectators' over-keen-ness, and this one cannot wish to judge too harshly. An English team touring in Australia is for many Australians a symbol which gives them opportunity of demonstrating their loyalty. Now the cricketers who compose these teams' are modest fellows, and When, on arrival at a town, they receive a great reception, they would be the first to admit that the reception was very largely unconnected with their own merits or the reverse, but simply a tribute to the Motherland which, for the time being, it is their privilege to represent on a cricket field. At the same time, and by the same token, it is not always easy to avoid an unpleasant suspicion that demonstrations of hostility are not always directed against tho players immediately concerned- ' Letters of Sympathy That Australians felt this themselves I know only too well. On many occasions, after various crowds had excelled themselves, my mail-b&g would frequently contain half a dozen letters of sympathy, bidding me pay no attention to such exhibitions, since in the writer's opinion they were only another example of Bolshevism, Southern Irish ' antipathy to the Motherland, or whatever was the particular writer's pet antipathy. While I appreciated the thought behind all these letters, I am afraid their explanations, however ingenious or varied, are quite incapable of bearing impartial investigation. Barracking in its various forms was too general, and too widespread, to admit of any such single explanation as my correspondents would have me believe. The Australian press could help a lot in this respect. I have grave doubts, however, whether, with the exception of one or two of the leading papers in Melbourne and Sydney (which, in all probability, are not read by the majority of barrackers), the Australian cricket authorities can count on much help in this direction. The Final Contest When the fifth test match opened iWoodfull won the toss for the fourth time, and Australia had first use of a typical Sydney wicket. The main/features of the Australian innings were the brisk rate of scoring throughout and the abysmal catching of the English team. The fact -that the rubber had been won may havo made a subconscious difference, but really I do not think this can he urged as an explanation for -dropping, at a moderate estimate, 12 catches. It is the sort of thing which happens to'every team at some time. There is no explaining it. ' ■> We mad»» a propitious start, Richardson being caught in the gully off Larwood before a run had been scored. Bradman, on his home patch, came in first wicket down, and started right away to give a display of fireworks; edging away from his wicket in order to puncture the off-side when leg-theory was- being bowled, and, when off-theory ,was being bowled, stepping across and hooking the ball to tho untenanted onside. Here, again, the pace seemed at times a little too /hot to last. In his second spell Larwood once again proved Bradman's master, clean bowling him when he was attempting an unorthodox shot, Tthich, when successful, looks dazzling to a degree, but when, as in this case, it results in a clean bowl, looks quite unworthy of a great batsman. Woodfull had contented himself with playing the role of running partner to Bradman, and tho manner of his dismissal was a trifle unlucky, for though he played a ball from Larwood in the middle of the bat, he played it down straight on to his wicket. The ball before he was dismissed struck me as the fastest I have seen. It pitched a length, but then seemed to soar, passing over and outside tho off stump. Larwood's Fine Bowling Larwood, in the course of two spells before lunch, had the remarkable figures of three wickets for 14 runs; this on as good a wicket as any batsman could ask for. That was the extent of our success for a long time. Next moaning, after scoring 15 or 16 more runs, Oldfield began to bear a charmed life, being dropped no fewer than three times, Larwood in each case again being the unluckv bowler. Shortly after lunch Oldfield was run out by a grand return from Paynter. Paynter mu?jt rank among the first 20 fieldsmen who have ever fielded a ball. On this occasion he excelled even the very high/standard he sets himself.* It was pleasant to see Oldfield entirely recovered from his Adelaide injury and playing excellently. The eighth wicket fell at 414, 'and though O'Reilly was given a couple of lives, both off Allen, the Australian innings closed for 435, easily their best total for this series. (To be concluded)