CRICKET TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21921, 3 October 1934, Page 11

CRICKET TOUR

JARDINE'S REVIEW EXTRACTS FROM BOOK CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON", Sepi, 27 In D. R. Jthdine's hook, "Dust and Ashes," just published,-there is little to justify the last word in the title, apart from two chapters devoted to tours, incidents off the field, and a recapitulation of the case for "leg-theory." Nevertheless, those two chapters aro full of biting comment. " The withdrawal of Voce from the Nottingham match created the only unpleasant demonstration in the Australians' tour," Jardine states. " But a comparison of the treatment of the Australians at Nottingham by a few thousand justly-disappointed spectators with the hostile demonstrations of tens of thousands accorded to - the Marylebone team on every test ground in Australia is like comparing a molehill to a mountain." Midland Dialect Epithet The Nottingham crowd, the English ex-captain goes: on to gay, is supposed to have called Woodfull a "inardi," a Midland dialect word meaning coward. This was in recognition of his ducking tactics against Voce. Jardine regards it as doubtful whether any cf the Australians even knew what "raardi" means, but, he states: " There was never iiny doubt as to the meaning of the unprintable epithets which Australian crowds hurled at the English team. "Fortunately, England does not take the sport sufficiently seriously for a responsible body to suggest; that international matches, or the results of them, will prejudice good relations. Australian Crowds' Behaviour " England iifi too big and too sophisticated for thai. She is' not keen enough, to feel that defeat on the cricket field, is a major, national disaster." " Nevertheless," Jardine continues, " the number of people who troubled to write to tba newspapers showed the public's feelings to be considerably ruffled, particularly by the Midlands case. " It would be idle to suggest that the Australian tour did anything to smooth or allay the discontent in the Midlands and the North of England. " However., after the uniformly fait treatment accorded the Australians oil every ground except one, it will ba extraordinary if the next' English team, whether it in sent out by the Marylebone Club or taken, as in. the olden days, by an enterprising professional, does not receive better treatment by most Australian crowds. The Leg-theory Queiition t: But this may not be the case unless the responsible authorities have the courage to take action. "P. F. Warner's appeal at the Sydney Town Ball does not seem. to have borno fruit, as we find M. A., Noble championing barracking as an essential part of the game." Disclaiming that he is writing in hia own personal interest, or from a prejudiced point of view, Jardine pays tribute to Marylebone's handling of the leg-theory question tip till the moment when it allowed the county captains to decide the issue. He declares that the counties were naturally prejudiced, firstly because their finances depended on the Australian visit, and secondly, because only four of "the counties could boast of a really fast bowler. Those without naturally did not object to reducing the efficiency of their rivals. Thus. Marylebone allowed another body to create a situation whose reactions upon Marylebone must have been obvious from the beginning. Larwood Described as Genius " Larwood, who is not only a genius but is accurate," Jardine writes, " bowled no more leg-theory than Voce, Bowes and MacDonalcl, to whose bowling the counties for years raised no objections. "Larwood's absence robbed the tests of their hitherto representative character." Summing up, the author says that even their most ardent supporters do not suggest that the Australians were a particularly formidable combination, or that they could be compared with the team of 1921. , , Some described them as a " Fourman Team," but Jardine thinks that McCabe deserves to be added to Griinmett, O'Reilly, Ponsford and Bradraan. On the other hand, England had only two really key men, Leyland and Verity. Jardine places Grimmott just ahead of O'Reilly, because he was called upon to do more bowliag against batsmen who should have been) familiar with his style. But Grimmett :is regarded by Jardine as unique, because, he says, he is the only rouna-armer in first-class cricket.. The refore it is impossible • for English batsmen to get practice against his type of bowling. Both Gririmett and O'Reilly, and occasionally ChipperSe'd, taught England the value of length. O'Reilly's danger lay in his ability to deliver the ball at different heights. He was also more capablu than Grimmett in holding the ball back without appreciably varying the trajectory. Tribute is paid to Pensford'a phenomenal eyesight, "without which he would be nowhere. Ejs bat comes up and comes down crooked," Jardine writes. "His footwork is not quick, and not even neat. Nobody would dream of adopting him as a model for any particular shot. Yet, again, he is a match-winner." BRADMiUNJ RECOVERING SATISFACTORY REPORT British Wireless RUGBY. Oct. 1^ The satisfactory condition of Don Bradman, the famous young Australian cricketer, after his Sf-cent operation is being maintained.