WOMEN AT CRICKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22000, 5 January 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMEN AT CRICKET

REMARKABLE TRIBUTE

SYDNEY " HILLITES " SILENCED

CHEERS FOR THE PLAYERS

" THE BEST BOB'S WORTH "

A remarkable thing happened at the Sydney Cricket Ground on a recent Saturday. The " hillites," who have earned for themselves an unfavourable reputation for unruly behaviour and indiscriminate bellowing at important matches, were satisfied and conquered. Women cricketers, playing their first international match, says the Sydney Morning Herald, completely won the hearts ard admiration of those hardhearted barrackers. Many men and youths went to the match, as they openly confessed, to "see the women players make fools of themselves " in their efforts to emulate man in his prowess with the bat and ball, but they left the ground expressing astonishment at the remarkably high standard of play, and feeling satisfied that they had had " the best bob'* worth of cricket for many a day." It was real cricket, they said, worth half a dozen ordinary men's matches.

" The Hill " Astonished

Most of the " know-alls " &f cricket were present, including Yabba and many of his big-throated mates, and, of course, the well-known inebriates, whose continual and unprovoked bellowing of nasty epithets proved so unpleasant to the ears and temperament of the English test players on the ground last year. But' on this occasion the be- , haviour of the " hillites " was perfect. They were enthusiastic, sympathetic anil tolerant, because they were genuinely astonished at the girls' knowledge of the game, and at their smartness, courage, and sportsmanship in the field. "The girls are playing the game, so let us play it," said a barracker while chiding a youth for shouting an unpleasant remark. " The hill " was not completely silenced. It would be impossible to do that. They joked about the feminine players, ana they good-huinouredly criticised their actions, but there was a complete absence of loutish bellowing or invective howling. The English girls, who were in the field practically all day, seemed to enjoy many of the remarks that reached their ears. Occasionally they looked round and smiled at the crowd from under their long-peaked caps. Players Behind Time

The players were due on the field at 1 p.m., and when they had not made their appearance ( at five minutes past the time several persons expressed their impatience from various parts of " the hill,'; " Shake it up with the powder puff in there, girls!" they exclaimed. " We know you like to look pretty, but have a little consideration for us men." " Don't get impatient, old chap. Women are never on time these days. Anyway, it's a, woman's privilege to keep a gentleman waiting," shouted another. 'When there was still no sign of the players at 1.10 p.m. there was increased cries of, "Come on, girls, come on." " I wish Bradman and {hem were coming on instead of these women," exclaimed a. bis red-faced man. " Aw, Bradman would probably make a duck, anyway," came a reply. As Miss Monaghan and Mrs. Blade, the New South Wales batswomen, and the English players came out at 1.15 they were given a hearty reception. The barrackers were quick in learning the identity and names of the players. Many referred to them by their Christian names, but as they found this difficult on account of tnree having Mary for their name, three Mollie and three Betty, they gave them the nicknames of " Bradman," " Hobbs," " Larwood," etc. " Girls, You Are Wonderful " Miss Blade pleased the crowd with her forceful batting. " Ah, now," shrieked a man, " ain't ahe sweet." "Ain't who sweet?" " Fernie, of course, Fernie Blade. Who do you think? Gee, that was a beautiful shot right to the fence. There is no doubt about these ladies. They can certainly shoulder those balls." Cries, such as, " Bradman could not dp better than that." " Girls, you are wonderful," ." Look at Duckworth there. She can certainly take them," were heard when balls were returned with remarkable rapidity from the boundary right on to the stumps. The brilliant fielding of the English girls and the solid batting of the New Soixth Wales players raised roars of delight from the crowd. Surprise was expressed by everyone at the accuracy and pace of the bowling. " Why, they bowl like first grade men players, and to think that I came here believing they tossed 'em under-arm," said an elderly man who claimed to have attended every important cricket match on the ground for the past ten years. " These English girls might show even some of our best players how to field. Look how smartly they pick up and return the ball with one hand. Not many junior players will do that to-day," he said. " Hey, Yabba, why ain't yer yowling?" " Why should I? The ladies are playing all right for me. This is cricket, this is. Leave the girls alone." " Run, run, there is two in it," commanded a stocky man sitting on the grass with his boots off. "Ah, let the girl play her own game. She knows what she is doing." When Drink 3 Were Brought

"When drinks were brought out, and two English girls walked over to the batswomen with refreshments, the crowd thought it was a wonderful gesture. " That is sportsmanship," they muttered. " Yes," added someone, " it is a knock to men's international cricksit all right. Imagine Larwood and Bradman helping one another to drinks." A group of men under the stand started a general c mversation on the physique of the plajers, and women in modern life. " Those poor girls have been running round in the sun all day, and it is a wondei to me that they don't get tired or iaint," said a sympathetic spectator. " Women are different these days," put in an old gentleman with a big white beard. " I think modern life is wrecking woman and her looks. The time is not far distant when we shall 60on see a return to the more 'womanly woman,' for men are tiring of the obviously sports type, and the men will call the tune to this sort of thing." " Wonderful' Cricket "

" What did you come here for then if you don't like to see ' this sort of thing?' " put in a young man who had been occupied in acclaiming the players for all he was worth. " Let us give credit to the girls where credit is due. This is wonderful cricket, and just look at them. Look at those legs and muscles on the girls out there. " The girls are of better Iphysique than half our boys. They are pretty and clever, and any one of them would make a good wife for any man. You must admit, dad, that these girls are showing the men the right spirit in which cricket should be played." Toward the finish of the match, when England wanted only a few runs to win, the barraekcrs were worked up to a high pitch of excitement. They cheered and ayplanded every run. It was a grand finish to a grand match. " The hill " went home jubilant.