MARYLEBONE TEAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22580, 19 November 1936, Page 11

MARYLEBONE TEAM

SYDNEY DEFEAT HOBBS ON UMPIRES LEG-BEFORE DECISIONS By Telegraph—Presg Association —Copyright (By J. B. Hobbs—Copyright in all countries. .Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) SYDNEY, Nov. 18 When Marylebone lost its unbeaten certificate yesterday in the match against New South Wales, it was a thrilling finish, the last wicket falling in what probably would have been the last over of the match. Hardstaff was out leg-before to a ball he never attempted to play. The press box is not in a good position from which to judge leg-before decisions, but I know that umpires are only human beings, and liable to make mistakes. They are in the best position to see. Still, this, coupled with what must have been a very near thing when Barnett was given run out on Monday evening, to my mind, takes some of the glory away from, the New South Wales victory. I am the last person in the world to quibble about umpires' decisions, so I hope I shall be forgiven for these remarks.

This was O'Reilly's fourth leg-before decision in succession. He had bowled leg-theory for a long time, but once Hammond and Ley land were separated he bowled like an inspired man again, and to him goes the chief credit for the win.

For a while it eecmed as if the magnificent effort of Hammond and Leyland had saved the game for England and put England back on the pedestal it occupied before Saturday's batting disaster.

Practically the only redeeming feature was that Leyland obtained such excellent practice as to ensure his place in the first test eleven, and gave him necessary confidence after his illness. • I was sorry Hammond missed his century. It would have been a wonderful feat to get five hundred in six innings, but his 91 yesterday was more valuable than any of his hundreds on the tour.