"BODYLINE" QUESTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 15

"BODYLINE" QUESTION

REMARKS OF C. B. FRY \ RESENTiMENT IN AUSTRALIA Cricket circles in Sydney were greatly amused by statements made by C. B. Fry that McCormick, V ictoria s fast bowler, resorted to "bodyline ' tactics when bowling to English batsmen in a recent match, writes Mr. E. H. M. liaillie in the Melbourne Sporting Globe, in some quarters there were signs of resentment against the comments, which are regarded as stirring up again, without any foundation, a painful controversy which it had been hoped was dead and buried. Until they read Fry's comments this morning few people had even thought of "bodyline" while McCormick was bowling yesterday, and his statement caused considerable surprise. Evidently Fry has not the slightest conception or what "bodyline" really is, or he would not have made his comments to start with. There was no semblance of the crowded leg side field which is so essential for successful "bodyline" bowling. Presumably Fry's comments had reference to McCormick's early overs, when he made a few balls fly. Ihoy cuuid not apply to anything that occurred after lunch, for McCormick then bowled with very little fire and never looked dangerous to batsmen in the physical sense. At no stage did ho have more than two men close in on the leg side; and they were not right up on the bat as were La mood's squad of half a dozen. They were, however, normal positions for leg side fieldsmen, many yards from the wicket. In those early overs McCormick was erratic in direction, and many of his deliveries Bwuiig. an ay outside the batsmen s legs, so far I.li.it in many cases batsmen did not even have to move to avoid tliem. 1 hat being so, it is difficult to understand how anyone could regard his bowling yesterday as being even a mild resoinhbuKje to "bodvline."

Knglish players 'themselves were omiiscd at Fry's comments, but the °"ly remark from their side was from the lnan.igcr. Captain Howard, who said with a smile, "Very interesting." Lnglish visitors were as much surprised as Australians at ('. 15. Fry's comments o| i ."bodyline." Their opinion was '"turned up by Arthur Gilligan. former ktiglish captain, who said: —" Iho comment is all rubbish. I watched plav Very carefully, and the question of bodyline' never entered my mind. 1 cannot understand Fry making such a statement."

Noted Australians were equally outspoken. M. A. Noble, former captain, sa id ho ]]! id not seen Fry's statement Bud seemed surprised when told that it suggested "hodyline." Noble said he lever saw any. Certainly, McCormick ,r >adc a few (Iv, but every fast bowler l( ' that at times without any inteni!?« of hurting batsmen. Woodfull. "'chardson, Tvippax and other internationals spoke in similar strain. "Fry Should have been here four years ago; hen he would have known what 'bodv,'n? really is," said Richardson. "As ® he knows nothing about it."