AUSTRALIA SHOCKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 14 (Supplement)

AUSTRALIA SHOCKED

Berf Oldfield's s Memories o Cricket Matches " # • No. ///.- Bodyline Excitement (Copyright) « Sketches ty MINHINNICK v "

BRIEFLY, the new form of atI tack that shocked Australia was one based on express bowling to a heavily studded onside field. .Undoubtedly, England had come to Australia fully prepared to launch this attack, for in its ranks were four fast bowlers —an unusual number of speed men. For success this particular form of attack must depend upon really definite express bowling, and with this is associated a considerable elemeht of danger. The average fast bowler adopting this theory would be very much less effective because of lack of pace,, and the risk to batsmen would, of course, be correspondingly reduced. The launching of the new i attack took us all by surprise, cricketers and public alike, and caused a storm of criticism the like of which had not been heard in cricket circles before. This storm did not abate during the tour; in fact, it continued for a long time after the return of the M.C.C. team to Englarnl. Hobbs and Bowes

The tactics, from what one heard and read, were not new in England. Before tho selection of the touring team had been completed, there was that incident at Kennington Oval in which J. B. Hobbs and Yorkshire's fast bowler, W. Bowes, were the central figures. With his acknowledged gift of batting skill, Hobbs had never been at a loss to protect himself, so that when the famous international voiced his objection to the

new methods tho stir was heard all round the world.

On our hard, glazed Australian wickets such a form of attack would, of course, be infinitely more dangerous to batsmen than on the slower pitches of England, This was evidenced during the second test match, in Melbourne, when tho wicket was slower than usual on account of rain that fell just prior to tho commencement of the game. Before the tour of Australia in 1932-3, it was orthodox for last bowlers to bowl to a packed slips field which might be added to according to the bowler's pace, a mid-on, a square-leg, with fineleg deep on the fence. Sometime.!; midon was brought to forward short-leg position. The fast bowler then concentrated on the off stump and just outside it.

What a dramatic change when this heavily-packed slips field was transferred to the other side of the wicket, leaving a wide gap between first slip and cover point 1 Tins on-sido field gen-

'T'HIERE is cause and effect in everything. Doubtless the cause of the new form of attack introduced by the English team in Australia in 1932-3 was Bradman, who, two years earlier, had enjoyed his phenomenal first season success under English conditions. Colossal scores flowed from his bat with a consistency that was monotonous and irritating to English test and county sides, and orthodox bowling and field placements seemed powerless to check him.

erally consisted of a semi-circle of five or six men stretched i'rom the wicketkeeper (who stood on the leg-side of the wicket) to forward short-leg, all close in. Operating to this field, the bowler altered his direction and concentrated on the leg stump and just outside the leg stump to a position whero the batsman would normally take up his stance. From my experience I found that the safest way to play this form of bowling was from outside the line of the ball by moving in to the wicket and to endeavour to score on tho on-side behind the. wicket. But _with such a heavily packed field close in and two men deep on the boundary, one at fine-leg and the other behind squaro-leg, it was almost I suicidal to play this blind shot. Yet it was suicidal not to make a shot_ at all because of the danger of being hit, due to tho direction of the delivery and the express pace at which the ball travelled. The difficulty was increased by the ball generally being delivered from the width of the return crease. Spirit of Cricket On several occasions tho tests and other matches again*,t tho various States, mauv batsmen „were struck and badly hurt on the body. Such incidents naturally robbed the test series of the customary pleasure of other years, indeed, I regret to write that the scries under discussion were* the most unpleasant in my long career. Discussing the hiatter with a well-known English international during a test- match in Australia, he remarked: "ff that is what cricket is coming to, I'm glad I am out of the game." Tours made by teams representing either England or Australia are welcomed because of their educational value to the younger players. The pity of it is that in all classes of cricket from junior to senior, as well as in

school crickot, the new form of attack was adopted with many such regrettable results.

The real true spirit of cricket was lost. In fact, tho future of the game was in jeopardv. Batting lost its attraction to the public, and stroke play, the basis of batsmanship, was perforce eliminated. The paramount consideration had now become self-defence. The mere scoring of runs was more or less ruled out. That season we suffered heavy defeats in four of the test matches, and it is significant that the only test won by our team was played on a slower wicket at Melbourne, where rain had fallen for days before the beginning of the match. This made the pitch comparable with the slower type of English Wicket, and on such a wicket tho now bowling theory lost its ferocity.

The barracking in this series was naturally unprecedented— at any rate in my memory. It was definitely virile and hostile, and was not only confined to the Sydney "Billites." On several occa-

sions Jardine made bitter protests regarding it, and even went to the extent of reporting itke matter to the Australian Board of Control, requesting that some action be taken to subdue the spectators. While I adroit Jardine to have been an astute captain, on the other hand, he was one of the most difficult men one could learn to know. Ho was indeed, a complex! Off the field he could be quite amiable, bat he changed immediately he Htepped into the cricket arena. He would order his men about with the firmness of a general marshalling his troopsi, and his one and only thought seemed to be victory at all costs. The Barrackers

The average Englishman, I am quite sure, does not fully appreciate or understand the make-up of an Australian. It is, therefore, easy to realise why many wrong impressions are formed of our barrackers. Barracking lias always been part of cricket in Australia. Clean outbursts from spectators add interest to the game. In fart, at times, I have found them to be inspiring. It would, I should imagine, be a very dull'affair having to play before a silent and seemingly disinterested crowd. • An enthusiast will always show a readiness to acknowledge cricket skill, whether displayed by visitors, or by his own countrymen. ' This was never better exemplified than by the amazing reception given to Larwood when ho madci his 98 during this particular .tour in 1932-3. The average cricket followers in our capital cities are very fair minded, and, in giving expression to their feelings, they generally intend to be humorous and generous," though they are certainly caustic when mistakes are made by fieldsmen. . English Conditions I could not imagine, however, a mpre tolerant, sympathetic, and appreciative aucjkince to play before, than that of Lord's. Many-times I have heard them applaud the fine bowling efforts of McDonald. Gregory, "Grimmett, Wall, and others, our brilliant fielding, and the batting of. our champions, such as Macartnev, Bardsloy, Bradman, Ponsford. Stifl fresh in my memory is the excitement that prevailed when they cheered the bowling of Verity in 1934, when he took fifteen wickets in the one of the second test match, incidentally played a big part in Imgland's victory on that occasion. The north of England though, can be quite different. 1 remember in 1921 how the Manchester public became hostile toward Armstrong when he took the field to resume play after the unintentionally illegal declaration by Lord Tennyson. The demonstration continued for some time before play was permitted to continue. ' On the other hand the test crowd at Leeds in 1930 voiced their disapproval in no uncertain terms of two of their own favourites when repeated appeals against the light were made by Hobbs and Sutcliffe, and were finally uphold at a time when Australia was in a winning position, and so robbed us of our prospective victory. 1 Australian Enthusiasm The Australians' - enthusiasm for cricket is further illustrated by their hero-worship, which is not confined to their own champions. An instance oi this was when the "Hillites" of Sydney started a "Bob-in" fund in honour of Jack Hobbs on the occasion of his birthday. What a wonderful ovation ho received from overv section of the crowd as ho walked round inside the boundary accompanied by M. A. Noble. It was a genuine tribute to a visiting favourite. A radio set was purchased with the proceeds and presented to Jack Hobbs, and T have learned since that he lias described this presentation as one> ot liis proudest possessions brought to mm through the influence of cricket. "Patsy" Hcndren, the popular Middlesex plaver. was also presented by the "Hillites," Sydney, with a memento of appreciation hold by them, not only for his cricket ability and genial Sportsmanship, but lor his friendly attitude toward supporters of tTie game. In J3nsbane, too. on the Exhibition Ground, he wor presented by the cricketing publie with a Queensland souvenir to commemorato the hanpy relations ho made on his visits to the northern capital. The "Hillites" of Sydney once again showed spontaneous _ appreciation by presenting Sutcliffe with a fitting token j of their esteem. No doubt. Sutcliffe's brond smile and geniality wlnle fielding on the boundary appealed to them, while their recognition of him as a worthy foemati was undoubted. (To be continued.)