THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1938 THE FIGHT FOR THE ASHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 14

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1938 THE FIGHT FOR THE ASHES

To speak of the series of cricket matches between England and Australia as a fight is to use a word that in these days of bitter bloodshed is under a cloud. But there need be no hesitation to employ it so, for in this context it has no evil meaning. Once it befell, not long ago, that an element of quarrel invaded a season when England visited Axistralia, bent at the bidding of a sti'angely-mannered captain on winning the ashes at all costs. However, the worst thing—and the truest —said aboxit that unhappy recourse to assault and battei'y was that it was not cricket, for of all games this one has the most splendid code of honour. To that series of tests Jack Hobbs, famed for sportsmanship no less than for batting prowess, applied the phrase "the fight for the ashes" ; as title of his book about it; yet, while he held up to scorn, as unchivalrous in the extreme, the unscrupulous strategy that desexwes eternal shame, he really meant nothing more by the title than is usually meant. The struggle can guiltlessly have all the zest of a stx'enxious conflict. Without that it could not be what it is 1 rightly expected to bey Nobody of any consequence wants to play or to see negative cricket, which even a leg-theory attack can become when tried by a medium-pace bowler. To sti'ive for victoi'y, stx'ive with every power of nerve and muscle, with evei'y art and artifice within the wholesome code, written and unwritten, is of the very soul of the game. This quality, to judge by all the potent signs, will distinguish the series of test matches begun at Nottingham yesterday. The earlier games played by this Australian team on tour have provided evidence enough that with the start of these matches, greatly more important in the eyes of both countries represented, and of all cricket counti-ies watching from afar, the supreme fight is on.

As game after game preceding this opening bouf- in the tests has taken its place in the record of the tour, interest in the real matching of strength, country against country, and these the two greatest cricket countries in the world, has increased manifestly. Public comment on the play of the visitors, on the form shown by likely players for England, has tended always to gravitate to the forthcoming tests. It has been so on both sides of the world : Australian experts have been as prone as English to calculate chances of test-match success on the basis of play in those other games. Failure of a batsman or bowler to realise expectations of him have been frankly lamented, not because of the immediate effect but because of prospective failure when the more momentous occasions might call for his best; and exhibitions of brilliance have been hailed with gratification for a similar reason. All this, in spite of the overwhelming temptation to give place to fears and hopes, has been less warranted than it may have seemed. The English selectors, in announcing their choice of 13 to be in readiness to play in the first test, were guided to only a limited extent by recent performances, even in the trial game played by 22 under favourable consideration. Some doing admirably then were not put in their little list; others, achieving only moderate distinction, were included. Such facts are proof of their wisdom. Test cricket is in a class by itself. It has an atmosphere all its own, an elusive, intangible something that exerts an influence felt by all players. According to temperament, they differently respond, some brilliantly rising to the occasion, as if inspired, others bearing the strain with difficulty. To know the men, not merely what they have done under other conditions, is an essential element in capable selection. It is this factor, often unguessed by the casual observer, that makes a forecast of test-match results even more hazardous than the proverbial uncertainly of cricket may suggest; and it adds greatly to the interest aroused by such battles. Every episode in the play, every move in captaincy, every trick of the weather, must be noted with keen attention, if the full flavour of the game is to be enjoyed by onlookers; fortunately in these days they number an invisible host beside those actually present. They know that England will strain every nerve to recover the ashes, that the English selectors have done their utmost to assemble an eleven capable of vanquishing opponents deemed invincible a few weeks ago, and that, despite gaps in the Australians' ranks duo to illness and injuries, there will be an equal resolve on their part to maintain supremacy. Although a triumph or defeat in this match cannot do more than open the score-book of the tests in this series, it may mean much. With honours and fortunes remarkably even throughout the years of these contests, the opponents have entered j on this fresh trial of strength under conditions promising a good game. The sides have been well chosen, neither showing any weakness. England, winning the toss and profiting by this to take first innings, has an advantage; hitherto, the side winning the toss at Nottingham has also won the match, and the wicket may wear badly before the Australians have last use of it. But no game is lost until it is won.