ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20705, 1 May 1929, Page 9

ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

BARRACKING IN AUSTRALIA. LARWOOD'S CRITICISM. A. P. F. CHAPMAN INTERVIEWED. (Special to Dailx Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 30. “ I feel sure that Harold Larwood was misreported when he was said to have stated that he would never go to Australia again because of the Australian barracking and in the other statements attributed-to him on this subject. ' Larwood is much too good a sportsman to take umbrage at the barracking.” This Is the opinion that Mr A. P. F. Chapman, the English captain, expressed in a brief interview • to-day, prior to his departure for the north. Mr Chapman endorsed the view of the M.C.C. team that Jackson’s innings at Adelaide was the finest played against them on the tour, but he declined to comment on the Australian barracking. In his holiday visit. to New Zealand Mr Chapman is glad to escape from the atmosphere of test cricket, which, ho confesses, was a great strain. The proposals of a special committee of the Marylcbone Cricket Club to alter certain rules of cricket for county matches with a view to restraining the high and slow scoring do not appeal to the English captain. “My own wicket is always easy enough to get," he remarked, with a smile, “but I do not think that heightening and widening the stumps will make any difference to the first-class batsmen. There is, of course, a great deal of pad play, but I do not think that the proposed new Ibw rule will stop the high scores. It certainly will, though, make the work of the umpires ever so much harder, and their job is hard enough now.” “ The conditions of modern cricket arc all in favour of the batsmen, and the bowler has a bad time, but I think that the crux of . the whole problem is overpreparation of the wickets.” The decision of the Advisory County Cricket Committee to extend the duration of the test matches in England next ye,ar from three days to four, with a proviso that the fifth shall be played to n finish if the rubber depends upon it, docs not lend Mr Chapman to a belief that the rubber can be decided without playing out the fifth game. “When so much depends "upon it you are not going to get the batsmen ; to hurry up in a four-day match,” he. remarked. “ The long hours in day’s play, too, make it very hard, but 5 with the'wickets as they are, I don’t see much chance of finishing a test match in four days. Of course, one has to remember that our English summer is funny, and the weather may make a big difference.” Mr Chapman considered that New Zealand cricket Ji as greatly improved as the result of the recent tour of England, but there was need for much further improvement in bowling. He thought that the West Indies team which played recently at Home would beat New Zealand owing to the superiority of its bowlers. The three fast bowlers of that side—Constantine, Francis, and Griffiths—were, he-had no hesitation in saying, collectively the best playing erjeket to-day. He did not consider that their superiority in this direction was due to the condition of their home wickets, but to their natural ability. The best way to improve cricket in the Dominion was to continue to use the services of professionals. Mr Chapman was entertained at luncheon to-day by the New Zealand Cricket Council, and left to-night by the ferry steamer for Wellington. . He will spend a few days in Wellington, and later' Hawke’s Bay, and will remain in the Dominion about another month before finally taking his departure.