SCOTS AND CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 25

SCOTS AND CRICKET

TO THE EDITOB Srr., —Mr Borton is not alone in hia criticism of the captaincy of the Bullish cricket team in Australia. At the time when the team was on its way to Australia we saw in the papers that Jarcline was conferring with his team and discussing the tactics to be used. He was responsible for, and evidently encouraged, rather questionable methods when he, as captain, could have forbidden them. It was a dearly-bought victory, and it will be many years before the feeling created dies away. A great Yorkshire cricketer once said; “ There’s nowt like a game of cricket, lad. I said a game. Cricket was never made for championship. . . . Cricket’s a game, not a competition.” Air Borton had the good manners to pay a tribute to the race of his opponent. In’ his reply “ North Otago ” might well have returned tlie compliment, and paid a tribute to certain English dualities, but no. he evidently feels no such obligation, and prefers to ignore the indebtedness of his race to the English, “ that reticent and retiring race . . . who invented parliamentary institutions, gave us its language and laws, and produced our immortal literature.” The English arc ns good -at winning championships as any other nation (although when they do they are always called British), but with them the game means more than the prize. An American Rhodes scholar was asked what impressed him most about English university life, and he replied: “Here are three thousand young men. every one of whom would rather lose a game than play it unfairly.” Ann It’s not for the sake of the ribboned coat. Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame. But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote — " Play up! play up! and play the game ! ’’

I think it is evident that Jardine was determined fo have victory at any price. This reply to “ North Otago ” has been evoked chiefly by a certain sneering quality in his letter. If he has not read “ Hatters Castle ” I advise him to do so. That same sneering quality is a feature of the “ herd.”—l am, etc., Fair Plat.