HUMAN’S BOWLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 8

HUMAN’S BOWLING

LONDON WRITER’S COMMENT LACK OF SPORTSMANSHIP SUGGESTED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, January 13. The Daily Mail’s sports gossiper declares: “If Human’s bowling of six wides and no-balla in order to get a new ball is correctly reported, such action here would produce a chorus of indignation.” The Daily Mail adds the hope that the Marylebone Club had noted the incident. When play was resumed in the match between the M.C.C. and New Zealand at 5.30 on Monday after an appeal against the light had been upheld, New Zealand’s score was 181. Human, who was acting as captain of the M.C.C. team, took the ball, and, though he normally bowls at slow pace, sent down an over of fast balls outside the leg stump. Six of bis deliveries, two of which were wides, went to "the boundary, and thus 24 extras were given away. The interpretation placed upon Human’s action was that he wished to carry the score past 200 so that he could claim a now ball, with which his bowlers would be more effective. NO EXPLANATION PLAYERS DECLINE TO COMMENT (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, January 14. No explanation of the extraordinary over bowled by Human, acting captain of the M.C.C. team on the last day of the match against New Zealand at Dunedin, was forthcoming when the touring team passed through Christchurch this evening on its way to Wellington for the second match against New Zealand. Both Holmes, the captain, and Human declined to discuss the matter with a reporter who sought an interview. Holmes stated that he had nothing to say, and Human said that only Holmes was allowed to speak for the team. A message from Dunedin stating that Human had adopted this method of indicating that he agreed with the New Zealand batsmen’s appeal against the light is discredited by those followers of the game who know the rules of cricket. The rules prescribe quite definitely that, if the two captains agree that the light is unfit for play, then the play may cease at once without reference to the umpires. Only in the case of the captains disagreeing, which usually happens, is an appeal made to the umpires. On the other hand, it is argued in support of Human that his action in throwing away runs to get the new ball in an endeavour to end the game and secure a win was no more unsportsmanlike than the much more frequent action of a defending side in stonewalling and refusing opportunities to make runs in order to prolong a game and secure a draw.