TO CONTROL BARRACKING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22999, 30 September 1936, Page 7

TO CONTROL BARRACKING

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET MOVE (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Sept. 17. The Australian Board of Control has taken a momentous decision in an effort to do its share in making the tour of the 1936-37 English cricket team happier than that of 1932-33. There is no doubt that the barracking of Australian spectators fed the flame of angry resentment aroused by the so-called “ bodyline ” bowling. The Marylebone Cricket Club having decreed that there shall be no more such bowling, the Board of Control is reciprocating by ridding- the background of test and other matches of offensive barracking. The Board of Control, by a unanimous vote of all States, approved strong action to prevent objectionable barracking. The resolution urged State cricket associations to " obtain the assistance of the police in controlling objectionable and excessive barracking at all international matches If thought necessary, any persons indulging in such barracking should be removed from the ground or prosecuted,” the resolution says. The co-operation of the press is also sought. The board really hopes that a public opinion will be created which will make pblice action unnecessary in all but isolated cases. The barracker is a nuisance who has given Australia a bad name. The barracker’s wit has been a well-fostered myth. Usually he is an exhibitionist, who can make use of a cricket match to attract attention to himself without attracting the attention of the police. At his worst he is a bad sportsman who seeks to distract the attention of the batsman when he is about to play the ball, or to irritate the bowler when he is about to bowl. He has been over-rated and encouraged to the detriment of Australia’s sportsmanship. He will collapse like a pricked bubble once he has been made to understand that his barracking is unwelcome. Yet it has never been properly emphasised, especially outside Australia. that this class of person forms not 1 per cent, of the crowds which attend international cricket matches Australian crowds have a great sense of sportsmanship and are as generous to . visitors as to Australian players. Practically all cricketers and officials are in favour of the board’s move, but most of them foresee difficulty in enforcing the elimination or even the control of barracking For instance, J. M. Gregory (former test all-rounder) said “ You cannot stop a crowd of barrackers. If you try you will only make them worse. It is best to appeal to the crowd’s sense of decency. The barrackers, taking them all round, are a decent lot ”

M. A. Noble, formei Australian test captain, said: “I don’t think it will be possible to make the oolicy effective in a general way. Any cases of personal objectionable barracking or bad language could very easily be stopped. Very few indulge in it, and they could be singled out and handled as an example to others.”

Other opinions were: Harold Heydon (secretary of the New South Wales Cricket Association: “ It will be particularly difficult to enforce, but 99 per cent, of the cricketing public will support any action which will tend to eliminate the objectionable barracker Nobody minds witty remarks but on occasions barracking becomes offensive.” R. Wyly (secretary, Sydney Cricket Ground Trust) “ 1 have discussed the matter of offensive barracking with the police, and they have pointed out the extreme difficulty of detecting the man It would probably be best to appeal to the better natures of the barrackers.”

A leading police official pointed out that no doubt by-laws of the Sydney Cricket Ground contained clauses which made the sale of tickets contingent upon the purchaser agreeing to be bound by the by-laws, which could include the removal of persons guilty of unseemly conduct.