THE CRICKET INCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 8

THE CRICKET INCIDENT

BRADMAN EXPLAINS SLIGHT INDISPOSITIONS iFrom Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, May 28. Don Bradman has made the following statement dealing with the incident at the Oval on May. 24, when the Australians did not enforce the fol-low-on against Surrey, although they were leading by 257 runs:-^ “ It was regrettable that the spectators disapproved of my action, but I feel sure they would have been more tolerant had they been aware of the true position. I consider it my primary duty to see that our team are at their fittest for the test matches. '“At present We have slight injuries to Fleetwood-Smith (knee), McCormick (ankle), and Waite (shoulder). McCabe, selected to play against Surrey, had to drop out owing to neuritis in the shoulder; White had a minor operation on a toe at Northampton, and had not fully recovered; while O’Reilly had an abscess on a tooth. “ These troubles, and having spent a day in the field and an evening at the Surrey County Cricket Club dinner, caused me to think it would be detrimental to my bowlers L they had another hard day, with the possibility of a second consecutive day in the field at Southampton. While lam sorry it was an unpopular move, no reasonable being can refuse to admit that the remainder of the tour ihust receive serious consideration.”