THE MAIN TOPIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26311, 16 November 1946, Page 6

THE MAIN TOPIC

COMING CRICKET TESTS

MELBOURNE PROFESSOR’S INTEREST

Earlier in the week Dunedin* people read of the match between the M.Q.C. side and an Australian eleven. Last evening a Daily Times reporter had a brief interview with a Melbourne cricket enthusiast, who saw the Englishmen bat. He was Dr S. Sunderland, professor of anatomy at Melbourne University, who arrived in Dunedin by air yesterday to conduct anatomy examinations at the Otago Medical School. Dr Sunderland’s arrival was not altogether expected yesterday • because it was reported that a flying boat that left for Auckland on Thursday had to turn back, and it was thought that he was a passenger. Dr and Mrs Sunderland, however, were on a second flying boat which managed to complete the. trip in spite of the bad weather encountered some distance out from Auckland. They flew down from Auckland yesterday on their first visit to the South Island. They expect to be in Dunedin for three weeks, and then intend taking a short holiday and getting -to know the South Island.

It was natural enough that at the present time, the conversation should turn to cricket, for Dr Sunderland is not only an Australian, but he has played a fair amount of cricket in his day. He was a keen cricketer in his school and university days, and played for Queensland University, but as his studies increased he had to give up the, game. His interest in cricket has not by any means diminished. He confessed he could* not think of anything to say about his' university that would be of special interest, and he had not had time to form any impressions about Dunedin or its Medical School. What he had seen of the South Island from the air when the clouds permitted he liked, and he was looking forward to his stay. “ Interest has certainly not diminished in cricket in Australia,” Dr Sunderland said. “It is much the same as it was before the war, and everybody is looking forward to the coming test series which promises to be extremely interesting. In my opinion,” he added, “the tests will be high-scoring matches, and I would not like to venture a guess as to which side will have the; advantage.”

Dr Sunderland said that he had seen some of the leading Englishmen bat in the match against the Australian

eleven. England was an excellent batting side, but the visitors were rather slow and uninteresting to watch.

“I saw Compton, Hutton, and Yardley bat at Melbourne,” he stated, “ and they were very slow. Both Compton and Hutton are beautiful bats, but they certainly slow up the game. Of course,” he added, “it might have been the good bowling, for McCool, in particular, was in great form.”

It was too early to form any opinion as to the outcome of the tests, he added, as there were important matches still to be played. But there was no question that cricket in Australia had just as big a following today as it had before the war. It was probably the main topic of conversation across the Tasman at the present time.