SPIRIT OF CRICKET

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17155, 4 October 1926, Page 7

SPIRIT OF CRICKET

AUSTRALIANS DEFICIENT MONEY TOO IMPORTANT SOME OUTSPOKEN COMMENT (.Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received October 4, 12 noon.) LONDON, October .3. The Observer, after paying ay tribute to the many lessons Australian cricket) lias taught England, outspokenly comments on the tourists' tactics. "In latter years," the journal remarks, "conditions in Australia, permitting playing matches to a finish, resulted in the prize becoming everything and the game nothing. During the last two tours of England the Australians subordinated everything to the tests. That! is all that matters to them. The tests are the gold; other matches the dross. Such a policy does not appeal to people who are paying high prices to see minor matches. Cricket should be played for its own worth. "There is no doubt the Australians are passionately fond of cricket,, but they appreciate the importance of revenue, apart from what amateur purists would call payment for broken time. They appreciate the bonus out'of the profits, but once the English public is really convinced thati the Australians are not always doing their best, -and straining every nerve and muscle, the financial receipts will soon cease to allow bonuses. It is unfortunate, bat it appears from what is written in Australia that money exerts a.powerful iufluance on Australian cricket. "It is said that Australia wants the tests played out with a view to getting increased receipts. - Many early English teams visiting Australia were notoriously professional or speculative -undertakings, but tlie Australians are in a different category. They pose as amateurs, andl are treated as amateurs by their'English hosts. This is not a cause for complaint, but if a party of cricketers visit England with a view to money making, they should .give money's worth. "Apart, from this sordid subject, there is a growing idea that the Australians want cricket nlaved everywhere as it is played in Australia. Englishmen have oilier views. They prefer Marylebone rules. All we want from Australia is teams which will play all the matches in the true spirit of cricket, and as sportsmen."