CRICKET AND BODY-LINE.

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 3

CRICKET AND BODY-LINE.

To the Editor. Sir, —Your correspondent “Senex” has sent you some information as regards shock tactics as used by the English bowlers last tour in Australia. As there are two sides to this vexed question I will endeavour to uphold the case for Harold Larwood and Co. Larwood is probably the fastest bowler since the days of Cotter and Gregory in Australia, and the present day Australian players have not had the experience to deal with this kind of bowling. Of course, I realize that it is not altogether the fast bowling at the body that the players object to, but to the leg trap field as placed, which practically “leg ropes” a batsman of the flat-footed type. By standing close in fieldsmen take a great risk and have to be given credit for their nerves. What did C. G. Macartney say about this type of bowling when »sked: “as long as a batsman has a bat in his hands he should be able to defend himself against a bowler who was sending down overarm deliveries.”

My contention is that present day cricket has. developed too much of the defensive type of batsman who is becoming flat-footed. Attack is generally always the better type of defence. Why stay at home and get hit if the bowling is dangerous? Victor Trumper, Harry Graham, and C. G. Macartney would jump out and attack the bowling and put the bowled off his length. The straight drive (a much neglected shot nowadays) is a strong weapon to use against a fast bowler to advantage. Another neglected art in cricket nowadays is extracting short runs which upset bowler and fielding side. Old players locally will remember Charlie Kane and Herbie Rogers, two past masters at extracting short runs and bustling the field. How often do we see the batsmen at the bowler’s end sitting on the handle never attempting to back up. Some of our batsmen should take a course of study in tip and run. Somebody may say what has this to do with fast bowling? With the wicket-keeper standing well back, a run is often possible with good backing up. It is little wonder that in Sydney a syndicate has been formed with a capital of £lOO,OOO to start one day cricket. This will probably be the means of developing some new fast scoring stars for international cricket, and at the same time make the batsmen enterprising and not afraid to get out and attack the fast bowler. The fast bowler always has been and will be used to extract as much “devil” from the wicket as he can to upset a batsman. Many a batsman prefers the high rising ball to the one that torpedoes you. I fail to see how the M.C.C. can legislate to deal with bodyline bowling as wickets vary as well as bowlers and batsmen, and all help towards the glorious uncertainty of the game.—l am, etc., “SQUARE LEG.”