FRIGHTENED OF LARWOOD

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 238, 9 May 1933, Page 6

FRIGHTENED OF LARWOOD

Some Australian Wizards

DUCKWORTH INTERVIEWED

Press Association.- —Cony right. London. May 7

Duckworth, the M.C.C. wicketkeeper, in an interview said that the whole thing, boiled down to a simple fact, was that some of the Australian wizards were frightened to death of Larwood. The Dispatch says that none of the team expects Larwood to use body-line bowling except on occasions. The ball here swings far longer in the air and the wickets are livelier. Also there is a time limit to the matches. Every member of the team backs the captain, and therefore there can be only one answer to the Australian cable suggesting the abolition of body-line bowling—a polite refusal.

The Daily Herald in an editorial says: "There will be many supporters of the idea that suspension of the tests is the simplest solution of the difficulties arising out of leg-theory bowling. Certainly nobody would care to carry on if all the tests are to be played in the lurid atmosphere which surrounded the last series, but surely such an atmosphere and spirit are not inherent in cricket. The rupture of cricket relations would reflect credit on nobody and would not serve as a good advertisement of what is supposed to be the traditional sporting qualities of Britons." Mr. Eric Martin in an article in the Daily Herald says that a high authority states that tests between England and Australia may be postponed indefinitely as an outcome of the body-line controversy. Now that the team has returned the M.C.C. intends to hold an exhaustive inquiry into the circumstances which temporarily ruined enjoyment of lest cricket. Team to Give Evidence The first move will be to hold a conference at which every member of the team will be asked to give evidence. The players, almost without exception, have returned embittered. They feel that the treatment they received in many parts of Australia, particularly in Sydney, the home of the barrackers, was contrary to all the rules of sportsmanship. Here are some of the complaints which are to be investigated:— Players could not leave their hotels without fear of being openly insulted in the streets, and were frequently molested on train journeys by gangs who entered the carriages and threw missiles through the windows. They were jeered when at theatres, so that many of the players preferred to stay in their hotels. The test matches were played to the accompaniment of continual booing and abuse of the foulest character. Refuse was thrown at the men near the boundary, and the atmosphere of hostility that unnerved some of the players sometimes threatened to end in physical violence. The Daily Express says Jardine, Wyatt, Sutcliffe and Hammond have been asked to attend the Marylebone Club's inquiry. Marylebone's share of the Australian and New Zealand tour profits is estimated at £30.000 at the present rate of exchange (25 per cent.).