PARTISAN CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1929, Page 11

PARTISAN CRICKET

AN ENGLISH VIEWPOINT. AUSTRALIAN BARRACK. I was subjected to more barracking than anyone in Australia, but, as you know, the team came in for it more or less at intervals, writes G. W. Duckworth, the English wicketkeeper, in the Sydney Morning Herald. From what I am told, there was an unusual outbreak of the barracking compared with previous tours. 'Perhaps it was because we got on top of the Australians from the start. We trod on the Kangaroo’s tail at the start, and kept it down. The Australian crowds do not like to see their favourites being beaten. They were not peculiar, of course, in that respect, but there is a great deal more in the partisan expres: sion of it than I have ever come across. I must say that the crowds took their losses in wickets and matches, and the mastery of their bowlers, by our batsmen very badly indeed. They never lost a chance to attack any appeals when they were given against me, and often when given in my favour. This colonial crowd is remarkable. The bad side of it is really offensive. In some quarters it is called good-natured chaff. That is absurd. You have to keep a stiff upper lip against it, or else you might be put right off your game. Take the case of Harold Larwood, who was the victim of several barracking incidents, and one furious demonstration in particular. He took it very much to heart, and on one or two occasions did not do himself j-stice. But they could not upset me. It came as a bit of a shock when the spectators first voiced this disapproval. I made up my mind not to be upset by it, and this made me inured. I kept on playing the game according to my lights in the best spirit. I have a shrewd notion that those sections of the t-owd—for do not run away with the idea that they were all up against me —did not have their tempers improved by the fact that I showed not the slightest sign of being troubled by their attacks. Their methods did not succeed as well as they had hoped.

QUESTION OF UMPIRE.

In Australia, where it is a catch at the wicket or a ease of leg before, the appeal must be of the most decisive sort, or you do not get anything. I know my high-pitched voice is heard on our own grounds. Out there I came to the conclusion that I must give full vent to my lungs or . there would be nothing doing.

Every, man can make a mistake, hut there were far too many incidente that went against us about which there could be no mistake.

I would suggest that it' would balance things all round if each team took an umpire on tour. I have wondered if Australian umpires arc frightened by the barrackers. I fancy so, for they are soon made the butt if they give something that is not apparent to the ring. The spectators are very good judges of the game, but what they do forget is that at a distance of 80 yards or more from the wicket they cannot see everything that has happened close up to the wicket. What decided me that a legitimate appeal must be amply demonstrated happened in the match at Sydney against an Australian Eleven before we went to Brisbane for the first Test. No fewer than what to me were four catches behind the wicket and taken wide were refused.

In all the Tests and other games I shouted for what - believed to be right. When I took a catch I threw up the ball and arms. I am keen, as you know. The crowds did not like it, and during and after the second Test at Melbourne they never missed an opportunity to let me know their opinion of me. They did not leave me in any doubt. In many ways it became nothing else but a personal attack, not only on the field but off it. And yet I must thank a host of people “down under” for their* kindness, expressions of regret over the treatment I had received, and encouragement to just go on playing the game.

ABUSIVE LETTERS.

I received plenty of anonymous letters, many of them abusive to a degree. The worst of it was that generally these alleged cricket sportsmen selected Christmas Day to send me their “greetings.” I must confess that it did upset me to receive in my mail on that particular day e ne of the biggest specimens of offensiveness. I believe I have kept a few of these letters and ,post-

cards. . I must look them up when unpacking. Others I destroyed as they were received. Things came to boiling point, of course, as the result of the Kippax affair in the second Test at Sydney, and for the life of me I cannot understand why I was made the victim.

It will be remembered that Kippax was given out bowled after appeals to both umpires. Kippax stood at the wicket, and the crowd inferred that he was challenging the decision, and was being got out unfairly. I doubt if he knew what had happened, but those behind' or square with the wicket could see it. Kippax tried to run Geary away to leg, the ball cannoning off the middle of his left pad on to the leg stump. I was standing well up, and the bail was dislodged, to fall behind me. Of course, as Kippax did not budge, I told him he was out, and appealed. So did others.

Kippax went, and then the crowd let loose. They took it that the ball had not touched the wicket direct, but came back off my pads. I have given the true facts. The version published in the papers did not restore me in favour with the crowds. In that Test match’ I got 39 not out, which did not make things any better. Candidly I do not think we have anything to fear in 1930 from the Australian tour. They have got to find new bowlers, and in my opinion there is an inclination to overrate their new batsmen. I watched Bradman and Jackson very carefully. The opportunity occurred since both made centuries while I was behind the wicket, and found flaws in their off-sid< strokes which are calculated to be fatal on English pitches. Both are pretty certain to come over next time. Jackson, I think, will be a success, bub the young Australians will have to learn something in adaptability. It is hard work out there on wickets that seem never to wear out, I thought the Lancashire and Yorkshire match was a stiff, tense affair, but shall look upon it as a picnic, after a week, tuned up to the sternest pitch, under a blazing sun. You have to be made of stern stuff to fight out all circumstances and conditions in Australia.