INFERIOR TEST CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1932, Page 9

INFERIOR TEST CRICKET

“SECOND GRADE MATCHES.”

AUSTRALIAN OFFICIAL’S ATTACK.

A frank declaration that it was a misnomer to refer to the matches against South Africa and West Indies as “test” cricket was made last week by Mr. W. L. Kelly, manager of the last Australian test team to England. Mr. Kelly, who is also chairman of the Victorian Cricket Association executive, was speaking at the . annual junior cricket smoke social. “My opinion,” he said, “is that we are not up to the standard of several seasons ago. Australians are getting too much of the second grade alleged ‘test’ cricket, which in reality cannot be called ‘test’ cricket, but is only a trip made by a weaker country to gain practical experience.” He said that the recent games with West Indies and South Africa were of no importance to Australia. Australian cricket -was at its best when a visit was made only once in four years by an English team, and when Sheffield Shield games were played out to a finish instead of placing a time limit on them, to provide the sporting public with second-rate international matches. Comment by prominent Sydney cricketers and ex-cricketers is mostly adverse to Mr. Kelly’s declarations. “I think Mr. Kelly is all wrong,” said the famous Don Bradman. “To say that the matches should not be regarded in the light of test matches is a slight on the calibre of the players we opposed. Granted that the West Indies team was not quite up to ’ test' match standard, the South African team was composed of men definitely of test match calibre, who, unfortunately, did not reveal their true form. Every. Australian batsman will agree that the bowling—particularly of Bell and Quinn— was definitely up to standard. “Regarding Mr. Kelly’s statement that the matches were of no importance to Australia, I again say that in my opinion he is wrong. Playing the South Africans was a fine experience for our players, and,' although they were not strong enough to beat us, they were sufficiently strong to give us the opportunity of strengthening our team in preparation for the English visit next season.”

“The visit of both West Indies and South Africa was a distinct advantage to Australia,” said Mr. M. A. Noble, “but I agree with Mr. Kelly that the games should not interfere with Sheffield Shield matches, which should be played to a finish. The South Africans were a good team. They, must have been up to test standard, for they defeated England. The'trouble was that they could not get acclimatised here. Their bowlers were distinctly good.” “In another 50 years we will still have criticis (and especially non-cricketers) saying the same thing,” said Mr. R. C. M. Boyce, the New South Wales selector. “The standard never is what it was —and never has been.

“The importance of frequent visits from overseas lies in the fact that they give players an opportunity to weld themselves into a team, afford promising players experience under test conditions, provide the cricketing public with excellent entertainment and maintain enthusiasm. Incidentally, they furnish theassociation with funds which are very vital for the development of the game. The time limit has certainly done nothing during the past season to prevent Shield matches being played to a finish.”'