ENGLAND’S CRICKET TRIUMPH

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1933, Page 10

ENGLAND’S CRICKET TRIUMPH

SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. THAT “BODY-LINE” BOWLING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, March 9. The success of Jardine and his men in the fifth and final Test cricket match in Sydney left no doubt as to the superiority of England’s cricket at the present time. Under happier conditions I think it might even have been more strongly marked. But fortunately all unpleasantness has been dispelled, and the game between the two countries has been brought back into its proper setting. Now is the time to consider Australia’s contention that leg theory, or what they have been pleased to describe “bodyline” bowling, should not be permitted. The proposal will be strongly backed up in this country. But it is a matter which may well be left to the good sense of captains and players without any alteration of rules. As I have previously stated, I do not think there is any doubt that the method. of attaci? was adopted to defeat the conditions in Australia, to make the batsman play the ball, and, if only the Commonwealth authorities will abandon the timeless Test and fix a definite duration for all matches, there will be an end to it. It is unlikely, for instance, that, the leg theory will be exploited to any greater extent than hitherto during the coming season at home.

Captaincy obviously contributed greatly to the success of the English team As a leader Jardine, it may be confessed, has exceeded all expectations. He was believed to . be so cold and unemotional that it was feared that he would not give the right inspiration. But no set of players could have fought more courageously under any captain. We have always believed the Australians to be wonderful fighters, never relaxing any grip which they might obtain on a match, but for once they have been strangely

liable to wilt at a crisis, as is indicated by the fact that in none of the five Tests did they exceed 200 runs in thesr second innings.

The tour has upset many calculations. It was believed that both sides were so vveak in bowling that the scoring would break all records. It was even predicted that in one innings 1000 runs would t>= scored. But the chief honours went to the bowlers. There is the possibility that the change in Australian pitches was to some extent responsible for- this. It is recognised that Larwood was the match winner. Clearly, by .his speed and control, he exercised a demoralising influence over most of the Australian batsmen, and especially over Bradman, who was feared more than. any other player. The latter may have been a disappointment to the Australian public, but too much was perhaps expected of him. and, after all, he was their most success-

ful batsman. Larwood, too, was splendidly backed up by the other bowlers, and never at any point in the tour was the England attack really collared, \ Another' pleasing feature of the ■. tour has been that when one man failed/another . rose to the occasion. If the Stkrt of an innings was poor, the finish was first-class. England had no tail, and this gave them a big advantage. Several of the players greatly enhanced their reputations. Hedley Verity proved himself a worthy successor of Rhodes as a bowler, and he has shown such marked capabilities as a batsman that he is now likely to be given a higher place in the . Yorkshire innings. Paynter, Leyland and R. E. S. Wyatt all established themselves as Test match players on whom England will be pleased to rely for some time to come, Unfortunately, I understand that there is not much likelihood of Allen playing much cricket for Mid-_

diesex during the coming season. Ha says after six months' holiday. he wHI have to go back to work and‘Stick to it. It was good to see Hammond finish so finely. He is the best all-round cricketer, in the . world. Curiously - enough, ha scored exactly the same number of runs as Sutcliffe in the five Tests, and had the same average. •