BODYLINE CONTROVERSY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1935, Page 7

BODYLINE CONTROVERSY

NEW ZEALANDER’S VIEWS

PRESENT AT FINAL TEST MATCH.

SENSATIONAL PRESS IN ENGLAND.

EXPERIENCES OF MR. D. M. RAE.

Very interesting sidelights upon the bodyline bowling controversy were given to a Daily News reporter last night, by Mr. D. M. Rae, the president of the Teachers’ Summer School Movement, at New Plymouth. Mr. Rae was in England last summer and was present at the final test at the Oval. „ “The general opinion in England,” said Mr. Rae, “was that there was a definite move by the M.C.C., backed up by certain sections of cricket and the Press, in opposition to the militant attitude. of Carr and Larwood, to attempt to improve the unfortunate position that had arisen by meeting the wishes of the Australians, who had made it plain that they objected strongly to the bodyline bowling. They were supported by the grand old men of English cricket such as Lord Hawke and Sir Stanley Jackson, who regard cricket as a sacred sport of gentlemen, and were willing to sacrifice almost anything to re-establish the good relationships with the great cricket loving nation of Australia.” According to Mr. Rae there was a definite opinion that the English team was being picked to suit the Australians. In fact many maintained that the Australians were selecting the English team. Without the services of Jardine, Larwood and Voce England did not view the outcome of the tests with much confidence. England hoped for the best, but that was all. In spite of this the crowd at the Oval for the final match was particularly sporting. During the recordbreaking partnership between Bradman and Ponsford the applause throughout the day was most generous, despite the fact that the crowd realised that these two players were finally blasting England’s hopes. Mr. Rae attributed a great deal of the trouble to the attitude of the sensational sectons of the Press. They knew that the general followers of the game felt that an injustice was being done to Jardine, Larwood and Voce, and they did their best to fan the fires. They persisted in 'magnifying incidents and featuring the comments of Larwood and other players.