ENGLISH CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1935, Page 12

ENGLISH CRICKET

■-> THE SEASON’S PROSPECTS. SOUTH AFRICANS’ VISIT. . (By Air Mail: Special Correspondent.) London, April 25. The South African cricketers could not begin their practice for the season soon enough. On the day they arrived they hurried to Lords, several of them to see the home of the game for the first time, and, had it been possible, they would have got into their flannels at onc6. Unfortunately, however; the Wet state of the grounds prevented this. In their eagerness next day they went to the indoor school of Alan Fairfax, and, although the weather since has been unfavourable, they have lost no chance to get in touch with the game. The Hampstead Club provided them with an excellent opportunity. They arranged to put a team in the field in order that each Of the visitors might have twenty minutes battbig under match play conditions, and since then they have taken part -in one or two day matches against scratch sides before beginning their, long programme of-fix-tures. .. ''' "‘. ■' - ■’ There is a good deal of speculation as to how the new leg-before-wicket rule will operate.* One .belief is that it will have a magical effect In inducing batsmen to drive the off ball to the'.boundary when "under the old conditions they would have been content to play it with their pads. On the other hand, it is feared that it may cause even more caution in dealing with the breaking ball from, the off, and that there will be a disconcerting number of doubtful decisions. As I see the position, the danger is in the season being a Wet one, and matches being played on a .series of sticky pitches. In those circumstances it is possible that the bowler might carry all before him. COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP. At least the change will create a new interest, and with the South Africans as a special attraction, it promises to be a thoroughly good season. The Test matches will cause some disturbance to the county championship, which must always be the bulwark, but it will be less than’ if the Australians were here. So heavy were the claims made on Yorkshire through last summer’s games with the Australians. that they ofteh had to take the field with a skeleton team. They may suffer again, but scarcely to the same extent, and I shall be surprised if they do not once more show their power as a match-winning eleven. The county sides will not show much change, and Lancashire, who hold the championship, are well enough equipped to remain at the top. They have d finely varied attack, and an array of batsmen of a’reliable rather than brilliant description, who can be trusted to back up each other. Last sdason their captain was exceedingly fortunate in winning the toss twenty-seven times in thirty matches, but while this luck pdssibly helped them, they were a very sound team. Sustex, too, ought to be successful. Tate believes that the new l.b.w. rule will enable him to enter on another era of triumph in turning the ball from the off and claiming victims in the slips. But even if he once more becomes the mainstay" of the attack, there are other most capable bowlers. Surrey, I fear, will again be short of a bowler, but the Middlesex team, with Rebins as captain, seems to have great possibilities. Allen intends to play regularly, and, with Smith available, they will have two fast bpwl'ets. This will give them an advantage over most of their rivals. At the same time they will also have more all-rounders than are to be found in most of the Sides.