M.C.C. NOTE TO AUSTRALIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19671, 13 December 1933, Page 7

M.C.C. NOTE TO AUSTRALIA

FURTHER DISCUSSION OPPOSED RECEPTION* OF REPLY IN AUSTRALIA United Press Association—E? Electric Telecraph—Copyright (Received December 12, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, December 11. The Marylebone Cricket Club has cabled the Australian Board of Control as follows: “With reference to your cable of November 16, you must please accept our cable of October 9, which speaks for itself, as final. We cannot go beyond the assurance given in that message. We shall welcome an Australian team next year. If, however, your Board decides that such games should be deferred, we shall regret the decision. Please let us know your final decision as soon as possible; in any •vent, by the end of the year." A member of the Marylebone Cricket Club Committee said: “We are all heartily sick of these cables. All we want is the Australians to come, and have a jolly good game as in the past. If the Marylebone Cricket Club’s assurance that we will play as hitherto, is not good enough for them, they had better stay away.” SfIXED RECEPTION IN AUSTRALIA VIEWS OP PROMINENT CRICKETERS United Press Association—By ElectrSo Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 12, 10.5 p.m.) I SYDNEY, December 12. The Marylebone Cricket Club's cable had a mixed reception here and in (other States. The consensus of opinion in Sydney fc that the Board got what it deserved, but some prominent cricketers and officials in Melbourne still regard the position as unsatisfactory. The view is expressed that the M.C.C. cable is ambiguous and at least two Victorian members of the Board and two Queensland members •re of opinion that another meeting pf the Board will be necessary. Mr R. Oxlade (chairman of the Board) stated to-day that Marylebones cable was being circulated among the members of the Board for their opinions. He hoped no further meeting of the Board would be demanded. EXCHANGE OF NOTES. DANGER OF RESURRECTION OF BODYLINE CONTROVERSY. i The cablegram sent by the Australian Cricket Club of Control on November 16 to the Marylebone Cricket Club stated that the board assumed that Marylebones cablegram of October 9 was intended to give the assurance asked for in the boards message of September 22. “On that understanding,” said the board, “we are sending our team to England next year.” A message from London on the following day said that cricket circles there were astonished at the board's cablegram and considered that it resurrected the controversy, though it was thought to be happily dead, namely, was the English bowling unfair on the last tour. ' London critics expressed the opinion that the board had every reason to be satisfied with Marylebones cablegram of October 9, since it agreed that bowling at the man was contrary to the spirit of the game, and assured the board such tactics would not be used In 1934. The substance of the Australian board's cablegram to the M.C.C. was as follows: “While leg-theory bowling, as practised for many years, is not open to objection, we feel that a continuance of the type of bowling to which exception was taken in Australia, though strictly speaking it is not in conflict with the laws of cricket, would not be in the best interests of the game. May we assume that you concur, and that the English and Australian teams will be able to take the field in 1934 with that knowledge? “We are giving consideration to the Question of barracking, and you can rely upon us to use our best endeavours to have it controlled in future. We are most anxious that the cordial relations between Australia and English cricket lovers shall continue.” The M.C.C.’s reply heartily reciprocated the desire for a continuation of cordial relations and said: “Any point of difference between us seems to be rather on a question of fact than on any point of interpretation of the laws of cricket or the spirit of the game. The M.C.C. agrees, and always has agreed, that a form of bowling which obviously is a direct attack by a bowler on a batsman would be an offence •gainst the spirit of the game, and your team certainly can take the field in England next year with the knowledge and full assurance that cricket will be played here til the same spirit as in the past, and with the single desire to promote the best interests of the game in both countries." The message added: “The M.C.C. much appreciates your action in regard to future control of barracking in order to keep it within reasonable bounds. Your team can rely on a warm welcome from the M.C.C.”