“JACK” WHITE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 5

“JACK” WHITE.

ENGLAND'S SKIPPER.

Captaining England at Birmingham to-day in the cricket test against South Africa is J. C. White, the famous slow bowler who did so well in Australia.

Most people know exactly what kind of cricketer Jack White is, and. they will guess that he is a good sportsman. No one could have any doubt about that when they think of the way in which he carries Somerset year after year (says an English critic). Since he took over the captaincy he has played practically a lone hand. When he bowled throughout the Australians second innings at Adelaide —he was only off five oveisN—there was some surprise; but I have seen him bowl sixty overs in English cricket without a break, and not once in the whole time has he sent down a loose ball. There was some doubt about his selection for the trip to Australia. It was argued that his was a negative type of bowling. True, they do not get many runs from his bowling, but. on the other hand, he rarely gets wickets. In other words, “he bowls the batsmen in." That was the argument which was put forward to me before the first test match. I have not seen that critic since—l think he is avoiding me! The fact is that few people really understand White or make allowances for the fact that he plays for Somerset. If he played for Yorkshire, Lancashire, or any • county that is blessed with plenty of bowlers, he would be one of the most successful attackers in the country. His role with Somerset is that of for ever having before his mind the necessity of keeping runs down and patiently waiting for the batsmen to get themselves out.

I remember at Lord’s last season, not one of the batsmen could score easily. At the end of the day I talked to Patsy Hendren. “ Why did you not go to the pitch of the ball?" I asked. The same question has been asked of the Australian batsmen. This was Hendren’s reply.

Patsy’s Reply. “ That would be playing into Mr White's hands. He would change his field and type of bowling, and we should soon be caught or stumped He can do almost anything he pleases with the ball.

“ It is easy to criticise, because most people think Mr White is a spin bowler. True, he can spin, but his danger is in flighting the ball. An inch or two in loft of the ball may not be noticed from the ring, but it means a lot of difference in playing the delivery. "To score off Mr White means that you have to play an unusual shot every time. He sends down the ball which the batsmen like, the ball which can be to a certain spot in the field; but there he has a fieldsman to gather it. White is the nearest approach to an Australian bowler in this country. He sets his field according to the batsman, and then bowls so that the batsman can play his favourite shot; but he blocks the danger. You can get singles, but not fours.

“ When you start to attack him then the danger starts.”