SOUTH AFRICANS LOST HEAVILY ON CRICKET TOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18889, 12 October 1929, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICANS LOST HEAVILY ON CRICKET TOUR.

AN ALL-ROUND SLUMP IN ATTENDANCES.

(Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, August 28. It is unfortunate that the South African cricket tour is likely to result in a financial loss. The deficit may be as much as £ISOO. This cannot be ascribed to any lack of attractiveness on the part of the team. Indeed, they have exceeded expectations, and they will return home with the best possible reputation for good sportsmanship and as a side of the highest promise. For some strange reason there has been an al-round slump in attendances. In nearly every case the receipts of the county clubs are down as compared with last season. It would seem as if a reaction had sent in after all the excitement of the winter, when the M.C.C. AA*ere engaged in their long-drawn-out tests with the Australians.

The tourists are not a all despondent over heir failure to win one of the tests, because they feel that only a trifle of luck would have turned more than one game in their favour. Moreover, they are conscious that they have made a real advance in playing skill, and they are looking forward to the time when an England team next visits them. That will be during the winter of 1931-31. Much of the success of the tour has been due to he fine captainccy of Deane, and everyone was sorry that he did not score a century in the final test at the Oval. His innings of 93 was not only his highest but his best in an international game. His side were in a critical position when he Avent in, three wickets having been lost for 20 when he joined Herbert Taylor. Deane and his colleague not only stopped the rot, but took the edge off the English bowling, and then proceeded to score in merry fashion. It was bad luck to miss the century by no more than eight. It is understood that Deane does not expect to be able to play cricket in this country again, but happily he will continue to be available for South Africa. More than ever cricket is becoming a world-Avide game, and it is very significant that the standard of play is improving in all parts. The West Indies have already been given what may be called test match rank, and though New Zealand and India, have not yet been admitted to the highest class, it is only a matter of time when they will be. How the game is growing is indicated by the fact that a team from overseas will visit this country each season during he next six years. In addition the South Africans are to visit Australia in 1931-32. Before this tour takes place it is expected that turf pitches will have becomes definitely established in the Union. This reform is needed not only in order that cricket may be played under uniform conditions all over the world, but so that South African sides may not be handicapped through the change from matting wickes.

Football’s Popularity. The populariy of football and the player is amazing. More than a million people are eagerly waiting the start of the new season and the practice matches have only served to excite their curiosity. At one trial match by the Arsenal there were as many as twenty-five thousand spectators. Indeed, there was a bigger crowd at this game, which was only a spectacle without competitive interest, than at the cricket Test at the Oval.

This exceptional interest ,in the affairs of the Arsenal Club was due to the appearance of perhaps the most brilliant forward in the game, Alex James, in the side. James is only a midget. He stands sit sin, and weighs no more than lOst. But he is claimed to have more tricks than any forward since Bobbie Walker Avas at his best, and he is the most popular figure in the game. The Arsenal paid nearly £9OOO to Preston North End for the transfer of James, but they have proved that it pays to spend. As soon as preparations for the new season were made there was a rush for season tickets and the club have sold many more than ever before. If the best hopes of the Arsenal are realised—they have planned to have one of the leading teams in the country—they should soon get back the money they have laid out on James through bigger gates. The club have also David Jack, who still counts as the only £IO,OOO player He joined the club as an inside right from Bolton Wanderers, but he has been converted into a centre forward and has been so successful in this position that there is a possibility of his displacing Dixie Dean as England’s leader. Another interesting event has been the appointment of Arthur Grimsdell, the old Tottenham Hotspur cap tain, as manager of Cap ton Orient. The Spurs decided that GrimsdeH’s firstclass career had come to an end and he was given a free transfer. He has played cricket all the summer for Hertfordshire in the minor counties’ championship and it seemed as if he would retire from football. The Orient had a disastrous season last year, losing their place, in the Second Division, but in the meantime the club have been completely overhauled with a new board of directors. Their first move was to appoint Grimsdell, and, though he has taken over the management at a time when the resources of the club are at a very loav ebb, it is confidently believed that he will be able to build them up again. As a left half-back Grimsdell had no equal during his time. Unfortunately, his career was shortened first by a knee injury and then by a broken leg.