BRADMAN FELT HE COULD NOT LET WOODFULL DOWN

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 62, 14 March 1931, Page 26 (Supplement)

BRADMAN FELT HE COULD NOT LET WOODFULL DOWN

“ Manager’s Iron Hand Was Severely Criticised, But Was Often A God-Send.”

(By

DON BRADMAN.)

(No. 23.)

A leading English authority on the game has put it on record that “ when the history of this tour comes to be written a heroic tale will be told of how Woodfuir and his men won through from depression to abounding confidence. “ I happen to know,” he writes, “ that in June at least one Australian cricketer of experience had resigned himself to the worst, and that as late as June 23 the Australians themselves had definitely come to the view that the best they could hope for was to achieve a ‘ good show ’ in the Test matches.” I have already remarked on what was thought of our chances when we left Australia. We were regarded as a team of boys, inexperienced and setting out to learn. The English Press did not forget to remind us of our youth on our arrival, and I can recall a humorous cartoon centring round a baby’s bottle. Perhaps this criticism was all to the good, for it showed, at least, that too much was not expected of us. I can say this, however, we had confidence in ourselves, in our team-mates, and, above all, we had complete faith in our captain. Woodfull was the rudder of our ship. His performances on the cricket field are well known—always at his best when things were going against us—but his value to us off the field is known only to those who had the good fortune to come in contact with him. Unfortunate in Str\ Then there was Tom (Mr Howard), who guarded the finances, always doing his job without any noise or fuss, and always trying to help the young chaps along. Arthur James, of Tasmania, our masseur, was always smiling and efficient. He didn’t mind doing anything for the boys, even if it wasn’t exactly his job. And last, but not least, comes our scorer, “ Bill ” Ferguson; commonly called “ Ferg,” “ Fergie ” or “ Brickdust.” He has often been spoken of as indispensable. He was the nearest to it on this tour of anyone I know. Never missed scoring a run, kept amazing detailed records of every match, looked after our bags like a detective, acted the part of manager or treasurer if either official happened to be away, and was laundry superintendent as well. He just seemed to do everything, and all the time not a murmur of complaint and 100 per cent efficiency. When Bill Ferguson retires he will be a remarkable man who can hope to fill his place. At the start of the tour we struck very cold weather and, coming on top of an Australian summer, we found the change rather trying. I have known a player go on the field with two undershirts, a heavy flannel shirt and two sweaters, and still be shivering.

It was this looking up to our leader that so materially helped to make these boys a team. Personally, I have never played under anyone for whom I had more respect or in whom I placed more implicit trust; and all the time I felt I just could not let him down, but must give of the utmost that was in me, and I am sure every member of our little band felt the same way. Every match saw us learning, getting more accustomed to these new conditions, and becoming a team, until at last, at the Oval, we achieved what every one of us was striving for, victory in the deciding Test match. I think everyone will agree with me when I say that credit for our success should go, not to any individuals, but to the whole fifteen players. It was the way we stuck to one another, smiled and were happy in all circumstances that was largely responsible for the success of the team. Then, too, the other members of our party must not be forgotten. Mr Kelly’s iron hand was severely criticised at times, but it was very often a God-send to us. The fact that our dressing room was for us, and not the general public, was a very great comfort on many occasions, while the autograph hunters did not give us so much trouble as they would have done otherwise. king Wet Summer . We were unfortunate in striking a wet summer, but this only seemed to make the fine days we had all the more delightful. Toward the close, when playing in the south of England, we had a short experience of a few really hot days. A decided advantage of the cooler weather was that one did not tend to tire out so quickly. The wickets, too, were so varied that we rarely saw two alike. This was a wonderful experience for our young players, and I doubt if there is any type of wicket that was not encountered at least once on the tour. Fast wickets, slow wickets, wickets where the ball turned both slowly and quickly, two-paced wickets, every conceivable kind were met with on some occasion. To me they seemed to play more easily when slightly damp than when perfectly dry, and, whereas in Australia we always dread rain on the pitch, it was often very welcome here. The country grounds are mostly very pretty and well kept. Sometimes the dressing* rooms were not of the best, and facilities for the players, such as sight-boards, etc., were not what we had been accustomed to, but, even so, any shortcoming in the matter of the screens seems to make the game more of a sport. The bowlers were grateful for a little more assistance.

Word of Praise for English Umpires.

Practically every county fielded a strong side, and even against the weakest team we could not afford to take them cheaply. The players’ general knowledge of the game and its tactics seems to be better in England than in Australia. The professional cricketer, who has to earn his lining at the game, must necessarily know it from A to Z, and in England one notices how mufch more a bowler bowls to his field, and in various ways combats a batsman. I am not sure that these things make for brighter cricket, but we were enabled to learn a lot by watching these players. Then, too, I would like to add a word of praise for the English umpires. They undoubtedly are the best in the world. Match after match they gave us entire satisfaction in that most difficult position, and only when we met a bad umpire (which was very rarely) did we fully appreciate the efficiency of the rest. Then the wonderful hospitality shown us by the English public must not, and cannot, be forgotten. This was the first occasion I had been out-

side Australia, but at all times Ttas I made to feel at home by those with whom I came in contact. Every one of us regretted we could not accept the many invitations that were extended to us by various people to stay at their homes, but, nevertheless, these invitations were greatly appreciated. The warmth of our welcome everywhere was simply wonderful, and made us feel at home in this dear old land. Altogether T cannot imagine any happier experience than to tour England as an Australian cricketer. To travel the length and breadth of the country, to visit old-fashioned towns and busy cities, to look on scenery much more beautiful than anything I had ever imagined was an unending delight. It was my great desire to go to England, and now that this desire has been fulfilled I can truthfully say I enjoyed every minute of the trip. So much so, that I am already looking forward to the day when the next Australian side will set out for England, and hoping with all my heart that I shall be one of the oartv.