Hobbs on Bradman.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 8

Hobbs on Bradman.

Dear Sir, —I have read the comment on Don Bradman by Jack Hobbs, the English professional cricketer, and now writer to the London “ Star,” in re N.S.W. v. M.C.C. He accuses Bradman of resorting to showmanship; he refers to the catch which sent Hammond back to the pavilion, caught at short leg. Bradman somersaulted to take the catch. Of course, Hobbs does not like the Aussie fielder who can do this, but a’Beckett somersaulted in the Old Country—hung on to a hot cut from Hobbs and sent that gentleman back to the pavilion with nine to his credit. Now, sir, in rcnty to Hobbs’s criticism of Bradman. I wonder if Hobbs remembers the occasion of the last Australian tour, when Hobbs, Sutcliffe and party resorted to all sorts of tactics to recapture the Ashes. Hobbs was showman enough to appeal against the light at 6.6 b p.m., and if you hunt up the remarks that followed that unwarranted appeal you will see where ‘‘Plum" Warner, an ex-M.C.U skipper, condemned that appeal. They refer to 44 showmanship by Bradman,” and I certainly agree with them; and while doing so refer them to the Test played at Leeds, when the Englishmen declared after scoring over 500 runs, which is no mean score. What follows? Read cricket history. Bradman, the so-called showman, came to the crease with his bat; and what a joke it was; and he will repeat it again. He flogged the bowling unmercifully. There were ten bowlers tried—Larwood, Wyatt, Freeman, Leyland, Verity, Voce, Hammond, Chapman, and two others that I cannot bring to mind for the moment. Bradman knocked up 343 for his portion —43 boundaries among the poultice, too. He brought the Australian total for that innings to 720 and Bradman on that occasion defeated the M.C.C., and J. B. Hobbs cannot deny it. Bradman in five years of first-class cricket smashed all records: and of course he has his enemies in the Old Country, just as the famous Rugbyite, Jack Steele, had. For the present I will leave Bradman alone; he needs no help to flog that unorthodox stuff. He and M’Cabe will deal with it before the tour is over. Australia comes to light in what appears her darkest hour, and I am sure she can do it again.— I am, etc., JOHN P. HORTON. Tiroroa, Buffer Gorge.