Hobbs on Bradman.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 662, 16 January 1933, Page 6

Hobbs on Bradman .

Dear Sir,—Your correspondent, Mr J. P. Horton, in his attack on Hobbs, in your issue of Saturday, draws very largely on his imagination, and his letter is full of inaccuracies. Quoting the Test match at Leeds, when Bradman made 334 (not 343», he states that there were ten bowlers tried, and mentions eight of them, four of whom were not even playing in the match (Wyatt, Freeman, Verity and Voce), and another (Chapman) did not bowl at all. Six bowlers were actually tried. Again, he mentions that England declared after scoring over 500 runs, Australia replying with 720. As a matter of fact, Australia batted first, scoring 566, England following with 301. In this match Hobbs made 29 (not 9) before a’Beckett made the catch about which there was considerable discussion. In the match at Lords, when Australia made 729 (Bradman 254), Hammond is the only one of the eight mentioned who actually bowled. These facts and figures can easily be verified by a reference to Wisden. Evidently J.P.H. does not practise what he preaches when he writes “ Read cricket history —I am, etc., E.A.T.