LARWOOD REPENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 107, 9 May 1933, Page 5

LARWOOD REPENTS

HASTINESS REGRETTED CRITICISM OF AUSTRALIA EMBARRASSMENT CAUSED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LON DUX, May 7. Mr. A. W. Shelton, president of th< Notts County Cricket Club, has issued tho following statement on behalf ol Larwood regarding the Sunday .Express interview: “The interview with Larwood was written up by another person from statements made by him. Believing that he was at liberty to publish the statement the day after the return of the Marylebone team, he signed the proof of article without sufficient thought. Upon certain facts being brought to his notice, since signing the proof, he decided to withdraw it in order not to cause trouble be tween himself and Marylebone. Accordingly he sent two telegrams to tho editor of the Sunday Express on May 4 and May 5, the first of which was acknowledged in writing withdrawing the interview, as well as permission to publish it. At the same time he returned the cheque he had received in payment. Larwood wishes to express regret for tho appearance of the article, the publica tion of which he did all in his power to stop.” LARWOOD’S “INTERVIEW” WHAT THE EDITOR SAYS LONDON, May 8. The editor of the Sunday Express has written to the Daily Express stating that ho had never heard such nonsense as the statements issued on behalf of Larwood. “As late as Saturday Larwood gave an interview to tho Daily Mail reiterating his assertion to us that ho had. been released from his pledge of silence to Marylebone," states the editor. “We bought and paid for the interview at Larwood’s suggestion. When late in the week Tie asked to be released from his contract, he made it clear that he sought release chiefly because ho proposed to publish his experiences in book form. Wo preferred tn publish them in the Sunday Express.” “ FRIGHTENED TO DEATH ” DUCKWORTH’S OPINION LONDON, May 7. Duckworth, in an interview, says: “The whole thing boils down to the simple fact that some of the Australian wizards were frightened to death of Larwood.” Tho Dispatch says: “None of the team expects Larwood to use bodyline bowling except on occasions. The ball hero swings far longer In the air and the wickets are livelier. Also, there is a time limit to the matches. Every member of the team backs up the captain, wherefore there can be only one answer to the Australian captain, namely, polite refusal.” JARDINE’S TRIUMPH DIFFICULTIES OF TOURISTS AN “OFFENSIVE EPITHET” LONDON, May 7. “Jardine, hero of Tests.” “Triumph in face of abuse.” “Supreme loyalty of team.” “Amazing conduct of Australians.” These are the headlines of the Daily Telegraph story by Mr. Thomas Moult upon the arrival of the cricketers. He says that though the players’ lips were sealed about certain aspects of the tour, their very silence indicated the truth that a “body of touring cricketers has never been called on to face such difficulties in the history of the game.’’ Mr. Moult gives the following impressions gathered from conversations with tho players: “That the unparalleled difficulties of tne tour were surmounted and the •Asiics* regained was a great personal triumph for Jar dine. The term * bodyline’ bowling was deliberately used by a section of the Australian Press when it did not consider the ordinary term of legtheory inflammatory enough. When Larwood’s success brought about the crisis the team were unanimous that Jardine should continue to employ the leg-theory. Tales of dissension among the Englishmen were deliberately l manufactured. The behaviour of the crowds during the Tests was sometimes nightmarish and frightening. There were moments when the players felt that thousands would break the fences and pour on to the field. Every player above all emphasised Jardine’s strength of character and utter fear lessness in the most trying situation a cricketer had ever had to face. Every player expressed bis willingness to go again. Jardine alone hinted that this was his last tour. “We in England have been given no idea of tho intimidation they eu du red. The Test crowds went mud further than throwing oranges on 1o the field and counting Larwood strides in chorus. Forty thousand out of 60,000 spectators stood and unani mously roared an offensive epithet 0! two syllables repeatedly till they wore hoarse. “Doubtless it was to this that Jar dine wittily referred in Now Zealand when he said: ‘Wo have just come from a country where our parentage is re gardod as doubtful and our ultimate destination absolutely certain.’’’