CRICKET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 April 1925, Page 3

CRICKET.

j G Bridges, who saw the tive tests matches for '“Smith’s Weekly,” declares that J. M. Taylor is not only Australia ;s finest, but the world's champion batsman. It is a big thing to say that Taylor is the world’s best in a season when Herbert Sutcliffe, the dour Yorkshire fighter, has been breaking all records, he writes. But so long as cricket is to be regarded as a sport more than .a. business and tho test of batsmanship is not alone the ability to make runs, regardless of time, Taylor’s performances must take precedence in public estimation. Cricket is a sport—not a profession. Sutcliffe is a runmaker; Taylor an artist! And that is where the comparison begins and ends between the best of the two countries. Taylor is the most improved batsman in the land. He is nearly 100 tier cent, superior to the Taylor of last season. Always aggressive and dashing, he has in the series of tests just concluded proved the development of a wonderful defence as well—and so great is the charm of his play that in defence he has been as delightful as when he was forcing the pace against England. . . After having seen the five tests, I am convinced that Taylor is the greatest batsman in the world to-day.

Why Woodfull was neglected is only to be assumed that he was unavailable (writes “.f.W.” in “The Australasian” in his review of th# test matches). There have been occasions in Australian cricket history of the past when Woodfull’s claims were not strong enough to be considered. ißut not now. Grimmett was shamefully neglected by the Victorian selectors, and it is to be

hoped that Woodfull is not to fnrnisn another example of sacrifice. As an opening batsman he has done everything humanly possible, is just the man in these day's of slow scoring, has splendid defence, and the right temperament, and is the best opening batsman in the whole broad land of Australia. It is an open secret that but few of our men liked going in first against Tate and a new ball, and Woodfull should have been in Sydney instead of being in the land of the Maori. • • * * Hartigan’s Extended Leave. In 190 S Queenslanders were overjoyed that their star cricketer, Roger Hartigan, had been selected to play in a Test at Adelaide (says Smith’s ly)Hartigan was at the time auctioneer for Mactaggart Brothers, of Brisbane, two hard-headed old Scots. They allowed him leave only on condition that he should be back in Brisbane to conduct their hide sales, saying: “The interests of our clients must come first.”. The day Hartigan was due to leave Adelaide he and Clem Hill were batting, and on the partnership rested Australia’s prospects of success. At the tea adjournment the fact that Hartigan would have to return to Brisbane after the day’s play, whether his innings was completed or not. was lamented. He, however, was surprised to receive the following telegram: “Stay as long as you are making runs.—--Mactaggart Brothers. ’ ’ So he stayed and piled up a score which amounted to the margin by which Australia won the match. The Adelaide correspondent of the Courier wired the news to Brisbane, and a par appeared in that paper the next morning. Dan Mactaggart, seeing it, went to the Telegraph to have a repudiation inserted. However, the Courier had by this time circulated throughout the country, and congratulatory mes-

sages began to reach Maetaggarts. Scenting good publicity, and realising that if the contradiction appeared in the Telegraph they would look foolish, the Maetaggarts had it suppressed. After the result of the match was known, Dan Mactaggart met one of Brisbane’s sports and told him of the incident, and liotv he nearly made the firm look foolish by contradicting the Courier report, adding: “My brother John sent the telegram unknown to me.” “You’re a blanky liar!”’ said the sport. “I sent it myself!” Later an English sporting paper, in commenting on the incident, said: — “'The fine sporting spirit exhibited by the Australian firm of Mactaggart Brothers is an example which English employers of cricketers would do "well to emulate. ’ ’