THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16818, 9 June 1926, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN

ENTERTAINED IN LONDON. MR BALDWIN ON TEST MATCHES. SIB J. BARRIE'S TEAM. The mcnibers of the Australian cricket loam were the guests of the Loudon District of the Institute of Journalists, at a luncheon at the Criterion Restaurant, Piccadilly, London. Mr Alan Pitt Bobbins, chairman of the district, presided, and the company numbered over .'JSO. The following message was read by the chairman from the Prince of Wales:— "I am desired by the Prince of Wales to ask you to convey to the members of the Australian cricket Learn His Royal Ilighness's best wishes for a pleasant stay in this country. His Royal Highness is looking forward to meeting the members of the team during the summer.—Sir Lionel Halscy."

Lord Forster, formerly Govern'or- ! General of Australia, had accepted an invitation to be prtaent, but he lelcI graphed expressing Yrcat regret that a i mishap to his motor\ar prevented him ; reaching London in t\ie for the luncheon. "Please say," his message stated, "how sorry I am, and offer my warmest greetings to my Australian friends." The chairman also said that a message of regret at not being aide to be : present had been received from Mr J. 11. Thomas, M.P. Me was taking a hand in the negotiations concerning ; the coal dispute. Mr Baldwin's Speech. Mr Baldwin, who was cheered on 1 rising, proposed the toast of "Our Australian Guests." He said: There is an unfortunate difference between Mr 'Robbing and myself. He said he had no speech to make, but some messages to deliver. I have no message, but I have to make a speech. (Laughter.) One of the messages he delivered reminded me of a circumstance which I am quite sure is unfamiliar even to Mr Warner and Sir .lames Barrie. That is, that the Prince of Wales once captained an England Eleven and was beaten: but that was 200 years ago. (Laughter.) I find it difficult to express to the Australian team what their visit means to old men like myself who, though no great performers, have followed with the keenest interest from the days of , early childhood the performances of the giants of cricket right across the world. To us the mere word "Australia" smacks of romance, and we think of our childhood and those great names upon which we were brought up, and we seem to see once more the demon bowler at work- —the great Spofl'orth—who is still living' among us in London. (Cheers.) And we have I here my old friend Sir Kynaston Studd, | who tells me that his body is still ' scarred with bruises received from that giant arm. (Laughter.) Wo all think of the names of those, some of whom are witli us, but some, alas! have passed over —those great bowlers, Charlie Turner, Hugh Trumble, and Ernest Jones. We seem to see once more Victor Trumper and Clem Hill, who has reminded us (if his presence | lately in a way most likely to attract the attention of the British public. (Laughter.) There was George Griffiths, and, perhaps, above all, those two romantic figures, one of whom I am rejoiced to hear from Mr Smith is still living—the great Blaekham, who taught every cricketer in the world how to stand up to fast bowling wilhuot a long-stop. And there was one, no longer with us, who gained the admiral ion ( f everyone—Bonnor, whose throw-in from the country was a thing no man that ever saw it can forget. 1 tell the present team that if such giants as those I have named are with them to-day—l gather that there | arc—then indeed we .shall have to look out for our laurels. I

But this game of cricket, the nursery of which are the villages of England, has cast its seeds across the ocean, and nowhere has a mightier tree grown from thP.t seed than in Australia. There is nothing that has been imported from this country that has flourished there like cricket. The only remarkable thing to my mind is that the other great English export from this country which, though if has flourished so much in Australia yet, has been kept out. of the team. I know not by what means, is rabbits. (Laughter.) In these few words of mine, wishing to welcome the Australians, 1 want to r-ay a word of cheer Id Mr Warner. (Hear, hear.) f want to ask him not to allow his nerves lo be 1 unduly rattled by I hi! Press barrage under which our opponents are advancing to light us. (Laughter). I can assure him I have passed through those barrages unscathed. (Laughter.) I can assure him lhat the quality of the ammunition which will lie employed can be no better than is manufactured by the directors of the lire. In those circumstances I hope he will keep up his spirits and his courage.

And lo the Australians I would say ! wo offer them here to-day the warmest welcome. (Cheers.) We hope the weather will lie good. We hope the games will be played out. There are two matches in this country which perhaps occupy a peculiar position for those who are directly interested in them—the Oxford and Cambridge and the Eton and Harrow. It, was on the morning of Ihe Oxford and Cambridge j match lhat my younger son—as 1 had ] been at Cambridge—said lo me: "Don't ; let us have any of that nonsense lo- | day about letting the best side win." I (Laughter.) Mo I rue sportsman in i those two matches ever feels that. j (Laughter.) Rut in every match the ! Australia/is are going to play I say i from my heart let us have the finest ' cricket ando lei. I lie best side win. i (Cheers.- I ask you lo rise and drink I Ihe health of Ihe learn, and I couple '. with the least ihe names of Mr Col- ! lins, who is no stranger to this counIry, and .Mi- Smith, the manager of the team. (Cheers.) The toast was enthusiastically rej ceived. Close Games Expected. Mr Collins, who was loudly cheered ! on rising to reply, said Ihey appreciated very much the gracious message from i Ihe Prince of Wales. They were glad . lo meet Sir James Barrie again, and some of them remembered the wonderful day they once had aL his place. i Some of the new boys were dying to go there, and Sir James had invited the bam again. (Cheers.) They regarded it as a gi'eal compliment that Ihe Prime Minister had found time to be present. During Ihe lunch he (Mr Collins) had had an interesting discussion willi Mrs Baldwin, and he had found that she knew more about erieket than he did. (Laughter.) The discussion start.ill as lo who was Ihe best lob bowler that England had ever produced, and he found lhat he knew nothing about it. (Laughter.) Mrs Ualdwin told him lhat when she was married she had an average of (12 for ho whole season. lie was afraid, iierofore, they wi re going lo have one vere critic. (Laughter.) They ex•eted to have close games. lie was •t going to say too much, because one

of the selectors for England was present. (Laughter.) But he would like to refer to one remark made by Mr Baldwin. The Prime Minister asked Mr Warner not to get rattled at the Press barrage. "I want to say," he continued, "that we are not in any way responsible for it." (Cheers.) Mr Baldwin: I never thought you were.

Mr Collins added that they were glad to see Mr F. S. Jackson present. He had been the cause of the defeat of the Australians many times, and was one of the greatest sportsmen England had ever produced . (Cheers.) He thanked everyone for the magnificent welcome given them, and he hoped when the. tour was finished they would really deserve all the good opinions that, had been formed about them.

Mr Sydney Smith, who also replied, said they had come to play the grand old game which England taught them; and although they had grown up, and perhaps taught England a few lessons, they hoped the game would be played in that sporting spirit which was in accordance with the best traditions of cricket. Sir James Barrie's Three T's. Sir James Barrie was loudly cheered on rising to propose the toast. "Cricket." He said: How much sweeter these sounds would be to me if I had got them for lifting Mr Mailey over the ropes. (Laughter.) If I were to say one-tenth of what I could say about cricket, especially about my own prowess at it. there would be no more play to-day. (Laughter.) Once more I buckle on my pads. I stride to the wicket. I take a look round to see how Mr Collins has set his field—-and, oh, horrible! I see Mr Gregory waiting in the slips. (Laughter.) What can he be. waiting for? J get one consolation from Mr Gregory's name—■ he is obviously a MacGregor. I have no doubt that he inherited his bowling from his ancestor, Bob Boy MacGregor, who, as the book tells us. used to hurl rocks at the stumps of Ihe Sassenach. (Laughter.) Mr Gregory is now joined in the slips by Mr Hendry and Mr Mailey. Three to one! (Laughter.) I don't know what they think they look like, witli their arms stretched out imploringly, but to me they look as if they were proposing simultaneously to the same lady. (Laughter.) Even though one of them wins tier, what can he do with her? I hope they will remember this in the first test match, and that it will put , them off their game. (Laughter.) The first Test match ! Fancy speaking lhat awful mouthful in words of ! one syllable. All the awful words this | year are to be in one. syllable. The three T's—Test, Toss, Tail. (Laugh- I ter.) The first test match is about to j begin. We are all at Trent Bridge. The English captain wins the toss ! (loud laughter)—and puis the Aus- ' Indians in. I think he must have I something up his sleeve. 1 don't quite catch sigiit of his face, but I saw him j

having a secret conversation with Mr Warner's old Harlequin cap, and I believe they are up to something. (Laughter.) Maurice Tate lakes the ball. You know his way. . He then puts his hand behind his back: an awful silence spreads over the universe. The Prime Minister, in the House of Commons, in the noddle of his speech is bereft of words. (Laughter.) It has been said, probably by Mr Gregory, that drowning men clutch at straws. On a balcony in the pavilion nine members of the Australian team pick up straws and clutch at them. (Laughter.) Mr Noble pauses in the middie of drawing up the complete averages of the tour. Mr Hill in Australia is suspended between heaven and the inkpot. (Laughter.) Maurice Tate takes a little walk, which is to be followed by a little run.

My lords and gentlemen, pray silence while Maurice Tate delivers his first ball. There is now nothing to be heard except Mr Gregory letting fall his straw. Tate comes rushing forward and sends down, not the ball, but the seam. (Laughter.) What does that mighty roar from the onlookers mean? Have the Australians already made four, or does it mean, in journalistic phrase, "The next man in is Macantney"? Much good that, will do us. (Laughter.) Then there is Ponsford, who, I am told, has only been out twice in the last five years. (Laughter.) I suppose I am the only man in the room who knows what is to be the constitution of the English Eleven. Mr Warner and his committee don't know —at least 1 haven't told them. (Laughter.) On such an occasion as this it may seem a lit lie cruel to damp Mr Collins, but 1 suppose the truth is best, and I am afraid I must tell him that this year there is no hope for his gallant but unfortunate little company. (Laughter.) Our team is mostly new, and it at present hidden away in cellars. Our fast bowler —I mention this in confidence —is W. Iv. Thunder, who has never been known to smile, except when he hears Mr Gregory referred to as a fast bowler. (Laughter.) (if our batsmen, I shall merely indicate their quaiity by saying that Hobbs is to be twelfth man. (Laughter.) Of course, things may go wrong. There ! is the glorious uncertainty of cricket. Even the Prime Minister—in Ihe only j game in which I saw him play—in die ilrst innings he made one, but in Ihe I second innings lie—was not so sue- I cessful. (Laughter.) But even though Australia should win—this time' —I have a rod in reserve for Mr j Collins. (Laughter.) In that case [ j shall myself choose the Scottish ' Eleven. (Laughter.) Mr first choice is MacGregor, with him Maedonald, Macauiay, and Macartney. (Laughter.) Two other names as Scotch as peal are Hendry and Andrews. A. W. Carr is my captain, M. D. Lyon my wicketkeeper, and there are still Douglas,, Nigel Haig, Macßryan, and Armstrong. ; With this Scottish Eleven i challenge I the Australians. The game not lo be I played on turf or malting, but, .-•si always, on our native heather. (Laugh- | ter.)

In conclusion —for I was oul long ago (caught Gregory)—in conclusion, as Mr Gt'iinmctt said when he went, on lo bowl in Ihe last test match—let us pay our opponents this compliment, we are sure that if we. had not I hough I of cricket llrst, Ihey would have done it, and whether we win or lose, 0 friendly enemy, you cannot deprive us of our proudest sporting boast, that il was we who invented both cricket and Ihe Australians. (Laughter.) And let us not forget, especially at Ibis time, lhat (he great glory of crickel does not lie in tesl matches, nor county championships, nor Sheffield Shields, but rather on village greens. Hie cradle of cricket. (Cheers.) Tin.' tests are but Hie fevers of the game. As the years roil on they become of small account, homething else soon lakes their place, Ihe very word may be forgotten; but long, long afterwards. 1 think, your far-off progeny will sLill of summer afternoons hear Ihe crack of Ihe | m t and Hie local champion calling for bis ale on Ihe same old bumpy wickets. II lias been said of Hie unseen army of Hie dead, on their everlasting march, lhat when Ihey are passing a rural crickel. ground Hie Englishman falls oul of the ranks for a moment to look over Ihe .--ale and smile. The Englishman, yes, and Lin; Australian. How terrible if those Iwo had to rejoin their comrades feeling that we were no longer playing Die game, l think that is about. Ihe last blunder we shall make. I ask you lo drink lo the glorious Loast' of crickel, I

coupled with the name of one of the greatest of all cricketers and one of the greatest of cricket captains, Mr Warner. (Cheers.) Mr Warner's Dream. Mr Warner said he was not going to prophesy who would win the test matches. "I can only say," he added, "we think and we hope that we have a chance." A good captain was, of course, essential, and the Selection Committee were on the look out for a captain 111 e C .V- .] v. -'. rncl.-«..ii a great cricketer with an unsurpassed I record in Lost matches as a capuin won always won Ihe toss. (Laughter.) They hoped they would find a captain who would deprive Mr Collins of his well-de.servrd title of the "Horseshoe." He had read In the newspapers what the. Prime Minister had called a barrage, and after reading It for three or four days he thought to himself, "How on earth are we going to beat these fellows?" Then h* dreamed an extraordinarily vivid dream. It was that at half past 5 on the afternoon of the third day of the first test match at Nottingham he saw the greatest batsman in the world, if they might say so. Jack Hobbs, hit an Australian bowler past cover for four, and England had won by live wickets. (Laughter.) Be begged them to take note of that prophecy. If it did not come off no harm would be done, and if it did he would be renowned among the prophets the world over. (Laughter.) Colonel F. S. Jackson, proposing "The Chairman," said Mr Robblns had family associations with Mr Edgar Pardon and Mr Sydney Pardon, for whom they had the most profound respect. They were names loved by all cricketers. (Cheers.) With reference to the Australian team, he wished them considerable luck within limits. (Laughter.) lie was absolutely conilJ dent, as far as he could judge, that we still had hi this country cricketers as good as—he would not say better than —any of those old cricketers who managed to hold their own against the Australians when they came here. Mr Collins had been so generous as to say that we had not recovered ourselves in 1921. They believed that they had fully recovered this year. They wanted a good captain. He did not know who Mr Warner had in view. He (Colonel Jackson) had not been altogether satisfied with the way in which capI tains of late appeared to fail to' master [ the art of winning the toss. (Laugh- : j ter.) With regard to the Selection • I Committee and their difficult task, he believed the Prime Minister would almost agree that the responsibility of selecting a Cabinet was nothing to selecting a learn for the test .matches this year. (Laughter.) But there must be one addition to the Selection Committee, and lhat was Sir James Barrie. (Laughter.) Speaking in favour of a lime-limit in cricket, Colonel Jackson said a test match without a time-limit was really an abomination. lie referred to the thrill- J Ing experience when England won the | test match on the stroke of time at ' Nottingham in 1905, and added: "A cricket match without a time limit is almost as bad as a speech without an i end." (Laughter and cheers.) |