£2O a Week.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18247, 7 February 1931, Page 20 (Supplement)

£2O a Week.

How is he paid? The county of Surrey would have to pay Hobbs at least £2O a week during the cricket months, and probably a retainer of £8 during the many months that cricket is off the stage.

'But that is not all by a long way. In England professional players receive "talent money.” What a pretty phrase! A batsman for making 50 runs would receive an extra £1 on top of his salary. A century would net him £5. A bowler getting three wickets would receive £l, and lor five victims his cheque would be increased to the tune of a fiver. And in the English season cricket never stops from Monday to Saturday during the long months from May to September. It is easy to imagine what a Hobbs, a Sutcliffe, or a Tate would gather in only a normal season, but given a run of luck, their annhal earnings might rise to heights that would make a Cabinet Minister envious. Of course, they have to' pay their own travelling expenses. Tho Off Season. But, you may say, what of the off season, when the pro. is earning only £8 a week. There are very few "off” seasons for big cricketers these days, what with trips to Africa, India, or Australia. All these tours bring handsome rewards to star players, and when there are no l tours big cricketers are often attracted to distant climes to coach. New Zealand ha 3 attracted several well-known English pros, to coach, so has Africa; and Australia in recent seasons, has had Hendren in South Australia, and Ducat in Brisbane. Indian princes, fond of the king of British games, that Kipling once brought into mild contempt by his “flannelled fo’ols” jingle, pay very big money for the pleasure of having a Hobbs or a Sutcliffe, or a Frank Tarrant, In tfteir midst in the English “off" season, so one way and another a prominent pro. can smile on a bulky bank balance after a few happy years. Many of the best pros, in England coin perks by writing special comments for newspapers. Hobbs is a regular writer for the Sunday Dispatch, London. He also has nominal charge of a sports depot in Fleet Street, and his autographed hats are another source of steady revenue. When Hobbs was learning the rudiments of his beloved game at Cambridge—not the University, for he lived in the University town—he surely did not, dream of the affluent position to which the game would carry him. What Could He Earn? Australians are wondering Just what Bradman could earn if he said good-bye to his native country and set sail for cricket-mad England. Suppose that he followed the example of other Australians who first ; of all migrated to Lancashire League ( cricket —men like E. McDonald, that fast howler who is still the delight of students of the game who -mjoy his beautiful run up to the wicket and his perfect delivery. McDonald was lost to Australia after he played ducks and drakes with England’s Test batsmen during the Armstrong tour of 1921. I Arthur Richardson was induced to

return there after the 1926 tour; and before his day Australia had lost popular Frank O’Keefe to the same enterprising league. Lancashire League is composed of a number of clubs who play Saturday afternoon games. As play lasts only a few hours there is no messing about by stodgy batsmen, no stonewalling. Play proceeds with a rush. Batsmen flog bowlers in glorious style; the ball flies over the pickets. The

atmosphere belongs more to an exciting football match. Everybody gets a move on. Frank O'Keefe used to say that if a ball struck your pads, even though you were a foot away from the leg 6tump—a stupendous roar would rise to the heavens. Every player on the field, every spectator on the other side of the fence, would shout to the • umpire ‘HOW’S THAT?” And what- umpire would turn a deaf ear. to the multitude screaming for the head of a victim 1 • Out would go l the batsman and on to the stage would trip the next turn of the show. McDonald earned good money while playing for Nelson in the Lancashire League. Now, of course, he plays for the county is still one of the greatest match-winners in the world. In his Nelson days the ex-Victorian told the Australian writer quoted here that there were various ways of making money out of the game. Apart from the fair-sized retainer and the talent money, already referred to there were collections taken up round the gTound when one did something that pleased the crowd—a smart fifty runs, or five or six wickets in an afternoon. Hats would be held out and Into them poured pennies, sixpences, shillings, for Lancashire cricket lovers are generous to their favourites. The collection might run from £lO to £3O in an afternoon. Then on Sundays McDonald was often invited to play for a scratch side, and for this the remuneration might be £lO or £2o—ail grist to the mill. A Draw Card. Of the West .Indies players In Australia Constantine is naturally the great, draw card in Lancashire League cricket. He plays for McDonald’s old club of Nelson, and such a magnet is he that he is doing very well financially. Hte dashing batting, express bowling, and uncanny fielding, have made him highly popular. Constantine would earn a salary of £2O a week, and talent money and collections would be considerable in his case. He confesses that when he first- played for the league he couldn’t get going for several matches. Then he had a great run, with collections that made him appreciate the money that is in cncket. Two others of the West Indies in St. Hill and Francis, will be improving the exchequer in Lancashire League next season. Constantine, of course, will still be there. And Bradman. What could he make over there? Bradman’s Fame. His fame is such that any Lancashire League Club would hid high for his services. Maybe £3O for a start per week would not be considered too much for the young Australian. In no time his bat would possess a Midas touch that would make him a rich young man. His century habit would be a goiden one indeed. “On the side” he would coin money as fast as time would permit. And supposing that he qualified for Lancashire county. He would last for many more seasons, so that the big earnings of Hobbs over the last decade or more would seem infinitesimal in comparison. Bradman is a wiry young chap, a non-drinker, non-smoker, who will last for years. In his own words he does nothing that would put him out of condition, so he does not find it necessary to put himself into condition. The recent tour proved what a money-spinner is Bradman, but, given an entirelv free hand on the other side of the world for a few years, and he would be able to retire, live in a mansion on the Riviera in winter, with a household of servants, play golf with the nobility of England and France, write books for a hobby, and stage an occasional house match on his own cricket arena. But, of course, Don will always be an Australian, and no doubt would prefer to settle down at Bowral or Coota, play cricket for the lo'cals, and trip in to Sydney to see the big matches.