CRICKET ETHICS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18905, 21 January 1927, Page 11

CRICKET ETHICS.

OFFER TO PONSFORD. LORD HAWKE SPEAKS OUT. ibt cmr.— press association-coraiGHT.) UVSTBALIAS AND K.J. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON. January 19. Lord Hawke, speaking at the annual meeting of the Yorkshire Cricket Club, outspokenly criticised the proposed engagement of W. H. Pbnsford, the Australian batsman, as "the topic now hurting the feelings of Australian cricket authorities." .Lord Hawke declared it a, great pity money should bo offered to draw a player from his own country and from international cricket. "My sympathies are entirely with the Australians," he said, "who are trying to raise a largo sum of money to keep him home. A player in. sucn circumstances could only receive a most doubtful welcome in English cricket. I question whether Ponsford should be permitted to participate, despite precedence, when it is obviously his duty to remain as loyal to his own country and to those who have done so much for him." Lord Hawke recalled thai Lancashire played L. 0. S. Poidovin. K. A, Mucdonald, and A. Kermode, Gloucestershire W. E. Midwinter and J. J. Ferris, and Middlesex Frank Tarrant, A. E. Trdt't, James Phillips and "W. Roche. He said Yorkshire confined its teams to men born in the county. He hoped no other county would be strengthened by overseas importations, savouring of a long purse, and tending to keep out home-born men. LENGTH OF TESTS. , EXTENSION OPPOSED. (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIAriOX.) (Eeceivcd January 20th, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, January 19. Discussing the length of test matches, Lord Hawko said six-day cricket might be suitable in Australia owing to the climate and the comparatively few first class matches. "But the strongest objection to an extension of Tests, in England," he said, "is the subordination of other matches, which involves the danger of turning the Test into a? fetish." England had to ask seriously whether veterans had been the chief factors in their recent victory. England must encourage youngsters. He agreed with the idea of a small ball and suggested a new ball every hundred runs. He also favoured natural grass wickets, but advocated that the counties should be instructed in the use of marl.