Bartlett Is Defended

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31005, 10 March 1966, Page 19

Bartlett Is Defended

The English professional cricket and soccer coach. Mr R. Groves, yesterday came to the defence of G. A. Bartlett, the New Zealand fast bowler.

During the second test in Dunedin, Bartlett wa s called a “chucker” in an England newspaper report of the match.

Mr Groves has coached in England, Eire, Australia, Holland and New Zealand, and recently took up teaching and soccer coaching appointments in Christchurch. He said it was “rubbish” to draw conclusions with the comparative actions of I. Meckiff. K. Slater (Australia), G. Griffin (South Africa) and H. Rhodes (England). No Complaints

“1 spoke to the M.C.C. players during and at the end of the first test in Christchurch and there was not so much as a murmur of complaint against Bartlett.” said Mr Groves. “The trouble is that Bartlett has at times a rather exaggerated ‘chest on’ delivery, especially when he bowls flat out.

“Huxford, of Wellington, has an even more ‘chest on’ action and before I coached

him he, like Bartlett, was suspect according to some critics.” Mr Groves said that the West Indian, C. C. Griffith, was in the same category and that the whippiness of the wrist, coupled with the chest action, when delivering the faster ball makes these bowlers “sitting ducks” for the sensationalists “Brian Statham’s action when bowling the faster ball was no less whippy than any of the other bowlers, yet the legality of Statham's action had never been questioned. “To see real throwers in action I suggest the English scribes pay an extensive visit to Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland where there are chuckers’ paradises.” said Mr Groves. He was also “angry” about

the unfair criticism of New Zealand umpires who, in spite of the allegations of inexperience, are “far superior to those of Australia, and even some English umpires.” He said: “I would go so far as to say that Mr Martin, of Wellington, would stand with some of the best in the world. “The only comment I heard from the M.C.C. bowlers on the umpiring was that it was hard to get an l.b.w. decision.

“But the results have shown that this state of affairs exists for both England and New Zealand. Therefore, the score is about even.”