"PLAYERS ALL"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 123, 25 May 1926, Page 7

"PLAYERS ALL"

INCULCATING A DEMOCRATIC SPIRIT

FOOLISH BARRIER BETWEEN AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL.

(Australian-N<-w Zealand Cable Assn.) (Received isth May, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON 24 lh May. All the newspapers give prominence to the dec-jion ... ' profess.' nals chare the san-.3 room as amateurs during the Test matches. The "Star/- in editorial leaded '"Players All," say?,: "Ev.ryone hopes thr- this will mean tho speody death ( " the old socia distinctions. The surprising thing is that this form of snobbery, which is foreign altogether to our sporting spiri*, should have pcrsistc'l so long. Lord !-" lo may pray Heaven tha'; .ie will novels' tho day when a professional captains Enjland, but to all crick, t. lovers tho play is the. thing, r d tho stupid custom which h~; segregat " J. B. Hobbs and other famous playors from their 'gentlemen' comrades has long enough been a matter for ;hamc'.isocl excuses." .. P-ominent players, amateur '.veT professional, when interviewed, all expressed their satisfaction at the decision to abolish a foolish T.arricr. Arthur Gillian (Sussex), who captained the English team in Australia in 1924, is delighicd. He said: "We all I used the same room in Australia, and

it was for the good of the game, because it' makes tho captain's duties easier." M. W. Tatj (Sussex) said: /IThe change is the best possible thing from the standpoint of tho Test matches, but why not tho came for all matches'? It would be better for tho captain, who would moro easily ?.arn anything the players have to suggest." E. Henclron (Middlesex) said: "I have never seen or heard oJ anything in Australia to suggest that a coniinonrooni is not wise. My play does not suffer from whatever gate I may come out, and I am sure Carr, who is a fine chap, doos not care whether his colleagues are amateurs or professionals. After all, it is the game that counts most, and these little matters are of small consequence." Sir Edwin Stockton, president of the Lancashire County Cricket Club, said: "There is no snobbery in separate dressing-rooms, but separate gates are a mistake.. We want to encourage a more democratic spirit."