TIMELESS TESTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 55, 20 March 1937, Page 17

TIMELESS TESTS

PROBLEM IN CRICKET australian pbocedure defended ABOLISH HEAVY RQLLING Mtv W. B. Franklin, Junior Carlton GIub, FaU Mall, writing to the editor e£ the London Times, on Janu13, stated that; "It took years of argument and talk to change the size of the stumps and the leg before-wicket rule, but the timeless' Test has done more to change the whole game of cricket than these two rtiles put together." The "timdess" Tests in Australia eannot hscve "changed the whole game of cricket," because they were instituted sixty years ago, commenis a writer in the Sydney Referee in reply. And what living man save Mr. T. W. Garrett, can tell from personal experience what those changes are? Engliind has had only three timeless Tests. The first in 1926, was about the finest game seen in international cricket -in England to that period. It ended with the spectators fiooding the field, wKen victory was won by England, arid revealing a degree of sporting enthusiasm that made it themost memorable day in the cricketing experience of niost of those present. In the other "timeless" Tests In England enthusiasm did not reach sruch heights, naturally, because the Australians dominated the scene. The changes in cricket brought about by the increase in the size of the stumps and the new lbw. law, are se minor as to be unnoticed by most people. Ma, Trnmble's Bnggestlons. Cranks are always suggesting changes in cricket law. But no change will ever make some batsmen go for the bowling with reasonable vigor and enterprisa. The one change that would bt of great value to cricket Is, that advocated by Mr. J. W. Trumble, the former Australian eleven all-rounder, and elder brothec of Mr. Hugh TTumble. In an article in the London Times two years ago, Mr. Trumble pomted oufc any 211s cricket may be suffering from, are due to the super-ex-etilent pitches now prepared by the heavy roller, water, and top-dressing. He suggests areturn to sOmething like natural wickets, with less heavy rollering of the turf, This, he rightly holds, would place bowler and batsmaa oa. equality instead of glving every possible advahtage to the batsman a* at presenL In Melbourne Mr. Trumble told me

that he Is morland more convlnced of ther-st>undness of his ideas relatlng to the wickets. If • less attentlon to rolling be given, the wickets will still be good enough for jany Test match, ' • • 5fwb SRcfeeW ff ihe argument be serlously advanced that the winner of the toss will have the advantage in bowling in the last innings on a worn pitch, two pitches could be provided and the right to chdse either be left to the captains in thgir discretion. Mr. rTrumble ought to place his suggestions before the M.C.C. and the Board of ControL These bodies are mutually Interested. If the writer could have seen 35on •RrqdtnflTij Stan. McCabe, and C. L. Badcoek in their centuries against England 5n the recent fifth Test, he would realise that when the batsmen are of the right class and animated by the right ideas they can be as entertaining as ever Francis Ford, G. L. Jessop, and Frank Woolley wfere. It was in a "timeless" Test that J. J. Lyons played his very famous hardhitting' innings for 134 in Sydney against England in face of a first innings deficit of 176. It was against England in a "timeless" Test that Victor Trumper stamped his name with immortality by his glorious 185, not out in* Sydney. It was in 'Timeless" matches that Trumper made his century on a bad wicket In 60 mlnutes for New South Wales against Victorla. Crowds iike to see brilliant batting and brilliant fielding. They admire brilliant bowling, but do not go. out of the way fo:see it. Selectors ought to give batsmen who attack the bowling greater encouragement than they do. If they did, the Robinsons of cricket wbuld, be encouraged more than those who merely potter. s"3 . ■ ■