CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1922, Page 1

CRICKET.

LORD HAWKE/S CRITICISM. LONDON, January 25. Lord Hawke, at the annual general meeting of the Yorkshire County Club considered the attendance of 323,031 people who paid to sep their matches, and a membership of over 5000. were in themselves ample evidence of the intense interest in cricket, and were surely sufficient indication to denote its future success. The financial statement showed a wonderful record, due largely to the fine weather. Fancy £28,759 Is lid, taken in gate money in Yorkshire. Their quota of this to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in entertainment tax amounted to £5338 13s Id He made an appeal for the membership of 5000 to be the minimum. Grants amounting to £ISOO had been made to the grounds to improve the accommodation. This sum was in addition to £4007 paid in percentage on county matches alone. To-day theirs was the largest membership in the country with the smallest subscription. For the twelfth time Wilfred Rhodes had accomplished the 1000 runs and 100 wicket triumph. Rhodes’s form was remarkable and to people in Yorkshire and to most of the best authorities throughout tli e country it appeared astounding that he was not played for England after the first test match. No one, even with the most elastic imagination, clould compare those who were substituted for him and although no complaints were made, always giving the English Selection Committee their credit for doing their best, there was disappointment and surprise not only amongst the English cricketers but even amongst the Australians themselves that one of England’s best all-rounders should be so frequently ig- , nored.

Referring to the suggestion that test matches in England should bo played to a finish, Lord Hawke said that it was not surprising to find that the Advisory Committee unanimously rejected such an absurd proposal. English cricket was founded on county matches. In other words, f-ounty cricket was the most vital part of the game as played in England, and although the test matches might for the moment ho of supreme importance, this must never be permitted unduly to interfere with county cricket. Tn Australia, of course, it was another proposition entirely. There the climatic conditions were adverse to long hours of play and further, apart from the test and State matches, there was no cricket of importance. It wa s therefore excusable that they in the Commonwealth should require their test matches to cover a longer period, hut to change to those conditions of play here would alter the whole spirit of English cricket, which was neither desirable nor necessary. Speaking of England’s lack of success in the games with the Australians, Lord Hawke said they were hardly surprised at their failure. Certainly they were handicapped l>y the absence of Hobbs. Notwithstanding that, it

must be admitted that their _ players were below the standard required for test matches. The personnel of the Australian side was excellent being marred only by tbe indiscreet remarks of the captain, who attempted to decry the tone of the English professional, and actually asserted that betting took place and that if umpires were appointed early for the whole series of test matches they might—l say might —be influenced by such betting, and therefore open to bribery. There was not the least foundation for the assumption that betting took place on tbe game of cricket in England in modern times. Happily the Australian representatives at the Imperial Conference dissociated themselves entirely from such remarks. We hope to be free from such bickerings as to hours of play etc., when the next Australian side visits this country in 1925. There oan be no further misunderstanding as to conforming to our hours of play and conditions as readily as we falj in with theirs when we visit them,