CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1925, Page 1

CRICKET.

“ON DER ELLA” GRI AIM ETT. HOW THE SLOW BOWLER CAME INTO HIS OWN. SYDNEY, Alandi .A. The cricket sensation of the week is the performance of Grimmeti, the South Australian howler, in the Fifth Test .Match, lie captured II wickets for 82 runs—five wickets for -15 rims in the first innings and six wickets for .T 7in the second innings. Such figures could not pass unnoticed. After the first innings, it was cabled, the English cricket writers were asking: “ Who is Grimmett ;” and not a few Australians were asking similar information. There was a tendency to suggest that this new howler probably was “very lucky ’ in the first innings—it was inconceivable that a player of such merit had been passed over in previous Test selections. But, in the second innings, the unknown little man Irom .South Aulsralia easily bettered his first performance.

Now all Australia is talking about Giimmeit. And, since the average man always likes to see justice done, everyone is chuckling over the story of Grimmett’s cricket career, which the newspapers are (cling with gusto. Grimmett was originally a. Victorian player. Bowling was more than a pastime with him —it was a craze, ail absorption. lie spent h.is leisure hours in practising upon a special pitch in his own backyard, and in teaching small hoys to howl. But, although Ii is figures in minor cricket were good, he could not convince the cricket dons of Victoria Unit his slow and accurate halls wore of any value in important matches. Alayne’, the Victorian cricketing captain—now in New Zealand, h.v the way—said that he “ could not bowl.” Grimmett. much discouraged, decided to leave Victoria. He secured a post in Adelaide, and soon became prominent in South Australian cricket. But he was not selected in the four Test matches, lli.-, claims were vigouroiisly advanced by the “ younger set. but the older selectors, in which Victorian inlliience was said'to he dominant. would have none of him. Recent - Iv there was a change in Ihe body ol selectors. Air Bean, of Melbourne, retired—ho. also, i.s now in New Zealand with the Victorian team—and the, new hodv decided to include Grimmett in Hie Australian team for the Fifth and last. Test Match. The rest is history. Grimmett is an inconspicuous, dark little man. He goes to work with a quiet, grim deadliness that there is no escaping. His bowing is maehinc-like s l„w. regular, accurate, and yet lull of tricks and traps that deceive ttie most cautious and skilled batsmen Grimmett’s inclusion m the team to England is now certain, and how eageilv Fmdaml will await the dehut ot this new and dangerous defender ot the Ashes The English love cricket—hut thev love sport more, and they would rather lose the Ashes tor anotliei ten vears than that a new and brilliant bowler should remain undiscovered. Grimmett’s friends are no getting “ some of their own back. One newspaper suggests that Messrs Alayne and Bean he cabled to. in New Zealand and asked for their opinion of the little man's performance.