“DOCTORING THE WICKETS.”

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1925, Page 3

“DOCTORING THE WICKETS.”

LONDON. May -I. .1. R. Hobbs, in bis fourth article in the ••Daily News,” says :--”Ohviously a large number of leading cricketers desire a < linage regarding the toss. It i- a little unfortunate that there is so mm h discussion oil this matter alter the doleful experience in Australia. Belsniially, i think il much better to continue spinning the coin in the same old w ay. The element of iTiam e adds much charm to tile game, ft helps to maintain a spirit of adventure which now and again we players seem in danger of losing.

- • ;*. | v chief reason for lavoui iug tin* present, system is that. the nilerar.iou might lead over-xonlou-. grnundsu.eii into serious temptation. I am nut ow-ting any imputation on the present eround -men i:i Kuglaml or Australia, hnl if a change i- aii.-pted | see a po-.-ibility of troidd.a If unscrujiii'ou- p roundsne-it knew that a vi-ii lag ,-ide was 'nailing first, they .-,,iil| easily over-water ami otherwise ‘doetm ' a wick. i. Wickets have been

•d: i lured’ l.eli.re now . • |; m a delicate point to discuss.’' i ('Utilities i 1n'11..-, •■hut il i - bound to !,c ion -iilered when lim suggested i liauge i nines up tor serious debate. ••When a test ci mimics into the seventh daw, nc si (,| u- oi i sii-:-: and tired iii ir a in;'.liit'- lace-. [ mloiihledly plat mg lo a. iiin si i r idled in .-.lowing down the game. l. -ls played to a iinisli are not for tlm goo.l ol the game. I would tin: I lasts in \u-tralia to live day s. A four days’ limit with weather so . oiisi-li'iii would be a String templatioii to draw. Therefore the remedy nr,,hi i.p wi rse '.ban the disease. e mi; lit give four day - for tec ts in Fngn,;n|, the hunl to lie |,laved out il the rubber i I'ependeiit on il. ■| <!o not agree with i lio-e who are emiUiasisliig; the physical strain of the tents in Australia. I found them moiiull:itoils. lint not over-tiring. An hour’s 1 ,1 ain Australia i- shorter than in Kiigland. The Ai : . cb.m suit is t ry-;-„o, l.ut tile a. si age el i< keter would , :riTer seonTiing; suit to Ihe curious -am: le.- of weather in F.n dand. ••|f | were a fast howler I would oppo-’e llm eight-! all over, because it ... ;.|( ji, favour of tin* batsmen. Tate. Tv'ldes!.-: and Wo-d lev shared Lilli-

.j)‘ s Lit is. I mil not c« k rt:ii it ,I p.-e Ir-, (:••*•:.orv I* dil me Hub

, a in. I. i-a-y way. Bowline, i a liarde, la-i. m .Vast ralia under a burning -1111 1 1 1 ;1 :1 m Fngland. I often wonder why llm Australian Board .sanctioned the •-i.-i.l-!,all e 1 er. Ido id think we w ill ever mv the ec.lii-ball nv-r ailopted in Km.land. It 1- suggested that it speeds the .-line 1 1 \ reducing the number ol change-over. I can say li'.Me in siipl.eri o! lha 1 view. ••'ll.it,g» ,;,*aeil from the ring are not always what tliev seem.