CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1932, Page 3

CRICKET

ENGLAND’S CAPTAIN

JARDINE’S PERSONAL!! Y

Writing in the “Daily -Mail” .of May 24th, *A. M. Crawley (Oxford and Kent) discussed toe rela.tj.ve claims of A. P. F. Chapman >K;m) and I). R. Jardine (Surrey) for selection as captain of the M.c.C. team to visit Australia. Air Crawley, referring to Jardine, wrote: —

Jardine’s personality comes out "lii his batting. He is' thoughtful, painstaking, and ruthlessly efficient. Ruth leesness is a very valuable asset when it is backed up by such a superb technique a,H Jardine’s. He inspires confidence, not; by brilliant aggression, but by the feeling that he wilL.iv.ear down all opposition and drive home any advantage by extreme proficiency.

His greatest.: asset is undoubtedly his own batting. Even if, his example will not carry.‘the day by inspiring others to imitate his methods you always have the feeling that he will deal with the situation in person,,, apd ,that no one will get him oid Also, there is always the pleasant, suggestion about Jardine that he considers you just as capable of making runs as he is, which is most helpful, oven if untrue.

He -is also competent. 1 should describe Chapman as an opportunist-bn the field and Jardine as a Neither is ever at loss.

Jardino does- not electrify the men under him in the way iChapnian'?. .docs, but he gives the impressipfi ;.pf ■having foreseen every possible situation, and of having thought out a "wfty’to meet it. This may -be untrue, as it may he untrue of Chapman tjiat he meets a situation' as -it' ebmce,'."'But it is the impression they have,.-gi'ven to others' besides myself, and that is. all that concerns tli.e.people who play under them. A

One other tiling about ,: Jardine. He* would, I think, be tenacious?:to the* very last degree, and 'would revel in tli long-drawn-out fights in Australia. Chapman has alreadybltoeeh successful in them, rso -it would be absurd to question his capabilities in play-t-o-a-finiivh cricket. But there is some--1 king in Jardine’s attitude of perpetual attrition which would be very com: forting in a tight corner. The situation as I see it amounts to this: Chapman is a great captain of proved ability, with a personality on the cricket field the value of wliicli it is hard ;to over-estimate.’ 'As a batsman, however, lie liak not been in the first class-' for several years now. and unless bis , recent innings have shown a real i'etura to sound methods', ’’e would constitute a grave weakness in our batting order. Jardine is also an outstanding personality ,with many qualities which may go to make a very great captain. He" lacks Chapman’s exporiericeßUof captaincy, but has the invaluable as--set of being the greatest batsman in England to-day.