CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1932, Page 2

CRICKET

DON BRADMAN

IMPROVEMENT AFTER REST

SYDNEY, December 16,

Accompanied by ]iis wife, Don Bradman who has ibeen resting at a holiday camp on the south eoagt, left Sydney yesterday afternoon on a motor-car trip to Melbourne. Mr T. A. Langridgo, at whose property Bradman and his wife had stayed for over a week, stated last night that Bradman’s health had greatly improved. He feels so much better tfiat lie has expressed" Ms '/Vih lingnttes to play 'for New South Waibs in the match'with Victoria, 1 !/ comineiic.iug at Melbourne next Fridhy'. That engagement would provide' useful match practice in view of the second Test match, commencing at Melbourne on December 30tli. Before Bradman can play in the Sheffield 'Shield match on December 23rd it will be necessary for the State selectors to agree to hig being added to the team, and for the New 7 South Wales Cricket Association to give its anproval. The addit : on of Bradman would increase the number of touring New South Wales players to 13, but •eeing that the Test match ig to follow a week later, it 'is not thought that there will ib« any official objections,

THE SECOND TEST

It seems certain that Bradman will be fit to play in the second Teat match, but there will not be any official.medical examination of the player until the Board of Control officials agree to arrange one. Bradman’s availability for the second Tegt may hinge upon the decision of the Board of Control, when it h a s reviewed the question of the playferwriter rule under which a Test player not “solely employed in journalism” is not allowed to comment upon the Tests o. r upon the prospects of players who are Candida teg for Test, teams, it is not known what attitude Bradman will take up if the Board adhere,s to the present rule.. ; It is understood that a' move to amend the rule will' be' sponsored by New South Wales delegates; may seek to have the' words ‘-'solely employed in . journalism” altered to “permanently employed in journalism” to cover a case such as that of Bradman, who is bound by a contract, to which one of; the parties is a newspaper fi rm - . .

THE LEG THEORY

CRITICISM OF CRICKET TACTICS.

•MELBOURNE, December 16

Mr E. E. Bean, secretary of the Victorian Cricket Association, and a former Victorian all-rounder, said to-day that the leg theory bowling should he checked by the official intervention of the M.C.C. and the Australian Board of Control. .“Both these bodies,” he said, “may be trusted to do what is necessary in the interests of cricket. -Bowling fast, short-pitched balls at or just outside the leg stump with geye n or elight men back on the, leg side will seriously injure the game.

“The cricket public will not attend even a Test match day after day if it has to watch play in 1 which there are no drives, square and late cuts, or othe» artistic strokes. If one or two men ’are carried off in an ambulance no one can predict what will happen. I don’t think Australia should retaliate by playing two • fast bowlers. “I consider that might mean bh'e end of official management of cricket and a reversion to the ihad old days.”

DEFENCE BY ENGLISH CAPTAIN.

LAUNCESTON, December 15.

The captain of the English cricket team (D. Tt. Jardine) to-day publicly defended the tactics of hie bowlers and declared that the “leg theory” had been invented by ’ Australian newspapers. The English cricketers arrived - this morning from Melbourne. In welcoming them, General W. Martin, president of the Northern Tasmanian Cfricket Association, ■ referred to the English leg theory tactics. “Any team has a right to play any theory a s long as it does not infringe the rules of cricket,” he said. “The leg theory tactics of the Englishmen are equally open to the Australian bowlers to emulate. These can he overcome, -and this has been proved by the way McCabe. Cummings, land Fingleton handled thi s typ e of bowling.” Jarcfine, in reply, said : “The leg theoTy seems to have had its birth in Australian newspapers. We knew nothing about,it ■ but have read ..about, it since. Exactly the same type of attack lias been tried tijne s witlibut number, from Test cricket to village cricket. Where we have been successful has been in the placing of *be leg field, and up to date the6e tactics have been rnthe r disastrous to batsmen. The practice iy nothing new, and there is nothin'- dangerous about it. I hope it goes on being successful.”