CRICKET WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1933, Page 6

CRICKET WAR

[WOODFULL ATTACKS WARNER

bONDEMNB BOWLING POLICY

(Australian Press Association)

(Received Jan. lGth. at neon). SIDNEY, January 16.

Tiie morning papers are featuring Woodfull’s protest to Mr P. F. Warner (co-manager of the M.C'.C. team) in the Australian’s dressing room against tne nijtliods of tlie EngLsli bowlers. " Wood full was on the table in the hands of doctors and masseurs when Mr Warner entered and inquired how he l felt, but the latter received the abrupt reply that he did not wish to speak to the visitor. Wood full then rebuked Mr Warner concerning the tacticis of the English team saying that they were not playing cricket, and that, the leg theory policy of the howlers was unfair. “Cricket is too great to be spoilt by tlie tactics which your team is adopting. T do not approve of them, and never will. If they are persevered with it may be better if I do not play tlie game.” The matter is in your hands Mr Warner, and I have nothing further to say to you,” said Woodfull. Mr Warner left the room without replying, and later declined to comment. ' ■ The papers say that Mr Warner is now in an awkward position, as he previously expressed decided objections to the bowling of the leg theory. The “Telegraph”' publishes'. articles by Mr Warner, in the “Morning Post” criticising Bowes for bowling bumpers, and the leg theory.

A CRITIC’S VIEW. (Received January 16th. at 8 a.m.) LONDON, January In Mr Neville Card us in. the “Ob' ■server”- lamenting the' mediocrity of ;tha ibaitti!n|g saysi —‘T 3ov© the leg theory violence, but cannot . withold admirntion. far Larwood for his power to transform the lazy tilrf at Adelaide into a field of tribulation for Wood full and Bradman. ‘'My[ reason ’for thinking that England will 1 win the rubber is not optimism, hut rank pessimism about cricket'' ■ generally. Australia must be bad, if it is worso than England.

: Private advices suggest the Englishmen are tlie worst fielders over seen in big cricket in' Australia. 1 suppose it' will he admitted that the Australians are the worst batting, side that ever wore pads in a. test, but the absence of masters is producing rare

COST OF-SECOND TEST.

WHAT THE CROWD SPENT.

MELBOURNE, January 7

What is the score? The crowd which attended the 'Test, match-.would quote it in wickets and runs, but- there are others—caterers, transport authorities, the Melbourne Cricket Club itself—who count it in cash. It is estimated approximately that cricket enthusiasts spent more than £40,000 in the four days of the match in Melbourne—a “score” of £10,600 a day—to watch. 22 men in white flannels playing with a bat and a hall. And not one of the spectators, -would bay! that if was not' worth, the money.

The “gate”' is naturally the largest item—£l6,o< i for four days’ play. The crowd had to get to the ground first, •though, and assuming an average tram or train fare of Gd or 9d, it paid bei tween/£SCOO and £7500 in train and 'train fares to do- -so. Some came in 20,000 motor-cars, and even with an average consumption of half a gallon of petrol for the return journey they must havo used at least £IOOO worth of petrol. Parking fees cost them ais much again. At- five leading hotels in Melbourne there were 1385 visitors • staying for the duration of the match ; their hotel expenses for that period must have exceeded £SOOO, and £SOOO more was probably spent in the same . wfjy in other hotels and boardinghouses in city rind suburbs. The crowd was hot. Tt was cooled ’by 1500 dozen ice-creams and 1000 dozen bottles of soft drinks “right off [ the ice.” A giant communal thirst was quenched—temporarily —with 1800 nobbier* of spirits. Light refreshments at Is were sold to 10,000 persons; t-lirtse who were really hungry preferred lunch I costing 3s, of which 4000 were served. The caterers employed 130 waitresses and 160 barmen and waiters. Sweets, .fruit, cigarettes, and magazines’appear. , at the tail end of the. score, bringing i it probably to £40,030. Test match visitor's to Melbourne will probably spend a few thousand pounds more in amusements arid in the shops before they return home.