PRESS' COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1933, Page 5

PRESS' COMMENT

ON THIRD TEST WOODFULL-WARNER INCIDENT. (Ur : ted Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 16. The newspapers feature on their front pages the Woodfull-Warner incident, without comment. The “Sketch” lias the heading:— “Woodfull Sulks in His Tent!” The “Daily Mail” says: Woodfull Snubs Warner.” The “Daily Express” laments that the Tests have produced far more sensafiionansm than sportmanship. It says: “When rivalry in sport creates international ill-will, it is time ..for commonsense to blow the whistle. \\ oodfull is the last player whom anybody would expect to explode. The more blunt Australian player would have used a local expletive, which is regarded merely as an ‘incident.’ ” J. C. White, writing in the “Morn- # ing Post,’’ says: “Every sportsman will extend sympathy to Woodfull. Undoubtedly it was a pure accident. It is the ardent wish of us all that friendly relations should prevail so as to enable the Tests to be played out in a sportmanlike manner.”

White adds: “Larwood is a much better man than he wag on the last tour, and he is probably bowling a little faster. At any rate, the Australians appear to be somewhat frightened of the English fast bowlers. They certainly have not - yet mastered Larwood and Allen.”

STATEMENT AND DENIAL.

ADELAIDE, Jan. 16

P. F. Warner has made a brief statement in which lie says that Woodfull has expressed regret of himself and Palairet regarding Saturday’s incident and that the breach has been healed.

Woodfull denies making any apology to Warner.

OPINIONS OF CRITICS

ADELAIDE, Jan. 16.

M. A. Noble says: “Larwood’s attack is vicious. The whole leg theory is preventable brutality. "Woodfull provides the visitors with an object lesson of English fair play by discountenancing any Australian retaliation.”

Clem Hill stated; “The venomous leg theory, or rather head theory, is sounding the. death knell of scientific cricket. Batsmen may soon have to wear a baseballer’s armour to combat it. Woodfull’s blow was all in the game. The ball flew sharply, and beat the defence. Larwood immediately resorted to his leg tactics. It is mot cricket I Woodfull does not squeal unless there is somthiug wrong.”

BRADMAN THE PRESSMAN.

CENTRE OF GREAT INTEREST. SYDNEY, Jan. 16. Don Bradman, idol of the cricket crowds, is just a, silent figure working at his desk in the office of a Sydney newspaper which employs him. So says “Jacky” Fingleton, an office companion of the pen. Bradman told the Board of Control that he worked side by side with Fingleton, so ail effort was made to ascertain a workmate's impressions of the champion batsman.

“Braddies” is the name by which Bradman is known to his newspaper colleagues. “There is no fuss about ‘Braddies’ in the office,” said Fingleton. “He is one of the quietest men bore. He does his work quietly, and if one did not see him at his desk his presence would hardly be noticed.” Visitors to the office and the office boys make it their business to see that he does not go unnoticed. “He is just as subject to hero worship tjiere as fanywhere else,” said Fingleton. “The copy boys make all the excuses imaginable to be in the room with him, and if they have not an excuse handy they get there all the same.

“Everyone that comes in wants to know where Bradman sits and what he does, and they generally want to look at him before they go.”

IS TEAM DISSATISFIED? SYDNEY, Jan. 16. A telegram from Melbourne published in the Sydney “Labour Daily” says Half-a-dozen of the English cricket team are in open revolt. When the team was in Melbourne a month ago, Manager Warner promised the Caulfield Club that the pros, could attend a ball () n December 28th. At five o’clock on that night, Jardine cancelled the. arrangements and issued instructions tlia.t attendance at a gala performance of “Treasure Island’.’ was compulsory. Several of the pros, stayed away. As the English team without their servicer, wouldn’t be in the race, nothing will be said.