FAMOUS PLAYERS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1933, Page 8

FAMOUS PLAYERS

CHARACTERISTICS IN THE FIELD

IDENTIFYING M.C.C. VISITORS,

Many of the members of the M.C.C. team at present playing ill Cliristehuren have little characteristics that distinguish them from their taam mates.

Herbert Sutcliffe cannot he mistaken. He constantly taps the surface or the, wicket with his bat. It may be of the traditional billiard table qual-

ity. It does not matter. Herbert insists on flattening imaginary hillocks and levelling fanciful ravines. He is -also constantly finding invisible straws on the pitch. From time to time he will pick up something infinitesimal and fling it from him. What is it? Nobody knows. Does the Yorkshireman himself know ? It is doubtful. You cannot confuse Sutcliffe with anyone else running between wicket®, There is a spectacular dragging of the rivhtr leg near the end of the run. In o o the outfield you will know him by his rigidly clenched hands turned outwards with knuckles up.

HIS GRIP ON THE WORLD

Maurice’s Tate’s hoots would identify him among a thousand flannelled cricketers. No policeman can boast of such a grip of the world as the Sussex bowler (said a Melbourne “Herald” writer recently). Jokes about those amazing turned out feet are taken in good part by Maurice, who is one of the most genial souls one could meet. Even Mr Warner could not resist repeating such a joke at a luncheon in Australia. He recalled an old one that Tate some years ago would have been worth his tucker and a couple of pounds a week just to walk about in a district over-run with locusts. Apart from those feet of Atlas, Tate has a lumbering walk wth even, a greater lateral swing than Larwood. If in your youth you read the old rollicking school yarns of Billy Blunter Bob Cherry and Tom Merry you will recognise/ a living character true to type in big-Bill Bowes. The be-spectacled giant from Yorkshire has a boyish fresh pink face and a great loose limbed body. His long legs are just such legs as those of some boy prominent in those merry escapades of the youngsters’ library. Another who might be of that glamorous schoolboy company is Freddy Brown, the Surrey slow bowler, who is only 22.

RESEMBLES CHAPMAN

Freddy, who is a. Cambridge man could edsily be mistaken in the field for Percy Chapman with his pink and glowing face /and his light, blue Quid Nunc cap. ' Hods a little slower in his movements than Chapman, hut the resemblance at a distance is striking.

To find G. O. Allen, the Middlesex fast howler, you must look for a head of black hair that flies wildly in the wind. It flops down on both sides of the'forehead when Allen bowls, giving a good looking chap a rather fearsome appearance.

Them is little distinction* at a distance about either Voce, Verity or Paynter, though Voce can be picked by his big body and lumbering walk. Verity is dark and sharp-featured.

You will have no trouble about Tommy Mitchell, the Derbyshire slow bowler. His spectacles glitter in the sun and he crouches like a cat in the field always on the qai vive.

’KEEPERS, A CONTRAST,

Ames and Duckworth are an interesting comparison. Both have highly pitched voices, but Ames speaks gently and Duckworth shrilly. Both ®re very much alive, but wheras Duckworth can never conceal his high spirits, and is full of fun and good stores, Ames’ enegry is, suppressed. Ames ’s not talkative, but what he does say is bright. Duckworth is fair. His perky little walk makes him easily recognisable. Ames is dark, rather fat in the face, and well-groomed . Ames played in all Tests in Australia. He is a. fine batsmen and against New Zealand on the last tour of England lie averaged 97.50 in the Tests. Of other members of the party it has been said:—

D< R. Jardine is tall, angular and quiet. He has sharp features, sharp eyes, and determination written all over him. You think of a hawk when you meet him, and then think you are wrong when he smiles. He lias a dry wit.

In: "Leylnnd the/ eyes are the first thing you look at. They are enormous and very blue, with a permanent twinkle. Levland is one of the strongest men. His whole expression is frank and friendly, and utterly devoid of conceit. ■' '

Hamomnd is massive and blunt. He rWf not waste words. Tb pick out Walter Hammond you must glance at his right trousers rocket., . Several inches of a handkerchief of dark blue silk constantly flutter there whether the Gloucester champion is batting or kerchief into his pocket. Why? He does not know himself.