LARWOOD’S INJURY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1933, Page 7

LARWOOD’S INJURY

EFFECT ON PLAY IN FUTURE.

SPLENDID TEST RECORD.

LONDON, October 14

It is doubtful whether Harold Larwood, tlie great fast bowle-v of Nottingnanioliire and hero of England’s mighty success in Australia last winter, will over bowl fast again, say an English writer. This is the price that Larwood has had to pay for all the wonderful things he did for England—his left foot is battered and broken from the pounding and hammering it received on the ceiuent-like Australian wickets. The injured toot, which brought him home before his colleagues, is no better today than it was when the acciifi.Ut happened. Nor does it seem that it will ever fully recover. Larwood has been to surgeons and specialists. They tel! him that two small bones are broken, but the great tragedy is that the joint of the big toe is gone. There is only on© satisfactory thing to tell. Larwood may never again bowl fast, but h© will bowl again for Nottinghamshire, and perhaps for England. He can spin the ball. He can make it turn both ways, a>d it may well be that he will prove a dangerous medium-paced bowler. And it must not be forgotten that he Is a brilliant bat. 'Larwood’s success in Australia laat winter is strikingly emphasised by his test match analysis. He bowled 220 over in test matches—49 more thfin his companion fast bowler, G. 0. Allen —and his 33 wickets cost less than 20 runs each. In seven innings he had an average of 24 runs, his highest score being 98 in the first England innings of the fifth test.

Of his 33 test victims 17 were clean bowled. He twic© hit Bradman’s wicket and twice the Australian superbatsman was caught off his bowling. Larwood, who lias appeared in 15 tests altogether, first played for England in the Lord’s and Oval matches of 1926. when the ashes were regained. He accompanied A. P. F. Chapman’s team to Australia in 1928 ,and played for England again in three tests in 1930.