THE CRITICS' VIEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LXVIII, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 5

THE CRITICS' VIEWS.

HOBBS FANCIES AUSTRALIA. "SET FOR BIG SCORE." (Received June 24, 7.35 p.m.) LQNDON, June 23. "Australia are set for a big score, and I cannot see England win unless it rains over the week-end," says Mr J. B. Hobbs in the Star. He applauds Grimmett as a wonderful little bowler, who is always; using his brain, cleverly mixing slow and faster balls and foreover fishing and trying. Hobbs expresses the opinion that Oldfield held Ames's chance when he was 96 almost long enough to be classed as a catch. He adds : "England's1 fast men, bowling overshort, are enhancing the performance of Wall, who is able to make the toall lift without bowling short." Commenting on the first day's play in the Test match at Lord's, Neville Cardus says that tamer bowling could not be imagined in a Test match. B. J. T. Bosanquet says that although in little fear of defeat England has not scored sufficiently fast to win. A. E. R. Gilligan applauds Oldfield, who did not allow a single bye in the opening day's playpf the second Test, as by head and shoulders the world's best wicketkeeper. P. F. Warner, in the Daily Telegraph, says: "Australia will very likely head our total. Our bowling is far from impressive. Verity alone looked like a Test bowler. Brown batted magnificently and if ever there was , a greater wicket-keeper than Oldfield I have never seeh him." Sir Stanley Jackson declared: "1 have no knowledge of any of my colleagues indicating to. Larwood's captains that he was not to be allowed to bowl the leg theory. I oamnot believe anyone would do such a thing. My colleagues are fully aware that the team in the field is under the orders of the captain, who is solely responsible." Most critics pay a tribute to Woodfull's captaincy. The Times's cricket writer admits that so far Australia seems the better side. "The Australians," he says, "have so' many more strokes than the average Englis'h batsmen and the Australian fielding is immensely superior." Moult, in the Daily Telegraph, says ia report was circulated during the week-end that Woodfull, at the tea interval at Lords on Saturday, protested against Bowes's fast bowling. Sir Stanley Jackson states that the report is untrue. It was probabiy based on the fact that Bowes asked for an additional fieldsman on the leg side after tea, but the request was refused. Sir Stanley Jackson added that no instructions were given to Wyatt regarding the placing of the field and Wyatt's reason for depriving Bowes of a third leg side fieldsman was doubtless technieal. The critics generally anticipate a drawn game. The weather forecast for Monday is for moderate and variable winds, with occasional showers, the sky being bright at intervals, and perhaps thunder,