A Brisbane Screech.

NZ Truth, Issue 139, 15 February 1908, Page 3

A Brisbane Screech.

Hartlgan and his Candid Critic. Apparently all Brisbane hasn't gone mad over the batting achievement of Hartigan m the third Test Match, and; the "Truth" sporting critic m Queensland's metropolis, is very candid m his comments concerning that young man's qualifications. 1 This is what he has to say on the subject : — "Hartigan, who has been .dubbed the hero of the hour, returned on. Monday night last fresh from the scene of his triumph to the plaudits and echoes of a mob of yahoos who apparently do not know what a bat or ball is, and it was indeed sickening to watch the capers of these individuals m their efforts to show their appreciation of his flukey innings., Hartigan's fluke is. one of a life-time, m which he had two lives, and there is as much chance of it again occurring as there is of the heavens . and earth meeting. Barring his century m Sydney against New South Wales, his test match score was the highest he has made m first-class cricket, so he is far from being a phenomenal scorer m matches of this kind, and if his southern effort cannot be termed a smile of " fortune, "Truth" would gladly like to know ' what it was. "Truth" would advise Mm to make the most capital he possibly can of his achievement, as even though he had claims to the very best of. bats, he has not the balance to tide him over the ' idolatrous practices of Brisbane's absurd hero^worshappers. His innings can be described as the crossing of the bar of, his cricket career. We have had better bats m thds State than Hartigan is, viz., Dr. Macdonald, Billy Bradley, and Jim Carew, who have not had the opportunity which has been given to Hartigan ; moreover, "Truth" has m its niind a present-day better bat and all-round player than he, and that is Redgrave, who has , been shabbily treated by a conserv-ative . body of Australian selectors, and . until the barrier of prejudice is broken down, Queensland cannot expect its dues, and this cannot be until ; this .coterie relinquishes its connections with the selections of Australian teams.