AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19997, 14 January 1927, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

COLLAPSE OF “BONUS STRIKE." SPOILED BY PUBLICITY. (Press’ Association —Bj Telegraph—Cjprright.) SYDNEY, January 13. The effort made by the players to compel the Board of Control to pay a larger bonus collapsed owing to the publicity given to the plans, and it is now stated that all the players who are available will participate in the Sheffield Shield games. THE ENGLISH TOUR. COMMENTS BY THE MANAGER. AUSTRALIA’S WEAKNESS IN BOWLERS. SxDNEY, January 13(Received Jan. 13, at 9.20 p.m.) Speaking at a luncheon given by the Millions Club, Mr Syd. Smith, manager of the Australian Eleven, said there was one financial aspect of the tour that was not published by the Board of Control This was that the expenses of the last tour were only £7 per head above those of 1921, notwithstanding the transport difficulties owing to the coal strike. The tour yielded £3OOO more in revenue than the 1921 tour. Mr Smith disclosed that he recommended |hat in future the board should make a fair allowance to each player instead of a bonus, thus relieving the players of anxiety during the tour as to whether there was going to be a bonus or not. Discussing the bowling, Mr Smith said that Grimmett and Mailey between them took 27 wickets out of 39 in the testa and 263 out of 511 on tour. That burden on these two men showed the Australian weakness which lay in the dearth of spin bowlers and length bowlers with little fire. VICTORIAN TEAM FOR DOMINION. BOARD OF CONTROL SANCTION AWAITED. MELBOURNE, Januray 13. (Received Jan. 14, at 0.10 a.m.) The executive of the Victorian Cricket Association considered the application of the Melbourne Cricket Club for permission to send a team to New Zealand at the end of the- month. The executive expressed approval of the trip being made, but agreed that the matter came under the jurisdiction of the Board of Control. Arrangements for the tour are held up pending the board’s sanction being obtained.