THE “SEA ELEPHANTS'" RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 459, 14 September 1928, Page 10

THE “SEA ELEPHANTS'" RACE

STRONG CANDIDATES FOR AUSTRALIAN XI. CAPTAINCY

MARK NICHOLLS’ BOOK

“Booster” «writes: “You say Mark Nicholls is not the brains of New Zealand football. I say he is, because the man who gets all the publicity Mark does must have brains. What’s more, he’s writing a book about the tour. You won’t get mentioned in it, and neither will Morrie Brownlie (unless it is damnation by faint praise, as Mr. Nicholls, senr., so admirably puts it). I don’t know whether Mark is a good player or not, but he’s got it on the world as a booster—and so’s his old dad. That book of Mark’s is going to knock Tunney's ‘Poor Boy to World’s Champion’ skite-high as a best seller. I’m off to order nly copy now. So-long!”

Lucifer of Cricket

Neville Cardus, doyen of English cricket writers, pays his tribute to the ex-Australian, E. A. Macdonald: “He is not to-day quite the beautiful bowler he was in 1921. His arm is lower, and something of the old effortless rhythm is passing out. But he remains the quickest match-win-ning force in the game, given the “oscasion,” the atmosphere. Usually he is at his worst against Worcestershire! He asks for the.challenge of a master batsman; the fires in him break out

ravenously at the very sight of Jack Hobbs. A few weeks ago Hobbs faced Macdonald on an easy hearthrug of a turf at Manchester. Macdonald threw his years aside; his energy became new-born. Ele attacked Hobbs fiercely, spent himself in a -violent onslaught on the wicket of the world’s greatest batsman. He got Hobbs caught for a few runs. And for the rest of the day Macdonald’s powers slept; long calm followed the storm. He is a bowler of most majestic disdain—a Prince Lucifer of cricket. Seldom does Macdonald seem moved out of a sovereign unconcern. Even when he bowls his fastest ho does it all with the air of a man sublimely indifferent.”