CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1921, Page 3

CRICKET.

ENGLISH COUNTY MATCHES. COMMENTS ON THE TEST. ENGLAND'S INFERIOR BOWLING. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, June 12. Ducat, made 120 against Warwickshire, being the first batsman to score a thousand this seasoii; Jupp made 101 not out against Kent; N. Kilner 112, and Rhodes 246 not out against Northampton; J. Gunn 148, and G. Gunn 82 against Lancashire; Bryan 133, and Chapman 136 for Cambridge University against Free Foresters. MacLaren, in the Sunday Express, sayd the big scores this season are due to bad length bowling. MacLaren, in the Dally Express, the authorities at Lords have hitherto no patent top-dressing for their wickets, but left the rain and run to do their work, but after Durston felled Armstrong it was clear that watering was heeded. The tame pitch was a trifle evident on Saturday. Every bit of devilment it naturally possessed had been kept under the most generous application Of water. It killed Gregory, and also made Douglas, Durston and Parkin impotent. For once in a life-time the batsmen could trust the wicket to play no pranks. Warner, in ,tl:e Morning Post, says the British bowling lacked distinction, and the fielding compared most unfavorably with that of the Australians. Even Alfred Smith could not have beaten Armstrong’s record of nine runs for IS overs. The bowling «waa unchanged for an hour and three-quarters. The great want of English bowling at the present time is length, which is the basic principle of all bowling. The Daily Chronicle says England’s position is largely due to bad tactics. Hendren should never go in fourth. His place is number six or seven. Unless the first three hare done unexpectedly well.he is forced \to play a game quite foreign to his nature, defence being the weakest part o‘ his game. Evans or Douglas should be the English fourth man. Haig should have opened the bowling. Rhodes' bowling was much missed. Tlie Observer’s cricketing expert says the eight-ball over will never be accepted by Marylebone. It would be provocative o'f unfinished games. This would especially be the case in the English cricket, owing to the prevalence of time-wasting strokeless batsmen. It would unfairly handicap and tire unacclimatlsed English bowlers In Australia. If adopted in Australia it would stand in abeyance in matches against visiting teams, on the. ground of fair play.