CRICKETERS AT EASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1938, Page 10

CRICKETERS AT EASE

AUSTRALIANS ENTERTAINED IN LONDON LORD MAYOR'S HAPPY MEMORIES. BRADMAN AND BROADBENT. LONDON, April 26. Proposing a toast to the Australian cricketers at a banquet which he gave the team, the Lord Mayor, Sir H. Twyford, recalled that he had played cricket in Hong-Kong, Cochin China, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If international negotiations were conducted in the spirit of British cricket, he said, they would be more successful. If Australia won, the cheers would be as loud here as at Sydney or Melbourne. Mr D. G. Bradman, responding, said: “I am still hoping to meet a man who wants autographs for himself, not for his nieces and nephews.” Referring to the request for an additional player and to the presence of the aviator, Mr H. F. Broadbent, at the banquet, Mr Bradman suggested that Mr Broadbent might be usefully employed during the next few weeks flying backwards and forwards and bringing the team up to strength. “It would be an economic disaster if international cricket stopped to think of the employment it gives,” he declared. “Think of the benefit to the AngloAustralia tourist trade.” Mr Jeanes, referring to the menu containing a sweet “Bombe Bradman,” congratulated the chef on the appropriateness of the title, considering Bradman’s explosive properties. Sir Stanley Jackson said he did not think the good health of cricket depended on the welfare of first-class cricket. Sympathising with Barnes, he reminded him that patience and fortitude were among the lessons to be learnt from cricket. “Maybe I am old fashioned," he added, “but I do not like limitless cricket and wish you would get rid of it in Australia. It would be good for the game.” VETERANS AT HAND. MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN EMERGENCY. LONDON, April 26. The “Daily Mail’s” sporting gossip writer suggests that if the Australians are really hard up for a player to replace Barnes, their SOS need not travel farther than England’s cricket press boxes, where Woodful and Oldfield are both sitting, or if neither of the old campaigners is fancied, suggests that the Oxonian, Kimpton, could be asked to lend a hand. “He is a firstrate stylish batsman, a good bowler and a useful wicket-keeper,” the writer states. “He played in the Gentlemen versus Players match last summer and is up to Test standard.” He adds, however, that nobody can blame Bradman and Jeanes for trying to protect themselves against a possible emergency. Howard Marshall, writing in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “To do the Australians justice, they have not tried to create an infriority complex in our minds. Bradman, who speaks in public almost as well as he plays cricket, has lulled us with fair words, stating that the visitors are determined to enjoy their matches. Their approach is not grim and purposeful, but friendly and co-operative. Bradman’s admirable speeches have struck a happy note. No Australian side ever won its way more swiftly or more surely in our esteem. There is such a thing, however, as a smile on the face of the tiger. Bradman at the luncheon table and Bradman at the wicket are rather different propositions.” PRACTICE TACTICS. ONE VIEW OF EARLY MATCHES. LONDON, April 27. The cricket correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says that, with Wednesday’s practice optional, the Australians have only four full dress practices before the Worcester match. Despite their nine days in London, Bradman apparently does not attach much importance to net form, relying on the relatively comfortable matches against Worcester, Oxford, Leicester and Cambridge to prepare for the more serious trial against Marylebone. Chipperfield, who flourishes under English conditions, made an excellent impression batting. O’Reilly’s bowling form is encouraging, his leg breaks lifting and turning sharply. Later he practised bowling at a single stump without batsmen. The “Daily Mail” says FleetwoodSmith appeared to bowl with a lower trajectory and more accuracy than he did when last in England. Ward spun the ball with great violence, something like Mitchell, of Derbyshire, and kept an improved length.