THE SECOND TEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 27, 29 December 1932, Page 7

THE SECOND TEST

PROSPECTS FREELY DISCUSSED. AUSTRALIAN CRITICS PESSI M l STIC. “LARWOOD AND VOCE TOO GOOD.” (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received December 29, B. SO a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 29. Test match prospects are being freely discussed by all the newspapers. The criticism reflects nervousness and pessimism as far the Australians are concerned. The great difficulty which faces the selectors is emphasised by Mr Arthur Mailey, writing in tho Sun. He says: I am not afraid of England’s batsmen and fieldsmen, but 1 do think Larwood and Voce aro too good for the Australians on the Melbourne wicket.

Mr -M ailcy remarks that the selectors have an unenviable task in view of the recent poor form of Woodfull, Ponsford, Bradman and Grimmett, and declares: “I certainly would not play Grimmett, O'lieilly and Ironmonger in the same team. 1 would give preference to one who would forget maiden overs and who would try to compel the batsmen to use their feet. Neither the Australian nor the English team is likely to be announced before Friday morning, when tiie state of the weather is ascertained.

WOODFULL 31 AY STAND DOWN

OUT OF FORM AT PRESENT

Received December ‘29, 10.50 a.m MELBOURNE, Dec. 29.

It is rumoured that Woodlull may stand down for the second Test lor O’Brien, as Woodlull leels that his form at present is heyond redemption. All the Englishmen were at practice yesterday, but only Oxenham, of the Australian thirteen, appeared. The absence of the other Australians was the cause of much comment. Larwood had a good howling trial. He reported himself fit. THE PLAYER-WRITER RULE. The. Board of Control meets to-day to discuss Bradman’s application to write for the Press while playing in the Tests, also the question of players who broadcast comments on current matches. AUSTRALIAN CRITICS REBUKED. LONDON TIMES’S FRANK STATEMENT. (Times Cable.) Received December 29, 11.25 a.m. LONDON. Dee. 28. The Tinies’s cricket writer says:— “The second Test will lie followed with special interest because much of the harm done to Test cricket in the Sydney match has to lie undone, 'file first Test was enveloped in such a persistent fog of unpleasant acrimony and ungenerous criticism that it left one wondering whether it was a cricket match or a war wagbd for the amusement of the Hillitcs and other Australian critics. Even before the match Jardine and his men were threatened with everything short of imprisonment and during the play wild assertions were made about their fairness and ability. The score hoard recorded their ability and, regarding fairness, Jardine is known to ho punctilious - in observing the spirit of the game.” JARDINE DEFENDED. LONDON, Dec. 28. “The Australian outcry against Jardine resting his best bowlers in the Tasmanian match, is so childish that we can afford to ignore it,” says the Daily Mirror. “Jardine lias adopted commonsense tactics and the absurdity of tlio outburst is its best condemnation.” SHOCK TACTICS. ADVICE TO N.Z. BATSMEN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2S. Mi- Walter Fuller, well known in theatrical circles, who lias returned from an extended visit to Australia, says the shock tactics of the English cricketers are something to be reckoned with. “In the past there has been the legtheory and off-theory in howling,” he remarked, "‘but those usually have been adopted with medium-paced or slow break bowlers. Now you have men like Larwood and Voce, real express bowlers, who bowl for a man at such a pace that you cannot follow the ball. I firmly believe Ponsford and Woodfull and some of the others were upset by these tactics', as there was no let-up. Each ball seemed to lie hurled directly at their bodies, net at wickets, and the result was that they were too scared to play them as they would ordinary bowling.”

Mr Fuller added that if New Zealand was going to make any sort of a stand against England’s fast bowlers lie would advise that our men allow bowlers to throw the ball as hard as they could at the body of the batsmen in practice. Otherwise they would never know how to face Larwood or Voce.