COLLINS'S MEN. By A. E. R. Gilligan. (Arrowsmith. 7s. 6d.)—As
captain of the last English team to visit Australia and as one of the English Selection Cominittee this year, Mr. Gilligan is well qualified to write on account of the Australian cricketers' tour of this year down to August 18th, and he has lost no time in doing so. It is a cheerful record which shows the admirably friendly spirit that prevails among the actual performers who have passed through every eliminating ordeal and reached the very highest rank in the world of cricket. It is too early to criticize this season's play in perspective and the writer has no pretentious to any heroic or any polished style, but he has produced an excellent boys' book. He was better employed in playing for his country than in watching the last day's play of the match at the Oval, which might have stirred trim to a lofty paean. His nearest approach to an epic chapter deals with Mr. Macartney's innings at Leeds, but even there we found no passage to recommend to Mr. Eric Parker for his next anthology. On the debated question of the Australian bowling. Mr. Gilligan leaves us in some doubt. He explains the radical differences that affect it when the Australians come here : he scorns the common under-valuation of the bowling in comparison with that of previous teams, but he himself says that this year it was not up to the standard of 1921. There is a single sign of stern criticism when he condemns the Australians for treating the early matches of the tour as practice for the test matches rather than playing them as games to be won in the true spirit of sport. He writes a good deal, of course, about the three days limit and playing to a finish, but nothing new except one interesting suggestion for stimulating bowlers. Mr. Gilligan would put an end to publishing in their analyses the number of maiden overs. He considers that maidens are quite as often proofs of wasted time and energy as of merit. He would rather see published a column showing the number of overs bowled for each wicket taken. The bowler who is thus shown to get wickets quickly certainly deserves to have the merit emphasized. The book is illustrated with many
photographs. • •
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