Style and technique Jack Crawford (cricketer)

crawford demonstrating bowling action in 1906

crawford s obituary in times described him 1 of best young players play cricket in england , said: although invariably played in glasses, attractive player watch, aggressive hitter of ball , dangerous medium-paced bowler . wisden described him hard-hitting batsman , , said played front foot. had orthodox batting technique, moved feet ball, , played straight. herbie collins, played crawford in australia, described 1 of innings hurricane innings, full of classical shots charged dynamite.

as bowler, crawford s technique orthodox, although unusual in using second , third fingers spin ball—most bowlers used first , second. bowling pace varied fast medium, , spun ball fingers snapped audibly released it. accurate bowler, difficult batsmen score runs against him. crawford swing ball away bat, effective delivery off break: clem hill stated crawford make ball turn several inches, despite hard pitches prevalent in australia when played there. john arlott described him schoolboy genius turned on australian pitches no 1 else deviated straight . in 1937, herbie collins wrote, @ time when wally hammond considered world s leading all-rounder, people have seen both men consider [crawford] better all-rounder .

commenting on interruption of crawford s career dispute surrey, neville cardus wrote: break surrey must regarded sad deprivation of fame , pleasure himself, , grievous loss annals of english cricket. in man s life can confidently postulated, had continued play in english county cricket ... have taken place amongst select company of england s captains. times commented: 1 of great disappointments of english cricket in first quarter of century outstanding promise never realized. hart observes crawford s on-field successes many 1909 after that, career stalled during absence english cricket. hart notes crawford s capacity on scoreboard , establishment noses. turn games around , agreements over, antagonise powerful, endear himself young , young enough @ heart care characterise great personal performances heroic . concludes crawford spent last 40 years of life in comparative sporting obscurity . no-one on surrey committee ever expressed regret @ had happened, , leveson gower did not mention affair in autobiography.