I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:

"...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:

Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
from the word go.
Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
advice like that?
Robins: I would indeed.
Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
--
John Hall
"Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
>
> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
>
> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> from the word go.
> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
> advice like that?
> Robins: I would indeed.
> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
> --
> John Hall
> "Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
> But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
> Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

The "brighter cricket" panic began between the two world wars (arguably even earlier if one includes the great improvement in pitches in the 1890s which resulted in a considerable fear that the game on such pitches would be boring) .

After WW1 there was a fear batting was becoming too dominant. Changes to the laws of cricket were : enlarging the size of the wicket, reducing the size of the ball to make them easier to hold and manipulate and the 1935 LBW law. ,

Robins was one of the "brighter cricket" enthusiasts whose commonsense was swept away by fear for the game and resulted in absurd suggestions like those unearthed John.

The present predicament of county cricket is not that it is boring g but that a gang of those supposedly with the good of the game are in fact attempting to get rid of cricket and substitute BazBall in its place. RH

In message <4b968545-4fbc-47c4-9716-d7ed508c6695n@googlegroups.com>,
Robert Henderson <anywhere156@gmail.com> writes
>On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
>> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
>>
>> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
>> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
>>
>> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
>> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
>> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
>> from the word go.
>> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
>> advice like that?
>> Robins: I would indeed.
>> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
>> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
<snip>
>
> Robins was one of the "brighter cricket" enthusiasts whose
>commonsense was swept away by fear for the game and resulted in
>absurd suggestions like those unearthed John.
<snip>

IIRC, Robins was chairman of the Test selectors for a while in the
1960s. None of the various England captains seemed overly keen on
playing his way (even Dexter, though attacking as a batsman, was pretty
defensive as a captain, so things didn't really change very much.
--
John Hall
"Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 11:47:24 PM UTC+10, John Hall wrote:
> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> from the word go.

Day 5, Tea. 8 wickets down, needing 300 runs to win.
It's BAZBALL TIME!

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 4:37:28 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> In message <4b968545-4fbc-47c4...@googlegroups.com>,
> Robert Henderson <anywh...@gmail.com> writes
> >On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> >> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
> >>
> >> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
> >> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
> >>
> >> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
> >> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
> >> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> >> from the word go.
> >> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
> >> advice like that?
> >> Robins: I would indeed.
> >> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
> >> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
> <snip>
> >
> > Robins was one of the "brighter cricket" enthusiasts whose
> >commonsense was swept away by fear for the game and resulted in
> >absurd suggestions like those unearthed John.
> <snip>
>
> IIRC, Robins was chairman of the Test selectors for a while in the
> 1960s. None of the various England captains seemed overly keen on
> playing his way (even Dexter, though attacking as a batsman, was pretty
> defensive as a captain, so things didn't really change very much.
> --
> John Hall

You can't order batsmen to play in such a fashion, especially when you have great batsmen (as was the case during Dexter's captaincy - Cowdrey, Barrington, Graveney, Edrich, Boycott, Sheppard ) . RH

In message <c98d9fd2-60ae-4124-9ae2-4e31c8ba7a46n@googlegroups.com>,
jack fredricks <jzfredricks@gmail.com> writes
>On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 11:47:24 PM UTC+10, John Hall wrote:
>> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
>> from the word go.
>
>Day 5, Tea. 8 wickets down, needing 300 runs to win.
>It's BAZBALL TIME!

After having attacked "from the word go", you'd hope that at that point
the captain would utter the word "stop". :)
--
John Hall
"Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 7:02:35 PM UTC+10, John Hall wrote:
> In message <c98d9fd2-60ae-4124...@googlegroups.com>,
> jack fredricks <jzfre...@gmail.com> writes
> >On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 11:47:24 PM UTC+10, John Hall wrote:
> >> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> >> from the word go.
> >
> >Day 5, Tea. 8 wickets down, needing 300 runs to win.
> >It's BAZBALL TIME!
> After having attacked "from the word go", you'd hope that at that point
> the captain would utter the word "stop". :)

Indeed.
I could very well be wrong, but I'm going to assume Robins was just being a bit flippant in this interview.

On Tuesday, 6 September 2022 at 15:40:46 UTC+1, FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer wrote:
> On 9/6/2022 2:24 AM, John Hall wrote:
> > I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
> >
> > "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
> > Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
> >
> > Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
> > Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
> > Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> > from the word go.
> > Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
> > advice like that?
> > Robins: I would indeed.
> > Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
> > immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
> Just useless opinions and gossip.
>
> WORDS are NOT ACTIONS.
>
> Did he play like he preached?

Judging by the Test innings where Cricinfo shows the number of balls he faced or the minutes he batted, yes he usually did, but then ...

> If he did, he was an utter failure with a batting average of 26.60 in 19
> tests.

.... he was a bowling all-rounder who usually batted at #8. As such, an average of 26.60 seems quite good (#8s collectively averaged about 19 during his Test career), and was slightly higher than his FC average. Whether he would have done better with a more cautious approach, who knows?

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 1:43:21 PM UTC+1, nos...@lane-farm.fsnet..co.uk wrote:
> On Tuesday, 6 September 2022 at 15:40:46 UTC+1, FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer wrote:
> > On 9/6/2022 2:24 AM, John Hall wrote:
> > > I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
> > >
> > > "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
> > > Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
> > >
> > > Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
> > > Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
> > > Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> > > from the word go.
> > > Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
> > > advice like that?
> > > Robins: I would indeed.
> > > Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
> > > immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
> > Just useless opinions and gossip.
> >
> > WORDS are NOT ACTIONS.
> >
> > Did he play like he preached?
> Judging by the Test innings where Cricinfo shows the number of balls he faced or the minutes he batted, yes he usually did, but then ...
> > If he did, he was an utter failure with a batting average of 26.60 in 19
> > tests.
> ... he was a bowling all-rounder who usually batted at #8. As such, an average of 26.60 seems quite good (#8s collectively averaged about 19 during his Test career), and was slightly higher than his FC average. Whether he would have done better with a more cautious approach, who knows?

Robbins was a wrist spinning allrounder.

T FC
Matches 19 379
Runs scored 612 13,884
Batting average 26.60 26.39
Top score 108 140
Wickets 64 969
Bowling average 27.46 23.30

The only England spinners to take more Test wickets Robbins between the wars were Hedley Verity with 144 wickets @ 24.37 - His economy was a mind boggling 1.88 an over-
and Tich Freeman with 66 wickets @ 25.86

RH

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
>
> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
>
> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> from the word go.
> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
> advice like that?
> Robins: I would indeed.
> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
> --

I recall reading that [among others] Percy fender and lord Tennyson
had a similar gung ho approach in the early 20s which was much
appreciated at the time.

I wonder could the bazball approach be used to revamp the CC?

mike

On Wed, 7 Sep 2022 13:29:20 -0700 (PDT), mike <dmike204@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

>On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
>> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
>>
>> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
>> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
>>
>> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
>> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
>> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
>> from the word go.
>> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
>> advice like that?
>> Robins: I would indeed.
>> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
>> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
>> --
>
>I recall reading that [among others] Percy fender and lord Tennyson
>had a similar gung ho approach in the early 20s which was much
>appreciated at the time.

I notice that Duckworth was a professional while Robins, Fender,
Tennyson and some others with famously aggressive batting tendencies
were amateurs who weren't concerned about losing their contracts.

Cheers,

Mike

On Wed, 07 Sep 2022 23:34:50 +0100, Mike Holmans <spam@jackalope.uk>
wrote:

>On Wed, 7 Sep 2022 13:29:20 -0700 (PDT), mike <dmike204@yahoo.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>>On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
>>> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
>>>
>>> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
>>> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
>>>
>>> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
>>> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
>>> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
>>> from the word go.
>>> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
>>> advice like that?
>>> Robins: I would indeed.
>>> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
>>> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
>>> --
>>
>>I recall reading that [among others] Percy fender and lord Tennyson
>>had a similar gung ho approach in the early 20s which was much
>>appreciated at the time.
>
>I notice that Duckworth was a professional while Robins, Fender,
>Tennyson and some others with famously aggressive batting tendencies
>were amateurs who weren't concerned about losing their contracts.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Mike

That's ye olde time bazballers in action. I'll have to poke out a book
and check but I'm sure Hobbs had some bazball thoughts.

max.it

On Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 6:29:21 AM UTC+10, mike wrote:
> I recall reading that [among others] Percy fender and lord Tennyson
> had a similar gung ho approach in the early 20s which was much
> appreciated at the time.
>
> I wonder could the bazball approach be used to revamp the CC?

Cricket has always had Bazball individuals.
Today's Bazball seems to be a *team* approach.

On Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 12:05:41 AM UTC+1, max.it wrote:
> On Wed, 07 Sep 2022 23:34:50 +0100, Mike Holmans <sp...@jackalope.uk>
> wrote:
> >On Wed, 7 Sep 2022 13:29:20 -0700 (PDT), mike <dmik...@yahoo.co.uk>
> >wrote:
> >
> >>On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> >>> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
> >>>
> >>> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
> >>> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
> >>>
> >>> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
> >>> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
> >>> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
> >>> from the word go.
> >>> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
> >>> advice like that?
> >>> Robins: I would indeed.
> >>> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
> >>> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
> >>> --
> >>
> >>I recall reading that [among others] Percy fender and lord Tennyson
> >>had a similar gung ho approach in the early 20s which was much
> >>appreciated at the time.
> >
> >I notice that Duckworth was a professional while Robins, Fender,
> >Tennyson and some others with famously aggressive batting tendencies
> >were amateurs who weren't concerned about losing their contracts.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >
> >Mike
> That's ye olde time bazballers in action. I'll have to poke out a book
> and check but I'm sure Hobbs had some bazball thoughts.
>
> max.it

Hobbs was famously attacking before WW1 . After that war he reined himself in . RH

In message <kt6ihh52c424kkqm8ajnd98pv3vrj77mfu@4ax.com>, Mike Holmans
<spam@jackalope.uk> writes
>On Wed, 7 Sep 2022 13:29:20 -0700 (PDT), mike <dmike204@yahoo.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>>On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
>>> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
>>>
>>> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
>>> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
>>>
>>> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
>>> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
>>> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
>>> from the word go.
>>> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
>>> advice like that?
>>> Robins: I would indeed.
>>> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
>>> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
>>> --
>>
>>I recall reading that [among others] Percy fender and lord Tennyson
>>had a similar gung ho approach in the early 20s which was much
>>appreciated at the time.
>
>I notice that Duckworth was a professional while Robins, Fender,
>Tennyson and some others with famously aggressive batting tendencies
>were amateurs who weren't concerned about losing their contracts.

I think that's true, and that there was a tendency for amateurs to play
more aggressively than the professionals. Of course there were plenty of
exceptions; for example, Denis Compton was a notable Cavalier and Trevor
Bailey a notable Roundhead.
--
John Hall
"Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

In message <7o8ihh1rmvr0e2gpck0cktipmiujno5kk5@4ax.com>, max. it
<max@tea.time> writes
>On Wed, 07 Sep 2022 23:34:50 +0100, Mike Holmans <spam@jackalope.uk>
>wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 7 Sep 2022 13:29:20 -0700 (PDT), mike <dmike204@yahoo.co.uk>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2:47:24 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
>>>> I just happened upon this in a 1967 book by the admirable AA Thomson:
>>>>
>>>> "...a pre-Test radio discussion between [George Duckworth] and [Walter]
>>>> Robins which I approximately transcribe from memory:
>>>>
>>>> Robins: I would go out for victory whatever the cost.
>>>> Duckworth: Within reason, yes, but...
>>>> Robins: I'd tell our chaps, win or lose, to go out and attack every ball
>>>> from the word go.
>>>> Duckworth: What, you'd give a young player, your son, for instance,
>>>> advice like that?
>>>> Robins: I would indeed.
>>>> Duckworth (with deep reproach, as though rejecting an essentially
>>>> immoral doctrine): Nay, Mr Robins, not your own lad..."
>>>> --
>>>
>>>I recall reading that [among others] Percy fender and lord Tennyson
>>>had a similar gung ho approach in the early 20s which was much
>>>appreciated at the time.
>>
>>I notice that Duckworth was a professional while Robins, Fender,
>>Tennyson and some others with famously aggressive batting tendencies
>>were amateurs who weren't concerned about losing their contracts.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Mike
>
>That's ye olde time bazballers in action. I'll have to poke out a book
>and check but I'm sure Hobbs had some bazball thoughts.

The young Hobbs was a very aggressive batsman, the over-forty Hobbs
understandably less so.
--
John Hall
"Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)