Talk:Hedley Verity/GA1

GA Review[edit]

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Reviewer: Harrias ^talk 07:32, 17 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Links check

One dab link: Charlie Barnett, presumably Charlie Barnett (cricketer): (Charles John Barnett, 1910–1993), English cricketer?
External links all working: one requires a subscription, perhaps add {{subscription}} at the end of the title to demonstrate this?
Otherwise all links check out fine. I'll progress onto the text later. Harrias ^talk 07:32, 17 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- All done; the first one had already been linked correctly earlier, so I'm not sure why I did this one and did it wrong! The second is a funny one as if you have library membership, you can usually access the site for free, but you are right and I've added subscription. --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:32, 19 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

As usual the prose is of pretty good quality: I could happily pass this for GA as it stands, but given that I'm sure you'll want to take it onto FA, I'll provide a more detailed and picky review for you!

Lead

"Verity was given a trial in the team and was successful enough to top the English bowling averages." – I'm not keen on this wording: "successful enough" may be suitable to be followed by "get in the team" but I think topping the English bowling averages is more than "successful enough", just being plain successful! Also, "English bowling averages" would probably be better understood if phrased as "national bowling averages".
"during a tour to Australia in 1932–33." – I'd suggest a note clarifying the cricket notation for seasons: it isn't particularly complicated, but may add something. If you don't reckon it's necessary, feel free to ignore me.
- Both done; the latter one does not always come up at FAC, but is a good point. For the first one, I notice we have no article on national batting or bowling averages; I think it's begging for a list or something! --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:45, 19 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Early years

"Verity was born in Headingley on.." – would probably be worth expanding on this slightly to either include Yorkshire or Leeds (I'm not sure if it was part of Leeds by then or still distinct?)
- I'm not actually sure, but I think it was regarded as part of Leeds long before then. I've put in "area of Leeds" which keeps it ambiguous enough to not be wrong! --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:59, 19 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"Soon, Verity decided, with.." – I don't think that 'Soon' is the right word to be used here on its own: maybe 'Soon after'; but I could be wrong! Either way, I don't think the sentence needs the comma after soon: with the clause about his father coming so quickly after it breaks the sentence up and I think gives a slightly different meaning than is intended.
- Took out soon. --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:59, 19 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"He could bowl both inswingers and outswingers, possibly copied from the style.." – although this sentence is referenced, the use of "possibly copied" without stating who thinks that it is possibly copied gives the article the appearance of OR. I think it would be worth directly including who thought this.
- It's a slightly odd one; Hill reports it as common knowledge without saying it was his opinion directly. However, to be safe, I've attributed it to him. --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:59, 19 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"Verity was given a trial in the cricket nets at Headingley cricket ground." – Was this a trial for Yorkshire, or just a general trial? I assume from the later comment that he wouldn't be effective for Yorkshire that it was for them, but I think it needs mentioning in this sentence if so.
- I've put it in the previous sentence which mentions Peel and Hirst scouting; I've now said they were scouting for Yorkshire, which I think is a better way of doing it. Does this work for you? --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:59, 19 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
" ..he produced some defensive batting performances in difficult situations.. " – this might be over picky, so feel free to ignore this, but there is nothing which particularly demonstrates that this is a positive thing, ie "..he produced some good defensive batting..". You and I both know that it is good, but a lay person may not necesssarily know that. But then again, as I say, I might just be over picky!
- No, I think you are right. It's a funny one as you have to be careful not to give opinions here, so I went for "effective" as this is more neutral and I think describes defensive batting quite well! I changed the other "effective" in the sentence. --Sarastro1 (talk) 21:59, 19 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Professional cricketer

"The team were not particularly sympathetic, for example placing fielders in unhelpful positions." – again, maybe over picky, but the sentence and language seems very simplistic here compared to the rest of the article. On the other hand, there is nothing overtly wrong with the sentence!
- Tried something different.--Sarastro1 (talk) 11:14, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

First-class debut

"Early in the 1930, Wilfred.." – presumably this should either say "Early in the 1930 season, Wilfred.." or "Early in the 1930s, Wilfred..".
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:14, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Test debut

" ..against Marylebone Cricket Club.. " – personally I prefer the Marylebone Cricket Club, but I don't suppose it matters really.
- I'm not too bothered either way, so I changed it. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"Favoured by pitches which rain made receptive to his bowling, .." – seems slightly strange wording, I'd possibly consider reworking it as "Favoured by pitches made receptive to his bowling by rain, .." but I'm not sure.
- Neither am I, but I think your wording is better. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"Having been watched by England selectors, and after taking eleven wickets in the match against the touring New Zealand team, .." – presumably that was a match between Yorkshire and NZ? Might be worth clarifying.
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

World record

"The team lost heavily to Lancashire. Eddie Paynter scored 152 and hit Verity for five sixes." – These two sentences would probably work better rolled together, something like "The team lost heavily to Lancashire, for whom Eddie Paynter scored 152 and hit Verity for five sixes." The short sentences otherwise break the paragraph up a little.
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"including the hat-trick." – The use of 'the' makes it seem like the hat-trick is something the reader should already know about (at least as I read it); I would just use 'a'.
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"In the middle of August, Verity was one of the last men added to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) team which was captained by Douglas Jardine." – A note to mention that when the MCC team is one and the same as the England team would be worth making: ie that when England toured abroad they played as the MCC except when playing Tests (or that when the MCC played Tests, they became England, whichever would be easier to understand and reference!)
- I've added a note which I've used before. It has no reference as such, but I don't think it really needs one as it is such a well-known fact which is easily verifiable from a wide number of places. No-one has challenged it before, so hopefully this will be OK. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Bodyline tour

"After the Test, the tourists travelled to Tasmania to play two matches against the cricket team." – 'the cricket team' seems strange wording, as with England (or the MCC) being a cricket team itself, saying that they were playing "the cricket team" is a rather obvious statement: "the state team", or if you want to spell it out "the state cricket team" would probably be better.
"Verity resumed his place in the team for the third Test," – 'regained', rather than 'resumed'?
- Both done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Right, that's as far as I've got so far: as I said at the top, great work as usual! I'll try and get the rest done over the next couple of days: although from your contributions, it doesn't look like you are around at the moment anyway. No rush to get back to this, I'll hold for as long as you need. Harrias ^talk 19:10, 17 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

All done so far, thanks for the review. --Sarastro1 (talk) 11:32, 20 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Tour of India

"..Verity was the only other player from the Bodyline to tour," – missing a word, presumably 'series'?
"Verity guided Barnett, helping to overcome homesickness.." – I'm guessing this is Barnett's homesickness, but it is a little ambiguous, it could refer to either man.
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:42, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Career in the mind-1930s

The start of this paragraph seems like a series of bullet points strung together; but given the analytical information it is presenting, that may not be such a bad thing as normal. But I thought I'd point it out.
- I've cut a bit and rearranged another bit (it's over detailed anyway and will need pruning pre-FAC). Not sure it's any better, what do you think?
"Even when he first three devilveries had been struck for four," – I assume each of his first three was struck for four, rather than four runs being scored from the first three?
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:42, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"South Africa won the second Test, their first Test match win.." – I found the "second Test, first Test" sequence a little difficult to read: it would be worth trying to either vary the language (though I'm unsure how) or break this up a little.
- Reworded. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:42, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Tour to South Africa and final season

"as both teams posted an aggregate of 1,981 runs." – I don't think this is particularly ambiguous, but it might still be worth tightening it with something like "as both teams combined to score an aggregate of 1,981 runs." But as I say: I don't actually know if it is any better, or even necessary.
- I think it helps! --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:56, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Style and technique

In the second paragraph, you use the word 'believed' no fewer than four times: perhaps change a couple of these?
- Done, I think. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:56, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"Verity dismissed Bradman ten times in total, one two occasions twice in the same game." – "on two occasions" was intended I assume?
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:56, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Training with the Green Howards

You being two sentences in a row with 'after' ("After serving..", "After a spell..") Not the end of the world, but if you find another equally good way of saying it, it would be worth changing.
- Done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:56, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
"particularly as his wife joined him." – With the personal life section coming after this, it is the first mention that he is even married: I found it strange personally, but I don't know if there is any way around it.
- Took this out as it is not really necessary here. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:56, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

References

Ref 12: Because you have placed a full stop at the end of "John Wisden & Co.", with the formatting, it means there are two: "John Wisden & Co.. 1932."
Ref 200: Has two closing parentheses.
- Both done. --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:56, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

That's the whole article: lovely work, and an easy pass once these issues are resolved. Harrias ^talk 13:15, 21 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I think that's everything, thanks again. I have to live on past glories at the moment! --Sarastro1 (talk) 17:57, 22 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]