TRICKY PITCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 149, 26 June 1934, Page 7

TRICKY PITCH.

DOUBLE DISASTER. Eighteen Australian Wickets Fall for 210. LEFT-HANDED COLTS FAIL. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 25. The second cricket Test match between England and Australia was resumed this morning , in very unfavourable weather conditions. Heavy rain fell early in the day and it was thought at one time that play was improbable. When tho players walked out on to tho ground it was in a misty, semifoggy atmosphere, under a grey sky, with more rain threatening.

An appeal against the light T>y the Australians was upheld before a ball had been bowled. Then a drizzling rain began to fall and the players returned to the- pavilion. Play was begun a quarter of an hour later.

When stumps were drawn on Saturday Australia had made 192 for two wickets in response to England's first innings total of 440, Brown (103) and McCabe (24) being not out.

At the luncheon interval to-day eight wickets had fallen for 273 runs, and the innings terminated for 284, the last two men falling when seven runs were still required to save the follow-on. Batting a second time the Australians fared even worse. The left-hand spin bowler, Verity, was practically unplayable. Australia was dismissed for 118, and the Englishmen had their revenge by an innings and 38 runs for their defeat at Trent Bridge. Brown Goes at 105. When play was continued this morning Bowes, bowling medium pace offbreaks, opened to McCabe. The wicket was damp and slow. McCabe, shaping confidently, raised the 200 for 195 minutes' play.

Tho pitch quickly showed the effect of the bowlers' spikes. Bowes began to bowl faster and Brown in his third over snicked one straight into the hands of Ames behind the stumps. He had hit 14 fours and given two difficult chances. His was a polished display on Saturday but he was less comfortable to-day. 203—3—105.

Verity got Darling with the last ball of his third over. Darling was attempting to turn an off-break to leg and was easily caught by Sutcliffe on the leg side. 204 —4—o.

The light was extremely poor for the first 10 minutes, but was slightly better when Chippei'field went in. One run later Verity, clearly profiting by the conditions, turned a ball sharply from the leg and made it' rise quickly and McCabo was badly baffled and snicked it into Hammond's hands in the slips. 205—5—34.

Verity had six leg-side fieldsmen for Bromley, who cocked the first ball just out of his reach and then, nicely straight-drove one for four.

The wicket was difficult enough without the sunshine which now broke fitfully through the clouds. Bromley fell, in the same way as Darling, to an easy catch by Geary at fine-legt. 218—6—4. In a disastrous 45 minutes Australia had lost four for 26. Verity's figures were three for 12. Oldfield was almost out in the fuet over, chopping Verity just clear of his stumps. His Majesty Greets Teams. The- gates wore closed at. 11.45 a.m., all the unreserved seats being taken. His Majesty arrived at 12.30 p.m. Play was interrupted and the teams lined up in two rows facing each other, Woodfull introducing the Australians.

The King stopped and conversed with Oldfield and Bradman.

Wyatt then introduced the Englishmen.

When play was rearumed Chipperfield and Oldfield carried on merrily in spite of the difficult wicket, Oldfield made several fine shots and powerfully cut Verity. He scored faster than Chipperfield, who was painfully struck on the body off Hammond. Play was held up for five minutes.

The score was raised to 250 for 275 minutes' play, and the plucky partners held out in the hope of saving a followon. The partnership was worth 40 runs in 50 minutes, when Oldfield, playing forward, was caught in the gully, Sutcliffe jumping high to hold the ball one hand. 258—7—23. Grimmett played on to his wicket in tho last over before lunch. 273—8—9. This left Australia with 18 to score to save the follow-on. The wicket was not exactly sticky, but the damp surface favoured the bowlers. Australia Compelled to Follow-on. Chipperfield and O'Reilly struggled to save the follow-on. Seven runs were still wanted when O'Reilly was bowled. 284—9— i. Wall missed one ball and was completely beaten by the next, to which he succumbed leg-before. 284 —10—0.

Australia was thus obliged to follow on.

The innings had lasted 320 minutes, and Chipperfield batted for 110 minutes in a solid, plucky display.

Verity's figures to-day in the first innings were: 22 overs, 9 maidens, 37 runs, 6 wickets.

Brown and Woodfiill reopened at 2.45, and onlv 10 runs were scored when off the last'ball of Bowes' third over Brown was caught at long-leg. 10—1 —2. Woodfull was shaping confidently against the fast bowlers, and frequently got Fames and Bowes away to leg. Verity and Hammond >ere then introduced. McCabe appeared to have mastered Verity, when he drove a halfvolley hard, and to the amazement of the crowd Hendren, at silly mid-off, threw up the ball after a brilliant low catch. 43—2—19. Verity Again Dismisses Bradman. Bradman somewhat uncertainly played out the rest of the over. Later he stepped out to hit Verity, and the pace from the pitch deceived Bradman, who skied the ball straight up, Ames taking the simplest catch. 57—3 —13. Verity continued to bowl finely, and Australia was 82 runs behind at tea, with seven wickets in hand to save an innings defeat.

Woodfull continued to bat confidently, but Darling was uneasy. Woodfull, however, was first to go, a ball spinning off his bat straight into the hands of Hammond in the gully. He had batted for 120 minutes, and* was sound and watchful. 94—4—43. Four More Men Go for One Run. Without addition to the score Darling (left-hand) was bowled with a ball which kept low. 94—5—10. Bromley (the other Victorian lefthander) made one, then jumping out to drive he failed to properly connect and was brilliantly caught. 95 —o—l.0—1. Oldfield was given out leg-before in the same over. 95—7 —0. Grimmett was caught by Hammond. 95—8—0. Three wickets had thus fallen without addition to the score, and Verity had taken four wickets for five runs since tea. The wicket was now worse than before lunch, owing to the hot sun. O'Reilly prevented Verity's hat-trick. Chipperfield was playing a good fighting innings, when a ball from Verity turned sharply from the leg and Chipperfield snicked it into the slips. 112—9— 14. Yorkshire Hero Acclaimed. O'Reilly fend Wall stubbornly hung on for a few overs, then Verity, getting Wall caught at silly point, appropriately ended the innings at 10 minutes to six. 118—10—1.

The police rushed out to escort the Englishmen to the pavilion, round which 10,000 people surged, rejoicing in the first English victory—by an innings and 38 runs—at Lord's since 1896. Scenes of tremendous enthusiasm were witnessed as Verity, who had taken 15 wickets for 104 runs in tho game, appeared on the balcony. Scores:— ENGLAND.—First Innings. Sutcliffe, lbw, b Chipperfield 20 Walters, c Bromley, b O'Reilly ..-.. 82 Hammond, c and b Chipperfield ..... 2 Hendren, c McCabe, b Wall 13 Wyatt, c Oldfleld, b Chipperfield .. 33 Leyland, b Wall 109 Ames, c Oldfieid, b McCabe 120 Geary, c Chipperfield, b Wall 9 Verity, st Oldfield, b Grimmett ... 29 Fames, b Wall 1 Bowes, not out 10 Extras 12 Total 440 Fall of Wickets.—One for 70, two for 78, three for 99, four for 130, five for 182, six for 311, seven for 359, eight for 409, nine for 410. BOWLING ANALYSIS. Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Wall 49 7 108 4 Chipperfield . 34 10 91 3 McCabe 18 3 38 1 O'Reilly 38 15 70 1 Grimmett .. 53.3 13 102 1 Darling .... 0 2 19 0 AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. • Woodfull, b Bowee 22 Brown, c Ames, b Bowes 105 Bradman, c and b Verity 36 McCabe, c Hammond, b Verity .... 34 Darling, c Suteliffe, b Verity 0 Chipperfield, not out 37 Bromley, c Geary, b Verity 4 Oldfield, c Sutcliffe, b Verity 23 Grimmett, b Bowes 9 O'Reilly, b Verity 4 Wall, lbw, b Verity 0 Extras 10 I Total 284 Fall of Wickets.—One for 68, two for 141, three for 203, four for 204, five for 205, six for 218, seven for 258, eight for 273, nine for 284. BOWLING ANALYSIS. Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. Verity 35.3 15 61 7 Bowes 31 5 98 3 Geary 22 4 56 — Fames 12 3 43 — Hammond ..4 1 6 Leyland .... 4 1 10 — Second Innings. Woodfull, c Hammond, b Verity .. 43 Brown, c Walters, b Bowes 2 McCabe, c Hendren, b Verity 19 Bradman, c Ames, b Verity 13 Darling, b Hammond io Chipperfield, c Geary, b Verity .. *, 14 Bromley, c and b Verity 1 Oldfield, Ibw, b Verity 0 Grimmett, c Hammond, b Verity .. 0 O'Reilly, not out 8 Wall, c Hendren, b Verity 1 Extras 7 Total 118 Fall of Wickets.—One for 10, two for 43, three for 57, four for 94, five for 94, six for 95, seven, for 95, eight for 95, nine for 112. BOWLING ANALYSIS. Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts, Verity 22.3 8 43 8 Bowes 14 4 14 1 Hammond . 13 — 38 1 Fames 4 2 6 0 England has now won 14 Tests by over an innings, to Australia's five victories by that margin.

LEG-THEORY PROBLEM. A DISCUSSION MOOTED. (Eeceived 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 25. Sir Stanley Jackson, questioned regarding a report that the Marylebone Club was contemplating a statement about fast leg-theory bowling, said that at the end of the season at some meeting like an Imperial Cricket Conference the question may be discussed and something happen. No rule can be made, but if some of the counties complain this might bring the matter to a head.