THE FIRST TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 141, 17 June 1935, Page 14

THE FIRST TEST.

ENGLAND 384 FOR SEVEN. AFRICAN EXPRESS OMITTED. WYATT FOUR HOURS FOR CENTURY. LONDON, June 16. ' The first cricket Test match England v. South Africa was begun on Saturday at Trent .Bridge, Nottingham. There were 12,123 spectators. The following represented England:— R. E. S. Wyatt (captain), R. W. V. Robins, N. 8. Mitchell-limes, H. Sutclilfe, M. Leyland, H. Verity, W. E. Bowes, W. R. Hammond, L. E. G. .Ames, M. S. Nichols (Essex), J. Iddon (Lancashire), with J. fiardstaff (Notts) as twelfth man. The visitors' omission of Bell, who is regarded as their most dangerous bowler, was surprising. Possibly the captain, Wade, was gambling on the weather, and relying on his spin bowlers. England won the toss and batted first. Wyatt, who opened with Sutcliffe, was not impressive. He was persistently on the defensive and was dropped by Tomlinson before he had scored. Sutcliffe was more enterprising. The pitch did not help the South Africans, but Langton and Vincent kept down the rate of scoring. Sutcliffe played a fine innings for 61 and hit one six and five fours. Hammond was nearly knocked out by one of Crisp's deliveries, which bumped. Runs came more freely after luncheon. Vincent replaced Langton and dismissed Hammond, who mistimed the ball. The second wicket had put on 52. Mitchell-Innes was the third leg victim in succession. Three wickets were then down for 179. Forty-year Record Broken. Leyland, realising that England was approaching a safe position, batted vigorously, but the crowd resented Wyatt's slowness. He reached his century after four hours' batting. Crisp left the field and did not return after tea, Dalton playing as substitute. Wyatt hit more freely at this stage. After batting 290 minutes for 149, he was caught at short square leg. He had hit nine fours. The fourth wicket had put on 139, beating England's 40 years' old fourth wicket record of 122 against South Africa, which Tom Hayward and A. J. L. Hill established at Johannesburg. Leyland was trapped at first slip seven runs later He had batted flawlessly for his 69 runs. He was in 110 minutes and hit five boundaries. Crisp had a sore heel and was absent for two hours. This greatly handicapped the South Africans' chances. The fielding was brilliant all day and Cameron's wicket-keeping was splendid. Score:— ENGLAND.—First Innings. Sutcliffe, lbw, b Langton 61 Wyatt, c Wade, b Crisp 149 Hammond, lbw, b Vincent 28 Leyland, c Mitchell, b Crisp 69 Mitchell-Innes, lbw, b Mitchell 5 Ames, c Viljoen, b Vincent 17 Iddon, c Rowan, b Vincent 29 Nichols, not out 13 Extras 13 Total for seven wickets .• 384 Bowling: Vincent took three wickets for 101, Crisp two for 49, Mitchell one for 66, Langton one for 117, Tomlinson none for 38.