HAMMOND AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 252, 23 October 1936, Page 12

HAMMOND AGAIN.

ANOTHER CENTURY. M.C.C. V. AUSTRALIAN XI. ENGLISHMEN SCORE 420 FOR SIX. PERTH, October 22. The English cricketers to-day began a three days' match —the second of the tour —against a combined team at Perth. The sides are;— England.—Allen (captain), Hammond, Verity, Fishlock, Hardstaff, Worthington, Copson. Fagg,- Barnett, Wyatt and Voce. Combined Team.—McCabe (captain), Fingleton (New South Wales), Badcock, Grimmett (South Australia), Alexander (Victoria), Bryant. Horrocks, Lovclock, Shea, Zimbulis and Wilberforce (West Australia), with Newman (West Australia) as twelfth man. The visitors won the toss and batted and when stumps were drawn had made 420 runs for six wickets. Scores:— ENGLAND.—First Innings. Wyatt, Ibw, b Grimmett 27 Fagg, b Halcombe 35 Hammond, c Wilberforce. b Zimbulis 107 Worthington, c and b McCabe 89 Fishlock, not out 91 Hardstaff, c and b Zimbulis 11 Barnett, c McCabe, b Wilberforce ... 24 Allen, not out 8 Extras 28 Total for six wickets 420 Bowling: Zimbulis took two wickets for 107, McCabe one for 33, Wilberforce one for 49; Grimmett one for 98, Halcombe one for 105. COMMENT BY HOBBS. HAMMOND'S GREAT KNOCK. (By .T. P>. Hobhs, Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or part forbidden.) PERTH, October 22. Sunny weather and a splendid wicket favoured England in the match against the combined team to-day. The feature of the day's cricket, and one which gave satisfaction alike to the Englishmen and the Australians, was Hammond's magnificent innings of 107. Even though the bowling must be considered among the weakest that will be encountered in State games it proved Hammond to be in his best form. Two hundreds in succession make a very encouraging start even to the best players. Hammond was in a care-free mood end treated all the bowlers except Grimmett in cavalier fashion. Although there was no high hitting until Zimbulis came on to bowl and Hammond was getting near his century, he played Grimmett on his merits. Apart from hitting to leg, the only siio! Hammond employed against the slow bowler was a forcing back shot. He got several fours in this manner. He hit ■three sixes, all off Zimbulis, the second taking him from 94 to 100. He took another one off the next ball, which should have been a catch, but Fingleton, at longoff, after appearing to judge the ball perfectly, let it drop out of his hand and it fell over the boundary line, which was half a dozen yards from the fence. Fagg had his first innings in Australia. It was a mixture, and I should hardly say he "as settled down yet. He has not 3et got the pace. Another fine innings was Worthington's 89. I think everyone was sorry to see him miss his century. As a matter of fact, he was going so well we were surprised he did not get it. He had just hit some beautiful fours through the covers, which is a sure sign of a batsman beiu£ i'l form, when he played a half forcing shot to McCabe to be easily caught and bowled. Grimmett did not unduly trouble the batsmen although it appeared that lie was fighting the ball and changing his pace in his old familiar way.