HOBBS ON BADCOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 253, 24 October 1936, Page 17

HOBBS ON BADCOCK.

NO SIGNS OF NERVOUSNESS. LANCASTRIAN" TACKLES VERITY. (By J. B. HOBBS. Coprlglit in all countries. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) PERTH, October 23. Badcock, the young Tasmanian, who now plays for South. Australia, and Hoi-rocks, the Lancashire-born West Australian representative, collared the English bowling this afternoon when the conditions were ideal. _ What everyone wants to hear about in view of the coming Teste is Badcock, what kind of a player he is and how he scored his cfentury. He is short and stocky, only 22 years old, and stands very upright at the wicket. He gave a very good display and was exceptionally strong on the leg side. One so young cannot be expected to have all the shots and no faults. I did not see liim play genuinely forward throughout his innings. Even to a well pitched-up ball, Badcock never gets the left shoulder and the left leg over and plays the ball to extra cover. In fact, on a few occasions lie played the ball straight 'back. It was done off the right foot. He did not use the cut. Instead he elected to pull the ball, often well in front of the wicket. He has accomplished no mean feat. He was twice missed, when he was 13 and 35, in the slips, off Voce. There will always be a tendency for Badcock to fall there unless he can put that stroke right by playing forward with his left leg- well over to the ball. He approached his 100 showing no signs of nervousness. At 96 he forced Allen past cover. There was much excitement as three were run. Then, to prove how cool he was, Badcock played a maiden over from Verity. Facing Allen he made a great hook shot for four. He could not hook Verity, who held him tight, and I think he will always do' so. "Early in his innings Fingleton was hiton the body by Voce. No-body questioned the fairness of the delivery. Soon after he was bowled by one which kept low. Two Sixes off Verity. Horrocks defended well and was content to play second fiddle to BadcOck fir a 6tart.' Later he took the initiative and scored as fast as his partner. He did much more driving than Badcock and hit Verity for two sixes. At the start of the day English wickets fell quickly. I must sympathise with Fishlock for failing to get his century. He had a nice bit of practice. The last wicket stand of 70 in 45 minutes gave the crowd pleasure. Allen gave an excellent display.. Copson backed up by Allen was particularly severe on Grimmett, scoring 17 off one over. Perhaps Voce looked the best of England's bowlers. Although Copson on a few occasions got the ball past the bat-it was not his lucky day. Fagg kept wicket well, though he had hurt a thumb when batting yesterday.