IN FORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 17

IN FORM.

ENGLISH BATSMEN. TWO CENTURIES MADE. BIG SCORE BY BARNETT. (By ,T. B. HOBBS. Copyright in all countries Reproduction in whole or iu part forbidden.) BRISBANE, November 30. Following the English team's disappointing form in the - first innings against Queensland, a tonic was received this afternoon, when Barnett and Fagg engaged in a record-breaking stand, Barnett making the highest score in his career. Fagg made his first century for ithe tour and received excellent practice. Barnett and Fagg created a record for any wicket of England against Queensland, scoring 295 for the first wicket? What a different tale it is from those I have regretfully had to send of late. Arthur Gilligan arrived to-day and vows he brought the team luck. Fagg played very freely at first, but after reaching the forties lie went very deliberately. Barnett has been showing brilliant flashes of form, but this was his best display of the season. He early exceeded his other century at Melbourne and was at 123 when he sent up the total of 200 in a burst that took 18 off an over from Amos. In that outburst, however, he was missed ten yards from the boundary off a hook shot. The ball flashed high and hard and went through the fieldsman's hands to the fence. This was the first chance ho had given all day. England was more on top of the bowling than in any other match of this tour. The confident way both batsmen hooked the faster bowlers suggested that the wicket was easy in pace. Fagg's Bad Luck Broken. Quite early I sensed that Fagg's luck had changed, for he made a good hook that went over square-leg's head and would surely have been snapped up a week ago. • Last week I remarked that he was getting out to good strokes, but the ball seemed always to go straight to a fieldsman.

In view of England's (previous inability to play against the slow bowling I thought that Oxenham should have put Allen on before the last over prior to lunch. Allen did not bowl until the total had reached 125. After lunch the batsmen were 6et and hit him. He tried again for one oyer before tea and had Fagg caught at silly mid-ofT. It would have done Kent cricketers good to hear the ovation Fagg received on reaching his century.' It was equal to any he coukl have had in his home county. The crowd, sensing his run of bad luck, cheered him on from the start. Fourth 50 Made in 22 Minutes. Barnett had made 181 at that point and had been .batting heartily. He was missed again twice after passing 150 t but he was then batting almost recklessly. His fourth 50 took only 22 minutes and was one of the fastest ever made on the ground. I should have liked to see Barnett deliberately go out after reaching 200, because the batting practice for the others would have been of more advantage to the side than more runs Trom him. Even with Fishlock at the end Barnett had most of the bowling. Eventually he was caught at the boundary after hitting 259 out of 401, including two sixes and 39 fours. His last 50 was scored in 40 minutes. , r ~ The batting order was changed tor the purposes of practice. lam afraid Hardstaff is out of the first Test match, as lie is in such a state of mind now that lie cannot put his foot right. Fishlock is improving, but I do not like him too well yet. He is still nervous, but when-ho does hit lie hits hard. He gayo a sharp chance at gully when lie had made six runs. Details of the scores are:— ENGLAND. First innings *.:. — ENGLAND. Second Innings. Fagg, c Browni b Allen WBarnett, c Brown, b Amos Fishlock. not out Hardstaff, c and b Allen Ames, not out Extras Total for three wickets ........... 453 Bowling: Dickson took no wickets toi 101 Cotkbuin none for 44. Oxenham none for 51. Amos one for 74, Wyetl, none lor 73, Allen two for 103. QUEENSLAND. „ . . 243 First innings BANK TEAM DEFEATED. MATCH AGAINST TE KAI'AHI. The cricket match played between Associated Banks and Mr. E. s Katalii eleven yesterdayjiebi ltcd in a fur tp Katalii on the innni»«>. Te Katalii scored 3U7 and Associated Banks replied with and, tollowiug on, lost two wickets for 51. Scores : — TE RATAHI. First innings 3 " 7 ASSOCIATED BANKS. —First Innings. Dixon, lbw, b Going ••••■;.•„' r i Wliitelaw, c Dunning, b W llks fllook, c Skeet, b Going " •Smith, lbw, b Going Ferguson, c Cooper, b Langton ' Vivian, c Skeet, b Langton - Stehr, c Sale, b Langton " Bagnall. b Going Ilalely, b Byerley r 1 Smith, not out f. Going, b Byerley " Extras J _ Total Bowling: Going took four wickets for 10 runs, Sale none lor 1-, Hewitt none for (J, Vlpond none for 0, Langton three l'or Dunning none for 24, Byerley two for 1, Wilks one for (J. Second Innings. Hook, not out Vivian, c Dunning, b Wilks 17 Dixon, b Byerley 7 Total for two wickets 51 I

Bowling : Byerley took one wicket for 31 runs, AVilks one for 14, Cooper none for

DROOPING TAILS. LIFTED AT BRISBANE. (Received. 10 a.m.) LONDON, November 30. Drooping tails have been lifted up by tli4 M.C.C. team's bits score at Brisbane, judging by the evening papers and street posters. The "Evening News" critic says: "At last we have our opening pair, whatever are the merits of the Queensland bowling. This big score will perhaps inspire great things for the first Test." HAWKE CUP GAME. MATAMATA NOMINATIONS. The Piako Cricket Association selectors have nominated B. Smith, of the T.T.T. (Putaruru) Club for selection in title South Auckland cricket team which is to play North Auckland in an elimination game tor the Hawke Cup. Batting well this season, his average is 73. His scores have, been 51, 92. 58, not out. '20. He is a good fielder, and 'affair change bowler. His was the only glako- name sent forward. WHANGAREI TEAM. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WIIAXGAREI, Monday. The following team lias been selected to represent the AVharigaref Cricket Association in the DargavillerShield: match to be played next Saturday against Rodney at Matakaua:—U. L, Weir (captain), W. Flower, H. Masters. G. Smith, D. McKay, R. J. Dunn, E. Collins, N. Williams, Fyfe, J. Burch, Cole. Twelfth man: J. Morton.