M.C.C. FAILURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 286, 2 December 1936, Page 21

M.C.C. FAILURE.

AGAINST COMBINED TEAM. BRILLIANCE OF BADCOCK s LEYLAND SAVES ENGLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 27. When the Board of Control announced the selection of an Australian eleven to meet Allen's team 011 the Sydney Cricket Ground last week, most of our critics confessed themselves completely mystified. There was nothing wrong with the batting strength, for the team contained veterans as well as a large proportion of our younger stars who are forging their way to the front just now in large numbers. But where were the bowlers? And when one found that Ebeling, and possibly Wriito were the only stock bowlers included, with Ryan. Gregory and Chipperfield as "changes," the general impression was that "the Englishmen will have a picnic at last." The Board of Control, however, was so perturbed by the comments offered on its team that it went out of its way to explain that it knew all about Australia s bowlers, b?it it wanted to "try out several of the junior batsmen for the coming Tests, and with this rather shame-faced apology we had to be content. That Inferiority Complex. But before the first day's play was over we realised that we might have spared ourselves any undue anxiety. J lie .englishmen batted first on a good true wicket and when stumps were drawn they had five wickets down for 2/9. 1 agg did something to redeem his fame with a 49 Ames, recovered from his ailments. bktted vigorously for 76, and the invaluable Leyland was 79 not out at the end of the day, with Robins, his captain, who had contributed a dashing though T-Ul-v 44 But Worthmgton did_ little, Ward staff and Fishlock failed again and Q feeble way in. "which most of the team

shaped at Gregory's slows and Chipperfield's spins showed that the team as a whole has not got over its inferiority complex yet. But next day there was far worse to come. The wicket was still good, though a cold, gusty wind was blowing, but when Chipperfield, who had taken lour wickets for 57 the night before, came on again the Englishmen simply collapsed. The remaining five wickets fell with the addition of 14 runs to the score and England went out for the poor total 9f 288. Chipperfield took four wickets for 0 runs, bringing his record' for the match .to eight for (56. Though Chipperfield is a good change bowler—his skill has never been properly appreciated here —lie could hardly claim that his devastating success is due entirely to his own prowess." The truth is that the Englishmen cannot play "spinners," and several of the team, in spite of a well-earned reputation at Home, were "out before they went in" last Saturday. Badcock Comss to Light. It was now Australia's turn and our men made a good start- Einglelon batted with a line combination 01 vigour anu skill for 56, tailing to Verity low —the third time that he _ has experienced this unfortunate fate this season. Brown at the end of the day was tKi not out, but lie batted weakly and stodgily and seemed quite unlike his usually brilliant self. "The gieat Don 30,01)0 people faced a bitter wind and a bleak day to watch him— began a little streakily, then hit brilliantly making 63 and was bowled by \\ orthington with a ball that he tried to slog "into the next rating area.' •baclcocK, the young Tasmanian, shaped well for _0 not out, and was evidently ready for-" a score next day. Two wickets only had fallen for 221 on Saturday evening, but Arthur Mailey, who is always worth reading, was careful to point out, in the "Telegraph" that the English bowlers—Fames and Voce, Verity, Kobins and Worthington—were never "collared," and that Verity gave all our men, including Bradman, some most uneasy moments. But on Monday the Australians proceeded to knock up 544 for eight' wickets, of which total Badcock made 182. Young Robinson, who has still a good chance for the Tests, scored the liated "duck," and Chipperfield (39 J, Tallon (31) and Kyan (40 not out) all batted vigorously and well. Naturally with over 250 runs in hand, Bradman decided to go for a win and let the Englishmen see what they could do on the last day of the match. M.C.C. Stick It Out. With 257 to make to "save the innings," the Englishmen started badly once more. Worthington, who has proved, himself one of their best opening batsmen, was stumped by Tallon, who "kept" brilliantly, for 28, but Fishlock, Eagg and Hardstulf failed, again. Ames, after batting well, was bowled by Gregory with a half-volley, and Robins, with 35, was the only other, man who showed any confidence or batting ability. The seventh wicket fell at 5.15 for 213, and 43 runs were still needed, in three-quarters of an hour to save defeat. Verity made 2 and Farnes 1, and when Voce came in at 5.27 .the only remaining Englishman was " Duckworth, nursing his second broken finger, in the pavilion. All this time Leyland, restraining his natural tendency to hit, was batting confidently and courageously, and he inspired his comrade Voce with something of his own determination, with the result that, in spite of accurate bowling and smart fielding, at six o'clock the itwo Englishmen were still unconquered, and with the score at eight wickets for 245 they had saved the innings defeat by 11 runs.

Of course, except in a purely technical sense, the Englishmen were badly beaten, and except lor Leyland, Ames and Robins, they had tbeen outplayed from start to finish. Leyland, with 80 and 11S not out, was the hero of the match, and certainly no praise can be too high for his courage, his resourcefulness and the good judgment with which he combined stout defencc with attacking (power whenever hitting was possible. Uut on the whole it was a most disastrous match for England., and the inability of most of the English bats to play slow "spinners" must inevitably mean disaster for tliem in the lests, unless they can benefit by experience, or thenown bowlers find wickets better suited to the methods that they have employed with succesg against us before.