ENGLAND 256.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 9 December 1936, Page 20

ENGLAND 256.

CAPTAIN TOP SCORE. AUSTRALIA REQUIRES 381. riNGLETON OUT FIRST BALL. (By .T. B. HOBBS. Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) BRISBANE, December S. The first cricket Test between Australia and England was continued to-day in line weather, although rain was threatening toward the end of tile day. The wicket was in fairly good order, but it permitted the slow bowlers to secure a fair amount of spin. England, which had scored 358 in its first innings against Australia's total of 234. continued its second innings to-day with two wickets down for 75. The Englishmen, faced by the deadly slow bowling of the Australians, were forced to fight hard throughout, and the side was finally dismissed for 256. ___ This left Australia 381 to get to win. The Australian slow bowlers were great, Ward (six for 102) having a field day. It was only when their fingers got tired that thev'lost their nip. McCormiek, the fast bowler, was mucli missed. I know 3SI is bu,t a fleabite to Australian batsmen normally in a first innings, but, considering the way the wicket is wearing, I am of the opinion that they will find it too big a task, especially as they lost Fingleton with the first ball. He appealed against the light before receiving the ball, and then played one on from Voce. I hope rain does not come and spoil things and that we shall see the match played out on its merits. Australia fought back grandly, but England is in a stronger jiosition than last night. Complete Subjection. This see-saw Test swung Australia's way again in as exciting a pre-lunch period as yesterday when England got on top. Australia lost three wickets on Monday for 51, in 90 minutes. Today England also lost three wickets and scored two fewer runs (five men being out at lunch, with the second innings total at 124). . On both occasions good bowling was responsible. Bradman persisted with his slow bowlers, Chipperfield, Ward and O'Reilly. The only time -he put on a bowler 'of any pace was when he gave Sievers four overs, just before lunch, and those were maidens. O'Reilly „and Ward bore the brunt of the attack during this period. They kept a perfect length and looked deadly enough tcrbe capable of getting a wicket with any ball. Only four. fours were hit, the batsmen being under complete subjection. Fagg was the first to go; then Leyland stepped into the breach as he has often done lately by holding the . side together. Hamiiiond seldom played forward" because Ward was making the ball turn. Perhaps lie did not realise that he was being driven back on to his wicket as< much as lie was, for,, in tryings'to-cut a ball from Ward, he hit ,the top of his stumps. ■ 'TV _■ Ames fell a victim :to Sievers/ a medium-paced bowler, who sent down a really good ball. Bradman's Marvellous Catch. er caii ■ a Test have been more dourly fought. Had it liot been a Test we could liot have endured the slow cricket, but,', realising tSe. bitter battle .§■ staged. I- think all enjoyed it. - Similar conditions obtained after lunch. When lie had added fourteen Leyland was sensationally caught off Ward. He tried to hook a shortish one over the head of Bradman, ivlio was fielding deep at wide mid-on. Having sighted it, Bradmaji suddenly turned round and darted off like a flash to make a catcli, while running at full tilt, with his hands over his head and his back to the wicket. Levland's was a useful 33, but six for 144 was not nearly enough to please me. •

The crux of the match probably came in the period between lunch and tea. Thanks to a seventli-wicket stand of 01 by Hardstaff and Allen things turned England's way again. Hardstaff took an hour to reach 10. Upon getting to 20 he left his crease, played forward and was stumped. During this partnership with the English captain Ward went.. off after bowling continuously for two and,a half hours, .20 overs, nine, maidens, 'for 40 runs and three wickets. When he. returned he got Hardstaff in his first over. : - Tactics and a Fine Effort. Alien raised himself in the batting ' order so as to be fresher for bowling. He batted so stubbornly that it may have the opposite Allen's effort raised him in public esteem, as it was a truly magnificent effort, enhanced by the fact that he came in just before lunch in a. crisis with five do'W'ri for 122. He was still there at tea, with 41 to his credit, including six fours. He hit nothing except the bad "ones. I said the slow bowlers would" come into.-their own, and Ward has done so, but so far O'Reilly had not got a wicket, an amazing circumstance. Nor did he meet with any success later. O'Reilly twice beat Allen and almost bowled him, typifying the bowler's bad' luck in this innings A storm was brewing with clouds and distant thunder as the ninth wicket stand laboriously added a valuable 42. At 244 Bradman .had put on McCabe and Sievers with a new ball, the Australian captain being in a quandary. In Sievers' second over Verity went leg before. . Allen was eventually caught as in the first innings. Fingleton, running from mid-off behind the bowler, made a good catch, to give Sievers his third wicket (for 29 runs). Allen hit eiglit fours anil scored most of his runs on the leg side. Scores: — ■

ENGLAND. First Innings. \ Worthington, . c Oldfield, b McCotmick 0 Barnett, c Oldfield, b O'Reilly .... 69 Fagg, ! c Oldfield, b McCormick'. 4 Hammond, c Robinson, b McCormick 0 Leyland, b Ward 120 Aid<ss,-'c'-Chipperfield, b Ward . .. ' 24 Staff ' c McCabe, b O'Reilly ... 43 AIW , - C J ub > b O'Reilly 38 Verily 0 c M^P ahe > O'Reilly 35 • ' b O'Reilly 7 4 Total .... 1 Fall of 358 2p, three iov for °' two for 102, six for 252, ?f Ve for 311, nine for 343. eight for

Bowling. O. M. R. W. O'Reilly 40.0 13 102 5 McCorinick S 1 26 3 Ward ...:.. 36 2 138 2 Sievers 16 5 42 — Chipperfield .11 3 32 — McCabe .... 2 — 10 — Second Innings. Worthington, st Oldfield,. b McCabe 8 Barnett, c Badcock, b Ward 27 Fagg, st Oldticld, b Ward 27 Hammond, hit wicket, b Ward .... 25 Leyland, c Bradman, b Ward 33 Ames, b Sievers .'.... 9 Allen, c Fingleton, b Sievers 68 Hardstaff, st Oldfield, b Ward .... 20 Robins, c Chipperfield, b Ward .... 0 Verity, lbw, b Sievers 19 Voce, not out 6 Extras 15 Total 256 Fall of wickets.—One for 17, two for 50, three for 82, four for 105. five for 122, six for 144, seven for 205, eight for 205, nine for 247. Bowling. O. 51. E. W. Ward 46 16 102 6 Sievers 19.6 9 29 3 McCabe 6 1 14 1 O'Reilly 35 15 59 0 Chipperfielri .10 2 37 0 AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Fingleton, b Verity 100 Badcock, b Allen 8 Bradman, c Worthington, b Voce . . 38 McCabe, c Barnett, b Voce 51 Robinson, c Hammond, b Voce .... 2 Chipperfield. c Ames, b Voce 7 Sievers, b Allen 8 Oldfield, c Ames, b Voce 6 O'Rcillv. c Levland, b Voce 3 Ward, V Hardstaff, b Allen 0 McCormiek, not out 1 Extras 10 Total 234 Fall of wickets. —One for 13, two for 89, three for 166, four for 176, five for 202, six for 220. seven for 229, eight for 231, nine for 231. Bowling. O. ~ M. R. W. Voce, 20.6 5 41 6 Allen 16 2 71 3 Verity 28 11 52 1 Robins ..... 17 — 48 — Hammond 4 — 12 — Second Innings. Fingleton, b Voce 9 Badcock, not out 0 Sievers, not out 2 Extras •• • 1 Total for one wicket :.. 3