POLITE INACTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 9 December 1936, Page 8

POLITE INACTION.

ENGLISH BATTING. MACARTNEY'S CRITICISM. RECORD FEAT BY OLDTIELD. (Received 11 a.m.) * SYDNEY, this day. Commenting on the lest cricket match at Brisbane, the Sydney "Morning Herald's" cricket writer says: "Australia, faced with the task of making 381 runs in the fourth innings ,to win, suffered a crushing blow in the last 10 minutes of play yesterday, when Fin<deton —after unsuccessfully appealing°against the light—played the first ball on to his wicket. "Six appeals against the light were made before stumps were drawn at 5.55 in the middle of an over. . ; "At midnight light, steady rain was falling, but nothing definite about the state of the wicket could be_ known until late on Wednesday ' morning." C. G. Macartney, in the "Herald," states: "England.looks potential winner of this Test, and except for unattractive batting yesterday (Allen excepted) has out-played Australia. The' loss of Fingleton's wicket did not impi o\e matters, and, while I am optimistic enough to expect something immense from" Bradman and McCabe, Australia will find difficulty in winning. "At one period yesterday it appeared that England's policy of defence would be fatal, as runs were scarce and wickets were falling with disastrous regularity. Allen's meritorious., innings dispelled danger, and at the end of the day England was in a strong position. If rain falls heavily Australia will be in a hopeless position. "England's policy may yet prove wrong; for, if only enough rain falls to bind the pitch, the big task set Australia in the fourth innings may be considerably reduced. The M.C.C. policy of wearing down the Australian bowling by patience and defence was unattractive. Such reputable rungetters as Hammond, Ames, Leyland and Hardstaff were seldom seen in quest of runs, and their polite inaction cost them their wickets for modest contributions. This policy was pursued throughout the day. Allen was the only one who displayed any degree of enterprise. "It must be admitted that the limited bowling attack had suffered greatly from earlier defence on a trying day. The absence of McCormick was a heavy blow. There was a definite improvement in Ward's work. O'Reilly did not reveal the real venom expected of him. Sievers supplied inexpensive relief, and rendered valuable assistance by securing three wickets. "Australia's fielding was good. Two running catches by Bradman and Fingleton will be numbered among the great feats of Test cricket." Arthur Maiiey, in the "Daily Telegraph" declares: "Australia faces an extremely difficult task. Our big hope is Bradman, and in a lesser degree McCabe." V. Y. Richardson (Australian captain in South Africa last summer), broadcasting, said: "Only a miracle batting effort can bring victory to Australia." A. E. R. Gilligan (captain of the M.C.C. team in Australia "in 1924-25), broadcasting, expressed the opinion that the appeal against the light when the Australians went in was justified. W. A. S. Oldfield has now dismissed 85 batsmen in Anglo-Australian Tests, [ breaking the Englishman A. A. Lilley's record.

"Bert" Oldfield's victims 'were 30 stumped and 55 caught. Arthur Lilley's figures: 19 stumped, 65 caught. Reckoning Tests against South Africa and-West Indies, Oklfield has accounted for 125 wickets behind the stumps. He has scorgd in 34 Anglo Australian Tests 1043 runs, at an average of 25.45 (54 innings, 13 times unbeaten). He is the only wicket-keeper to reach four figures with the bat. Lillev in 32 games aggregated 801 runs, at 20 an innings; while the greatest 'keeper of all (he was captain of the 1593 team in England), J. M. Blackham, was also a fine batsman, and had opened for Australia. He scored

SOO runs in 35 matches, average 16.5S per innings.