BRADMAN'S LUCK CHANGES

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 13

BRADMAN'S LUCK CHANGES

194 FOR FIVE. STRONG POSITION. AUSTRALIA 318 AHEAD. CAPTAIN'* HALF-CENTURY. FINE STAND WITH FINGLETON. (By J. B. HOBBS—Copyright In all countries. ' rodu ction in whole or in part forbidden.) MELBOURNE, January 4. Australia held ita advantage in the third day s play of the third cricEet Test match to-day. At the conclusion of the second day s play Australia was in a sound position after scoring 200 for nine wickets declared, and three for one wicket, to England's 76 for nine wickets declared. The decision of Bradman in sending his "tail-enders" in near the close of play on the second day was fully justified by results to-day. Ward played a good innings for 18, and in spite of the cheap dismissal of Brown, Bradman, 56 not out, and Fingleton, 30 not out, were batting confidently at stumps. Australia in its second innings has lost five wickets for 194, giving it a lead of 318 runs with five wickets in hand. Rain again interfered with play find the bowlers had to contend with a wet tall in the latter stages. Bradman, -who has failed in Test matches to date (except for his 82 in the second innings at Sydney), gave a glimpse of his best form, and had the bowlers troubled. With some of its leading batsmen to follow Australia at the present stage is in a very strong position. Amazing Attendance. The attendance was 87,798, the •gate takings being £7405. This is a new world's record, surprisingly beating the New Year's Day figures. All Melbourne, or, rather, all Australia, was wondering how the wicket was going to play to-day. I was one of those intensely curious. Another huge crowd assembled. I thought that with all Saturday's rain and the absence of 6un yesterday the •wicket would not have a chance to dry, but a persistent wind did the trick. Also .the extra 10 minutes' rolling allowed on Sunday helped. The first ball got up, but no others rose above the .batsmen's thighs. The blows they received were due chiefly to their refusal to take the risk of putting the bat to the ball. Fleetwood-Smith went quickly, never shaping like getting runs. Ward was badly missed at second slip by Sims off the second ball of Voce's second over. This lost England half sn hour, the bowlers having to waste some good deliveries on Ward that might have captured better batsmen. Ward stayed while 38 runs were ■cored. Rigg Justifies Inclusion. Rigg meanwhile had started playing the ball in the middle of the bat. He and Brown stayed until the luncheon adjournment. . "ir ' The only time England looked like getting- a wicket during that period was _wheji Brown a rising ball between

first and 8 second slip.The wicket zradually improved at . toe interval. Although it was on the-alow side it looked quite good. I then law little prospect of dismissing Australia for a email store. The batsmen started after the adjournment with confidence. Only 12, however, weraadded before Brown was caught through hooking Voce straight into Barnett's hands at square-leg. The Australian batsmen cannot resist the hook •hot. ■ - • ■ --v • Rigg executed an elegant oover-drove early that would have been an easy four, hiitjjbr the SloW' outfield and smart chasing ' . ' # Robins. I am told that Rigg is not usually a good starter, but he got away well enough C -to-day, and looks a fine player. I parvticularly like the free use of his amis and wrists. He wa» dismissed .under the new leg-before rule by, Sinn when 47. I was sorry to "see him miss the nalrcentury, but must say that Sims earned the wicket, because in the previous over he had completely--beaten the batsman with a "googly" that went for three byes. Voce v. Bradman. England'* fielding, at thii stage was brilliant, Robins and Worthmgton putting in much good work. The running between the wickets of Fingleton and Bradman was smart and the play sparkled. „ Voce, bowling with all Ws heftrt, was eager to dismiss Bradman. England sensed that with another couple of wickets :t would be in the running again. A vivi.i flash of lightning eatiSe&a murmur from the crowd* which umbrella* 01 covered its heads rain fell. Twice the players started tt> leave,the •" field, but got recalled. Five minutes ftter they had to retire fw . of en _ hour. For the first?,-time in.* Test match this season we caught a-glimpse of the real fcradmam" In- Voce's fi»t oyer resumption he hooked apd boundary and sent threepast extra He hit two off a no-ball, scoring 13 off the over.

Bradman hit Allen's first ball for three, adding 16 off nine balls, when the plavei-a ajrain had to scamper to the pavilion. ? , ~ ere then had to contend with a wet ball. Australia Destined To Win. Conditions favoured Australia again | to-day. _ It appears destined to win this game, for every turn of the weather eeeme to its advantage. England had the advantage in the first two Teste, so it cannot complain. Rain came again just as the game began to get interesting. Conditions were all against the fielding side, and Bradman took full advantage of the wet ball. Bradman and Rigg provided the highlights, the tormer playing in something like his best torm, although lie did not show his offdrive. Rigg I have already praised, and he should easily secure a place in the remaining Tests. Voce again bowled well, beating ths bat many times. Sims looked particularly good for one spell, when he kept dropping them right on the spot. ° . rf 4 tll( ? close of play the weather was very unsettled. Whichever way I look u a 1 am im P, re *?ed that England i« in a bad way, and only a miracle can save w«iv» i Unk T the " vvntln « 'TO* on the th „ • n xi 1 ® moment Bradman spun the coin on Inday iriorning. \ During the last 50 minutes to-day the ball was like a bit of soap, the bowlers delivery! 0 * to "' el before nead y every AUSTRALIA— First Innings. Fingleton, c Sims, b Robins 38 Brown, e Ames, b Voce . 1 Bradman, c Robins, b Verity 13 JV*®' c erity, b Allen 16 McCabe, c Worthington, b Haitamond 63 Darling, c Allen, b Verity oa 5Vi e i\? r . B .' st -^ mes > 1j Robins .. "i Uldheld, not out ' " o~ OReilly, c Sims, b Hammond !! 4 Ward, st Ames, b Voce ♦ 7 Extras jq Total for nine wickets declared 200 Fall of wickets: One for 7, two for 33, three for 69, four for 79, five for 122, six for 130, seven for 183, eight for 190, nine lor 200, BOWLING. _ O. M. R. W. Hammond 5.3 — 16 2 Verity 14 4 24 2 Voce 18 3 49 2 Robins 7 — 31 2 Allen 12 2 35 1 Sims 9 1 35 — Second Innings. O'Reilly, b Voce 0 Fleetwood-Smith, c Verity, b Voce .. 0 Ward, c Hardstaff, b Verity 18 Rigg, lbw (n.r.), b Sims 47 Brown, c Barnett, b Voce 20 Fingleton, not out 39 Bradman, not out .". 56 Extras 14 Total for five wickets 194 Fall of wickets: One for 1, two for 3, three for 38, four for 74, live for 97. BOWLING. O. M. R. W. Voce 17 2 66 3 Verity 8 1 15> — Sims 8 — 33 1 : Hammond 8 1 22 — Allen 7 1 23 — Robins 2 — 8 — Worthington ... 3 — 13 — ENGLAND—First Innings. Worthington, c Bradman, b McCabe . 0 Barnett, c .Darling, b Sievers 11 Hammond, \c Darling, b Sievers 32 Leyland, c Darling, b O'Reilly ! 17 Sims, c Brown, b Sievers 3 Ames, b Sievers 3 Robing, c O'Reilly, b Sievers 0 Hardstaff, b O'Reilly 3 Allen r , not out .. 0 Verity, c Brown, b O'Reilly i '. 0 Voce, not out 0 Extras 7 Total for nine wickets declared . 76 Fall of wickets: One for none, two for 14, three for 56, four for 68, five for 71, six for 71, seven for 76, eight for 76, nine for 76. BOWLING. O. M. R. W. Sievers 11.2 5 21 5 O'Reilly 12 5 28 3 McCabe 2 1 7 1 Fleetwood-Smith, 3 1 13 —