BARNETT SHINES IN FOURTH TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 7

BARNETT SHINES IN FOURTH TEST.

ENGLAND 174 FOR TWO.

Chipperfield Unbeaten When Australia All Out 288.

O'REILLY KEEPS M.C.C. QUIET.

(By J. H. HOBBS.—Copyrislit in all countries. Reproduction in w'-ole «.>r in part forbidden.)

(Received 10 a.m.) ADELAIDE, this dav

The fourth cricket Test match ' between England and Australia was continued on Saturday, when Australia was dismissed for 288 runs in its first innings. England replied with 174 for two wickets. On Friday Australia scored 2(i" for seven wickets. Only 195 runs were made all day on Saturday. Weather conditions were again perfect for the resumption. The attendance was 33,000, and the gate takings were approximately £3070. England again placed itself in a strong position. It was slow play judged I l>y the clock, but I found the battle I interesting. I should have preferred to i <ee runs coming more freely, so that England would have finished the day near Australia's total. O'Reilly's Classic Feat. The bowling of O'Reilly was the high spot of the day, closely followed by Barnett's great fighting innings. Fingleton's fielding was brilliant. That dropped catch by McCormick meant such a lot. Australia fought hard and kept England tight, but I think after two days' play that England is slightly on top— even allowing that there will be no rain, and remembering that it will be fourth at the wicket. England in 40 minutes captured Australia's remaining wickets, Chipperfield carrying his bat for an extremely valuable 57. He refused to take many singles, but I doubt whether the policy paid, as he scored only 12 more rune. Two hundred and eighty-eight was by no means the total Australia expected. or should have obtained. Xevertheless. England wants 150 runs more than Australia.

Verity or Wyatt? N Everyone was surprised to see , Verity « inarch out to open with Barnett. His c mission was to stay there, and he did it. I doubted the wisdom of putting him in o first. On this wicket it would have v been safe for Wyatt to open. Ido not „ think McCormiek would have troubled J him. Still, once more, Allen's unorthodox. v but inspired move, came off, for the new •■ pair exceeded the highest first-wicket ] partnership of the series by either coun- < try. Barnett has been one of the sue- , cesses of the tour, playing well throughout, and proving a reliable opening batsman. Inspired Bowling. O'Reilly bowled like one inspired. His perfect lenpth amazed me and the batsmen looked, in vain for a loose ball. Fleetwood-Smith, too, had a good spell. The cricket was drearily slow before tea, but one had to give full credit to . the bowlers, who stuck to their work well on a hot afternoon. The same ' might be said of Barnett. In the terrific heat it needed great resolution to maintain full concentration. It was enough to break the fast bowler's heart, and it made me wonder how England got Australia out so cheaply*. Perhaps it was because its' fielding was superior, and that it allowed nothing to escape, while Australia missed two chances. Scores: — AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Fingleton, run out 10 Brown, c Allen, b Fames 42 Rigg, c Ames, b Fames 20 Bradman, b Allen 26 McCabe, c Allen, b Robins 88 Gregory, lbw, l> Hammond 23 Oldfield. run out 5 Chipperfield, not out 57 O'Reilly, c Ley land, b Allen 7 McCormiek, c Ames, b Hammond . 4 Fleetwood-Smith, b Fames 1 Extras 5 Total 288 BOWLING. O. M. R. W. Fames 20 6 71 3 Hammond 6 — 30 2 Allen 16 — 60 2 Robins 7 1 20 1 .Verity 12 4 47 — Voce 12 — 49 — ENGLAND.—First Innings. Barnett. not out 92 Verity, c Bradman, b O'Reilly 19 Hammond, c McCormiek, b O'Reilly 20 Leyland, not out 35 Extras 8 Total for two wickets 174 BOWLING. O. M. R. W. O'Reilly 14 5 '8 2 McCormiek 12 1 39 — McCabe 7 2 13 — Fleetwood-Smith .21 4 65 - Chipperfield 6 1 17 — Gregory 3 — 14 —

GRIP ON GAME. CONFIDENCE IN ENGLAND. LONDON, January 31. Cricket writers with eyes on the "Ashes" are generally confident that England has established a grip on the Test match. E. D. H. Sewell, in the "Sunday I Graphic." says that Bradman must regret the selectors' blunder in omitting Grimmett who. with O'Reilly in form, would have proved invaluable yesterday. Barnett will now obviously open England's innings for the next ten years^ P. G. Fender says that he is not .prepared to prophesy the result. He thinks that England will need at least 400 runs before feeling comfortable. A correspondent suggests to the "Morning Post" that for the sake of fairness to the visitors they should be given choice of innings in tossless "firsc and third Test? and the home side in j the second and fourth, leaving tlui filth to be decided ou the to-a.