VICTORIA V. ENGLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1937, Page 14

VICTORIA V. ENGLAND.

MARYLEBONE ALL OUT 187.

McCORMICK THREE WICKETS. GREGORY GOING STRONG. (By J. B. HOBBS. Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or part forbidden.) MELBOURNE, February 21.

The cricket match England v. Victoria was continued yesterday at Melbourne. Rain and bad light stopped play at 3.45 p.m., and the game was abandoned for the day at 4.50 p.m.

When stumps were drawn on FridayEngland in the tirst innings had lost eight wickets for 109 runs. Yesterday the innings closed for 187, and Victoria had scored 144 for two wickets when play ceased.

Another hot day was experienced yesterday at Melbourne, and although a strong breeze was blowing the conditions were sultry. The new stand, which stretches half-way round the ground, has a snowy white roof which produces a glare.

The wicket had nothing like Friday's life, and there was no new ball to contend with, but McC'ormick had plenty of pace. He and Sievers took one wicket each to dispose of the remaining men for the addition of 18 lHns, in 23 minutes.

Ames was playing B o wjell again that I was surprised to see him go. He was trying to push past point a good length ball that did nothing and he played across the flight. There was a comic interlude when Voce tried to hit a full-pitch from Sievers for six. He sliced it high in the air, and Pearson and the bowler both went for a catch. It was left to Pearson, and I was not surprised to see him put it down.

Yoce, considering himself a better batsman than Copson, refused a long run off th» last ball of an over, and was bowled next ball. So England was all out for 187, a meagre score.

Though the batting was poor I can find little excuse in the fact that the wicket was livelier than usual. In addition to the casual attitude of the batsmen mentioned on Friday, they would not take the risk of getting hurt by fastrising balls so near the Test match.

j Gregory and Lee Again. | The boundary was very close on one side, and when Yoce went on the Victorian batsman Lee, a left-hander, nearly cut the second ball for a six—a risky shot that might easily have been a catch ■ by deep third man. I Eight runs were scored off Sims in his tirst six deliveries, but at the seventh his googly coming quickly off the pitch, sent Kigg out leg-before.

Thi« bi ought Gregory and Lee together at 37. It looked as if they might make another stand like their 262 against England in the tirst match at Melbourne, in spite of a chance given by Gregory to Copson in the gully off Yoce, when at 24. They added 64 runs, and had just hoisted the 100 when Lee was unfortunate to be run out owing to a mix-up.

I Lee contributed a useful 40. He is a good player, though 1 should not call him attractive to watch. The same might |be said about Gregoty, but he is very young, and should become great. He watches the ball well, but seems to be nervous of going all out for a stroke, unlet*! it is the hook, which he does expertly. i Another Star on Horizon. 1 Hassett w;« lucky to receive a full-toss . with which he got ott the mark with a j square drive for foui. Hassott led the | Australian averages for a long time, and it was only recently that Bradman went in trout of him. He made 28 quickly before the. rain came. He is a beautifully free player, with an attractive style, anil stands well up ut the wicket. All hi* strokes are executed with ease and elegance. He demonstrated a spk'ndi 1 cut, getting well over the ball and giving himself rojm to bring his free wrists into play. Ju addition lie plays a delightfully straight bat. , This was my first view of Hassett. It wa« only for half an hour, but 1 can understand why he has scored so many rune. He is sure to represent Australia in the near future.

In the last two matches the English batsmen gave the lmpreetribn of not taking tilings too seriously. To-day's policy seemed to be to keep the regular bowlers fresh for the Test match. Allen and Karnes are resting, and Voce did not unleash himself, not even opening the bowling, Copson and Hammond doing that.

A oce might have dismi**sed Gregory twice with good-length balls jimt outside the off-stump, which edged, but generally the bowling did not look deadly, anil the batsmen were never in difficulties. After three appeals against the light within a few deliveries, play ceased at 3.4 a p.m: Rain fell immediately, and the wicket was completely covered. Scores: —

ENGLAND—First Innings. Verity, c Pearson, b Xanh 1 Barnett, c Pearson, b McCormick .... 1 Hardstaff, c Pearson, b Nash 14 Hammond, b Ebeling 14 Leyland, c Ledward, b Sievers .... 19 Wyatt, c Barnett, b McCormick .... 1 Ames, b McCormick 64 Robins, c Nash, b Pearson 33 Sims, c Ledward, b Ebeling 16 Voce, b Sievers 15 Copson, not out 2 Extras 7 Total 187 Bowling: McCormick took three wickets for 35 runs, Ebeling two for 20, Nash two for 21, Sievers two for 36, Pearson one for 40, Gregory none for 28. VICTORIA—First Inningß. Rigg, lbw, b Sims 18 Lee, run out 40 Gregory, not out . 53 not out ' . 28 Extras 5 Total for two wickets 144