AUSTRALIA ON DEFENSIVE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 11

AUSTRALIA ON DEFENSIVE

COLLAPSE FOR 80 IN SECOND TEST FAST BOWLERS IN FORM ON SOFT WICKET BRADMAN AND FINGLETON BEGIN WELL IN FOLLOW-ON (i:niti:» I'liK.ss association copyright.) (Received December 22, 12.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 21. After a first-innings debacle on a soft wicket, the Australians are fighting hard in their second innings in the test match with England. With Bradman still in, Australia has every prospect of saving an innings defeat and giving England something to get in the second innings. This, of course, depends on the weather being favourable. Should further rain come—and it is threatening—the Australians' task will be hopeless. The attendance to-day was 24.394.

England declared the innings closed at the overnight total of 426 for six wickets.

The wicket was wet on top, but not sticky when Fingleton and O'Brien opened Australia's innings. Voce had charge of the attack and Fingleton took a single from the third ball, but the seventh ball was snicked by O'Brien to the third of the five slip fieldsmen. Bradman came in and turned the next ball to short square-leg for a simple catch. Fingleton then played a maiden from Allen, and Voce, with the second ball of his second over had McCabe caught in the slips. Voce, taking three wickets in four balls, had missed the hat trick by one ball. His figures were now three wickets for one run. He was making the ball rise sharply and the batsmen were sorely troubled. Chipperficld Hits Out Chippcrficld decided on aggression and slammed two fours past the bowler. He was then dropped in the slips off Voce, but had not added to his total when he hit Allen hard (o Sims at point and was out. Fingleton was the next to go. 110 had been very watchful for 55 minutes, before edging one lev Verity at backward point. The total was now five for 2.'1, and Voce had four fo! eight. Sievcrs and Oldfield joined the pathetic procession and Australia had lost seven for 31. A partnership of 49 runs was then played by O'Reilly and McCormick. O'Reilly was missed ofT Voce before he had'scored, and he celebrated his escape by vigorous hitting, pulling Verity once and Sims twice over the fence for sixes. This pair defied six bowlers until lunch, but soon after Allen bowled McCormick and Ward with successive balls, and Australia's rout was complete after 107 minutes at the wickets. Badcock was still too ill to play. A Cautious Beginning The wicket was not really bad. but the Australians were worried bv the pace of the pitch. Voce and Allen both made the ball rise awkwardly, but the batsmen lacked enterprise. Following on, Australia began the second innings at 2.50 with a deficit of 346 runs. The wicket was slowly improving, but still had life, and O'Brien and Fingleton began very cautiously. Hammond had Fingleton tied up, and was unlucky not to secure his wicket, as an easy chance to Fagg at second slip was not accepted. In Hammond's next over, however, O'Brien spooned one to Allen at silly leg.

Bradman, after his two successive test ducks, just kept the first ball he received out of his wicket. He continued scratchily until tea. The batsmen spent the time during the overs in patting the wicket, but after tea the bowlers did not appear to get as much assistance from it. New Record to Bradman • Bradman at 24 gave a hard chance to Robins at square-leg off Allen. The next ball was glanced to the fence, and Bradman became the highest Australian scorer in tests, beating Clem Hill's aggregate of 2660 runs. Whereas Hill had 76 innings, this is only Bradman's thirtyfourth. A four by Bradman took the total to 100 after 125 minutes.

Fingleton's escape at nine proved costly to England, 'as he was batting very solidly. His 50 was made in 137 minutes. Twice Verity nearly bowled Bradman, and otherwise the Australian captain was not playing in his usual clean, confident fashion. It was a brilliant on-drive to the fence, however, which took him to 1 50 after 111 minutes.

An appeal against the light at 5.45 was upheld, but the sun came through the clouds and the game continued at 5.55, Bradman and Fingleton defending until stumps. Scores:—

ENGLAND First Innings A H. Fagg, c Sievers, b McCormick 11 C. J. Barnett, b Ward • • p7 W. R. Hammond, not out •■ ■«! M. Levland. lbw (new rule), b McCabe • • • 4 LEG. Ames, c Robinson, b Ward 29 G O. Allen, lbw, b O'Reilly .. J J. Hardstaff. b McCormick .. H. Verity, not out •■ •• " Extras . • • • • • ll Total for six wickets (dec.) 426 Fall of wickets—One for 27, two for 118, three for 247, four for 351. five for 366, six for 424. BOWLING ANALYSIS O. M. R. W. E L. McCormick 20 1 79 2 M. W. Sievers ..16 4 30 o T? Warn . . 42 8 132 I W. J O'Reilly .. 41 17 86 1 A/ G. Chipperfield 13 2 47 0 S. J. McCabe ..9 1 J1 v AUSTRALIA First Innings J H Fingleton, c Verity, b Voce 12 L P O'Brien, c Sims, b Voce .. 0 D G Bradman, c Allen, b Voce .. " S. J. McCabe, c Sims, b Voce .. 0 A G. Chipperfield, c Sims, b Allen 13 M* W. Sievers, c Voce, b Verity . . ■> \Y\ A. Oldficld, b Verity .. 1 .W. J. O'Reilly, not out .. '' Vn E L McCormick. b Allen •• !•' F Ward, b Allen .. •• <] C. L. Badcock (absent, ill) ... 0 Extras .. .. •• ;! Tutal .. .. ... 80