CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22183, 28 August 1937, Page 19

CRICKET

CHANGING FORTUNES IN SECOND TEST SPLENDID BOWLING BY COWIE NEW ZEALANDERS' LOST OPPORTUNITY (From the Special Correspondent of "The Press" with the Touring Team) LONDON. July 28. The Second Test may go down in history as one of those games in which England, so renowned for her prowess on the cricket field, suffered so many shocks that at no period during the game, until the last hour, could she be said to have a definite grip on the game. For the New Zealanders it was a game of changing fortunes. First there was the excellent bowling and fielding on the first day to dismiss nine Englishmen on an easy wicket after only one man was out and 220 runs had been scored. Then came the fine rally after a bad start, to save the fol-low-on, and third, the magnificent effort at the end of the second night and beginning of the third day, which seemed to have England practically beaten, with seven men out for only 75 runs. Perhaps New Zealand was playing above itself—certainly the bowling of Cowie and the fielding up to this point looked, and really was, a match-win-ning factor. But it was not to be, and the slump came when F. R. Brown was given four lives and was allowed to swing the game around once again in England's favour. Although out for 187, England, if it may be said so, should not have made more than 110 and New Zealand, instead of having only 10 minutes' batting before lunch, should have had 45 minutes. But then, "should haves" are not part of a cricket match and the only consolation is that a magnificent performance was given up to a point and that New Zealand was not quite good enough to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity. The weather during the game was miserable—dark, grey, and leaden skies, which do not go with cricket, while the wicket, although covered before the match, was wet throughout, and at most time's was not at all difficult, there being no sunshine to upset the batsmen. Thus when Robins won the toss, ho had no option but to bat and New Zealand had to field on a greasy tur* which was more like a wet football ground after the players had run around for an hour or so. There was no assistance to the bowlers, who had a wet ball to contend with and also found difficulty in running up to the wicket, and so Barnett and Hutton were able to go along steadily without any fear of getting a really quick one from Cowie. Start Delayed by Kain The start was actually delayed through rain and another shower sent the players off for five minutes at 12.15 but by lunch England had scored 87. Barnett. driving beautifully, was then 59 and Hutton 28. The first wicket fell at exactly 100, Barnett playing forward and lifting Cowie very gently to Kerr at fairly close mid-on. His innings was the best of the English innings, his timing and ease oi stroke play combined with power being delightful to see. Hutton completed a very good century, and was out immediately afterwards. He played carefully throughout his whole innings and was content to wait for the loose ball. The second wicket did not fall till 228 runs were on, and New Zealand must have felt that on this wicket they would never get England out. But Cowie bowled gallantly throughout the day and was ably supported by Vivian and Gallichan. the two left-handers keeping a length, and having Hardstaff, Hammond, and the other batsmen tied down and often in difficulties. Gallichan kept Hammond quiet for three overs with a splendid length, and finally bowled him, making the score four for 296. This proved the turning point, and by stumps nine were out for 358, Cowie dismissing Paynter, Wellard. and Robins in quick succession. The fielding had been good and Cowie with four for 73 off 32 overs, nut up a splendid performance, while Vivian had two for 75. and Gallichan three for 99, off 36 overs. Gallichan replaced Roberts, who was unavailable because of his strained tendons in the left shoulder, and in bowling the most overs, proved a very useful and dangerous stock bowler. Dunning met with no success, the wicket being too greasy to take spin. On the Monday there was no improvement in the weather and the crowd was again disappointing as -ain fell in the surrounding districts, although not actually on the ground itself. England Declares Robins declared at Saturday's total of 358 for nine, and New Zealand began with Vivian and Moloney. With 19 scored Moloney had a good one from Smith, which came back from the off and he was out under the new rule. Wallace and Vivian batted very confidently, and the score went to 65 before Wallace jumped out to hit Brown, but failed to get quite to the pitch of the ball and was stumped. This was a severe blow to New Zealand, as Wallace had been holding the batting together for so long. Vivian played beautiful cricket, and hit both Brown and Goddard powerfully to the boundary, but at 91 Wellard bowled Kerr with a ball which started outside the leg stump, and hit the off—a great ball, and bowled by one of the best triers seen during the tour. Shortly afterwards he made another one come across from the off to Donnelly, and had him lbw, the ball making pace off the wicket, and coming through very quickly to rap him on the pads. With four out for 105, the position was not all it might have been, and Vivian, after a fine 58, hit across a well-pitched ball from Wellard, and had his leg stump knocked out of the ground. Vivian had completely recovered his form, and was batting beautifully and scoring at a fast rate. Five were now out for 119, when Page joined Hadlee. and 90 were still required to save the follow-on; but they stayed together till lunch, when the score had been advanced to 144 for five. Hadlee reached 33 in 40 minutes by strong driving on both sides of the wicket. Page's Strong Hitting After lunch both quickly got into their stride, and Page hit Goddard twice through the covers off successive balls, while Hadlee pulled, and drove the over-pitched ball with great certainty, and often lifted the ball to the untenanted outfield. He reached 50 in an hour, and by 3 o'clock, with both still batting confidently, the fol-low-on had been saved. The new ball presented a little difficulty and cut down the scoring rate. Hammond going on with the ball still shiny

at 218, had Page caught in the gully after the partnership had added 99 valuable runs to the total. Page once again played a fine captain's innings, and has often had to restrain himself during the tour owing to the onerous position of the side when he has gone to the wicket. When Tindill joined Hadlee the light became very bad, and an adjournment was made, Hadlee being 79 and Tindill yet to score. Hadlee continued quietly and confidently towards his century, but, having reached 93 he played a ball from Wellard firmly to leg, but his foot gave way on the soft ground, and he fell striking the wicket with his leg. It was an unfortunate end to his innings made in 140 minutes, and including 10 boundaries. The total now was 242 for seven, Hadlee having scored 93 out of 137. . Gallichan batted very well m the elosing stages and hit well on the onside for 30, while Tindill, although staying a long while, could not get a proper sight of the ball and was finally bowled by Brown for 6. New Zealand All Out The innings closed for 281, 77 behind, and quite a good performance. Wellard, with four for 81 was always an earnest trier and willing worker and bowled very well, making: the ball do a little from leg very often and coming through quickly. Brown was expensive at times, but looked the best slow bowler perhaps, apart from Mitchell, of Derby, that the New Zealanders have met. He finished with t)iree for 81. Smith bowled just short of f length and was hard to get away his 22 overs yielding only 29 runs for two wickets. . . England began the second innings m a poor light, but so well did Cowie bowl that by 6.15, when an appeal was upheld, three were out for 37. tsar nett started out to score quickly, but missed a swinger from Dunning and was lbw. Hutton snicked Cowie and Vivian took a brilliant catch low down at first slip, two being out for 29. The day proved a great one for New Zealand when Hammond, defending against Cowie at his best, pushed one round to leg straight into Moloney s hands, and although New Zealand met with no further success, the game appeared to be fairly open, with aU probability of a draw. . The wicket next morning was drying, but not really difficult, but Cowie bowled as a man inspired, and quickly put England to rout in a manner such as has not been done for some years. His magnificent fast bowling, unchanged for nearly an hour and a half, brought about the downfall of the English side, and in a quarter of an hour half the side were out for 46, Paynter falling to a catch in the slips off Vivian, which Cowie held at the second attempt, and Hardstaff turning Cowie to leg only to see Tindill dive across and hold a great catch in his left hand. Robins was caught at short leg in the same manner as Hammond, and six were out for 68; and when Wellard lashed out at Vivian and skied the ball to cover New Zealand had a wonderful opportunity, with England's score 75 for seven. Brown, however, had a charmed life, and was dropped by Vivian at 12 in the slips and again by Hadlee at short leg. Yet another catch was sent to Dunning at mid-off, only to be safely let to the ground. After his partnership with Ames had added 72 invaluable runs, Ames was lbw to Dunning, having made 39 in very fine style. Jim Smith hit tremendously and put one ball nearly out of the ground—he is probably one of the most powerful hitters in the game to-day. Brown's good fortune still continued, Vivian failing to hold another catch, but finally at 57 he was clean bowled by Cowie, the innings closing for 187 at 1.10 p.m., leaving New Zealand 265 to win in four hours 10 minutes. Cowie's bowling represented a magnificent feat of physical endurance and was the highlight of the day's play. He had six for 67 off 23 overs, making 10 for 140 for the game. He kept going right to the end and rarely bowled a ball that did not carry venom. New Zealand's innings started promisingly, Vivian and Moloney seeing 50 on the board without loss, but an un-

fortunate call saw Moloney run out by inches, and from this point onwards the side never recovered. The wicket, always becoming firmer, was giving the ball more grip and taking the spin—a wicket very suitable to Goddard, who has more wickets than any other bowler in England. He spun the ball enough to beat the bat at all times and, apart from Vivian's excellent 50 and Donnelly's plucky 37 not out the innings was very disappointing, and the side was out for 134, thus leaving England victorious by 130 runs Wallace, Hadlee, and Page were all bowled by Goddard by similar deliveries, being up enough to go forward to, but spinning back viciously to hit the middle and leg stumps. New Zealand, although defeated, lost nothing by the result of the match, as she gave England many anxious moments, and has only fielding errors to blame for the loss of an opportunity which looked so promising. All credit to Goddard, however, for his magnificent bowling, which gave him six for 29.