THE FIRST TEST

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25517, 10 June 1948, Page 5

THE FIRST TEST

GAME AT NOTTINGHAM TODAY AUSTRALIA’S GOOD PROSPECTS (By COVER POINT) The 149th cricket test match between England and Australia will begin on the Trent Bridge ground, Nottingham, to-day, with Australia holding nearly all of the preliminary advantages. England has riot won a rubber since the 1932-33 season, and in nearly every respect the players named for this first test seem below the standard of their opponents. Of the 148 ?;ames, Australia has won 60 andEngand 55. Since their tour began, the Australians have played 12 games, winning 10 (eight by an innings), ana drawing two without loss of face. The leading batsmen, Bradman, Miller, Brown, Barnes, Hassett and Morris, have met with extraordinary success against bowling which has been much below standard, and the bowling of Miller, Lindwall, W. Johnston. I. Johnson, McCool and Toshack has been far too much , for the opposition met thus far. The wicket at Trent Bridge is notorious'for its easy pace—it was here, in 1938, that four English batsnien scored centuries in one innings, a test record—and as England's chief strength is in its batting, the home team has better prospects of holding its own in thib match than those which follow. Australia’s batting strengrii is tremendous; in test matches Bradman has an average of 92, Miller 77, Morris 72, Barnes 65, McCool 54, Brown 45, and Hasseit 35, and in Tallon, I. Johnson, and Lindwall the side has other batsmen quite capable of scoring centuries. Of England’s somewhat elderly team, Hutton has a test average of 74, Compton 48, Barnett 44, Hardstaff 40, Washbrook .36, Edrich 33, and Yardley 32. Australia has a great advantage in batting strength but in bowling the difference between the teams is even more marked. Australia has six bowlers who, on performances, appear capable of running through an English team. England’s chief and practically only hope is Wright, a very tine bowler who has not enjoyed the best of fortune in his test career. Beaser, however, may regain the excellent form which first brought him into prominence and England may yet produce other bowlers able to limit Australia’s scoring to reasonable proportions. When fielding will be of such paramount importance to England, it is unfortunate that so tew young players have been chosen. A third advantage held by Australia is in the experience of Bradman; a fourth, and perhaps even’ greater, is in the psychological effect austerity living, a succession of teat defeats, and the Australians’ current successes must have had on English cricketers. A tremendous effort will- be needed to break down the superiority complex of the Australians. It is to be hoped that this is achieved, in part at least, so that the series is not one-sided. It will be remembered that in 1936 Alien’s team all but won the rubbar for England after some miserable performances in the previous matches. Those who hope that England stages a cricketing come-back, as well as in other spheres of activity, may draw some comfort from the fact that of the seven matches played at Nottingham, England has won two, as many as Australia; further, it is the thirteenth match of the Australians’ tour.