ENGLAND BATS IN FIRST TEST

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 11

ENGLAND BATS IN FIRST TEST

Bright Opening At Trent Bridge (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 7. England began its battle with Australia for the Ashes almost gaily on an easy-paced pitch at Trent Bridge this morning. Richardson and Cowdrey faced the Australian pace attack of Miller and Lindwall with confidence and began scoring from almost every ball at the rate of a run a minute. Play was delayed by rain for a short time this morning after heavy overnight rain, but May had no hesitation in batting after winning the toss. Lindwall and Miller could get very little life from the pitch. After half a hour England had 32 runs (Richardson 18, Cowdrey 14). The scoring rate would have been faster but for the slow outfield.

B. Statham, who is suffering from a recurrence of a groin injury, and J. H. Wardle were omitted from the England team. The batting order is: M. C. Cowdrey, P. E. R. Richardson, T. W. Graveney, P. B. H. May, W. Watson, T. E. Bailey, T. G. Evans, J. C. Laker, G. A. R. Lock, R. Appleyard and A. E. Moss.

Rutherford is twelfth man for Australia.

In Miller’s second over, a misunderstanding almost caused Richardson’s dismissal. Cowdrey drove the ball hard, but decided not to take a second run. Richardson, who was half-way down the pitch, slipped and fell, losing his bat, but a wild return from Davidson enabled him to scramble back in time. Miller is playing in his fiftieth test match.

Cowdrey was twice struck on the pads by Lindwall, but he survived confident appeals. After nine overs each. Miller and Lindwall were replaced by Davidson and Archer, and for a period the scoring rate was more modest. Archer managed to get the ball up a little and his opening over was the first maiden of the match. Two hours before the test was timed to start, at 10.30 o’clock, a crowd of 2000 had trickled through the gates m drizzling rain. The drizzle began at the ground at 8 o’clock, becoming heavy around 9.30 o’clock, and then ceasing at 10.15. By the time the rain stopped, the crowd had grown to 4000.

Archer, in his third over, bowled a bouncer, which shoY through uncomfortably close to Richardson’s head. In the hour’s play before lunch, England was 52 without loss (Richardson 27, Cowdrey 25). The first English wicket fell when only one run had been scored after lunch. Cowdrey was caught waisthigh by Miller in the slips off the bowling of Davidson for 25. One wicket was down for 53, scored in 72 minutes. Graveney was the incoming batsman. The Australians have not lost at Trent Bridge since a team was caught o a sticky wicket 26 years ago. Australia has since won two tests and drawn two.