AUSTRALIA’S POSITION UNBEATABLE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28793, 14 January 1959, Page 11

AUSTRALIA’S POSITION UNBEATABLE

tSpvcuxUu written rot the S.Z-PA by W J.

SYDNEY. January 13. A determined partnership between two left-handers, Davidson and Mackay, after a disastrous start to the fourth day’s play has placed Australia in an unbeatable position in the third test. There is not "Sufficient time left qow for England to force a win even if its batsmen do happen to get on top of the bowling in their second innings. The best England can hope for now is a draw, so that they will still retain a chance of holding the Ashes by winning the fourth and fifth tests. Australia began disastrously. Edging the second ball he took from Lock, Favell was out to a splendid slip catch by Cowdrey. O'Neill started with two magnificent boundary shots off Lock. But be paid the penalty of suiting against Laker’s spin when he tried to steer one down the gully. Swetman took the catch. O'Neill evidently thought it was a reasonable risk to take when Laker had only three men posted on the off-side. Australia’s next wicket fell quickly, making England's promising start worth three wickets for 24 runs, when Benaud made a show of aggression completely out of place in the critical situation. Benaud came dashing down the pitch to Laker, making a fullblooded, full-circle - swing which missed everything. Over went the middle stump. Benaud's dismissal swung the game in England’s favour. Laker’s two quick wickets altered the whole prospects of the match. Benaud must have bitterly realised that fact as he walked away from his shattered wicket. Why he adopted such aggressive tactics when. Laker had carefully positioned three outfields tor him would be hard for him to explain. Had he connected with the fatal ball be would have had to have hit it for 6. Then came the splendid partnership between Mackay and Davidson. Davidson surpassed himself Surviving several lucky “French

. cute” which barely missed the • stump*, he went on to play aa i inning*, of which any higfoeanks ing batsman would be proud. , t Davidson generally goe* out at • hi* way to clump the ball **V--1 agely.’ s In hl* previou* big tert inning*, > at Lord’* in 1933. he Mt the Eng- - land bowling Mgh and wide. j But hi* tactic* bet* were entirely different Reallalng th* r gravity of the rttuation, ha eon* 1 centrated on defonee jurt a* ; heavily and efficiently a* hl* i partner, Mackay. Between them they took an the sting out of the two spinner* and 1 virtually took complete Charge ot , the game. It was surprising that Laker J could find no answer to the left- . handed partnership. But th* more he bowled the mor* evident . it became that he fervently diap likes bowling at left-binder*. Hi* best prospect* seemed to be when he bowled round the wicket at „ the middle and off stump*. 2 Mackay did most to unsettle Laker. Amazing judgment in, , letting the ball go harmlessly part the off stump, even though it ‘ may have turned from the line of • the leg stump, wss th* main e feature of his fruStrattag tactics. ' Mackay’s eagerness to run for " every single was such a welcome n relief from hie usual stolid out-- ' look that this inning* was not only 9 tremendously valuable but a e highly interesting on*. The pitch sSllratains Its origins! e character. The spinners still get • the ball to turn but the pace is a still alow and easy. There has 1 not yet been the slightart sign of - a shooter, and there -»re not 7 many footmark* on the pitch. England will need .to bat cone slstently well right down **>• - to save the game now. It need r have no tear of the pitch letting o it down, but that worry can still h be Australia's tn the closing stage* d of the match. I do not expect England to make ■- any determined effort to More I- runs quickly; but May win be 1. guided in this by th* kind ot Star* h that his team get*.