CRICKET Worcester Game Drawn When Rain Stops Play

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 5

CRICKET Worcester Game Drawn When Rain Stops Play

(N Z.P.A.-Keuier—Copyright)

WORCESTER, May 3. Play in the first game of the Australian cricket team’s tour of England against Worcestershire was abandoned yesterday because of rain. The game was drawn. Worcestershire was four for 56 in its second innings, hanng made 155 in its first against the Australians’ two record low totals against the countv of 177 and 111.

A splendid display of controlled fast bowling by R. Gaunt, who kept one end sealed almost throughout the 96 minutes when play was possible, was responsible for the Australians taking the initiative from the county. After F. Misson broke the opening stand and R. Benaud (who bowled in spite of fibrositis) followed by getting the stubborn M. J. Horton just when he was looking dangerous. Gaunt took over. He did not let T. W. Graveney—another potential danger—settle down and after 28 minutes for three singles the tall former Gloucestershire captain could not prevent one from hitting his pads when right in front. When D. Richardson several times played forward and missed to Gaunt outside the off stump, it seemed only a matter of time before he would go—and he did, after 19 minutes—caught by W. Grout. “Robbed By Rain” It was the bowlers, and not the batsmen. who were robbed by the rain, wrote Alex Bannister in the “Daily Mail.” “Long before Worcestershire’s dream of undying glory met its watery end their batsmen had made it all too apparent that the task of reaching 164 was beyond them.” E. W. Swanton in the “Daily Telegraph” said that by the time the rains came yesterday the likelihoood of the Australians being beaten had receded from probability. The Australians. he said, must remain vulnerable.

“Derbyshire, for instance, might conceivably do what Worcestershire did, and more, especially as the need to acclimatise the eleven newcomers means that no fewer than five of the likely test side will be missing.” “The Times" cricket writer said the Australians “no doubt left . for Chesterfield with a sense of relief that the three difficult days were over. . “Instead of gorging on the Worcestershire bowling, according to tradition, they had been forced to play the game at which they are most fallible. “As gratifying for them as anything was the form of Gaunt. He gets plenty of work on the ball, a good deal of it avray from the bat." Derbyshire Game The Australians today will face Derbyshire, one of the most improved counties. There will however be no play before lunch because of the wet condition of the ground. There has been considerable rain over the last few days and the same damp conditions as in the first match will probably apply again. The spearhead of the Derbyshire attack, L. Jackson, is 40 years old. but age is not preventing him from remaining one of the top bowlers in the country. A Strong Side Derbyshire have a strong all-round side with a mixture of veterans and young players, all with fine per-

formances in county cricket last season. The Australian side in this match depends a lot on the tour newcomers. particularly in the bowling where A. Davidson is the only one with experience of English conditions. He will be supported by Gaunt and Mackenzie, while L. Kline and I. Quick will ■form the spin attack. To support the experience of C. C. McDonald, R. N. Harvey and P. Burge in the batting is W. Lawry and B. Booth with Davidson and McKenzie batting sixth and seventh. Thirteen players are named for Derbyshire. They are: D. B. Carr (captain), G. Dawkes. L. Jackson. C. Lee, R. Berry. D. Morgan, H. L. Johnson. E. Smith, H. J. Rhodes, K. Hall. R. Sw’allow, I. R. Buxton, D. Millner. The scoreboard at Worcester was:— AUSTRALIA First Innings .. ..177 Second Innings .. .. 141 WORCESTERSHIRE First Innings .. ..135 Second Innings D. Kenyon, b Misson .. 8 M. J. Horton, b Benaud .. 20 R. G. Headley, not out .. 17 T. W. Graveney. lbw, b Gaunt .. .. 3 □. W. Richardson, c Grout, b Gaunt' .. .. 0 Extras .. .. 8 Total for four wkts. 56 Fall of wickets: One for 21, two for 42, three for 52. four for 56.

Bowling R. W O. M. R. Gaunt . 11.2 z 5 2 K. Mackay 6 2 8 0 F. Misson 5 2 11 1 J. Quick 6 2 11 0 R. Benaud 6 2 13 1