CRICKET England Eight For 180 On First Day Of Test

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 4

CRICKET England Eight For 180 On First Day Of Test

(NZ.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BIRMINGHAM, June 8. At stumps on the first day of the test between England and Australia. England was tottering at eight for 180. A four-ball spell from the Australian bowler Mackay tore a hole in the English innings and gave Australia a great start.

With three of the balls—he fourth and sixth of his enth over, and the first of lis eleventh —Mackay took three wickets for no runs, tnd sent England crashing from three for 121. to six for 122. Mackay cut the ball off a noist green-topped pitch on which it was inclined to dig. after the pnglish captain. M. C. Cowdrey had won the toss and elected to bat. England collapsed quite sensationally on this Edgbaston pitch which, as predicted by the groundsmen, had enough life to allow the Australian bowlers to get some lift from it. while the frequent showers kept the surface a little damp. Stout Bowling But it was stout and persistent bowling by the Australian attack, backed by keen fielding, that put them on top. There were four interruptions to play from rain, and altogether 95 minutes were lost. The early dismissal of G Pullar encouraged the Australians and they were elated 20 minutes later when E. R Dexter, after two handsome 4s —a hook off Davidson and a cover drive off Mackay—followed Pullar. He got one from Mackay that lifted, and popped an easy catch to A. K Davidson fielding at short backward leg. Cowdrey Out Cowdrey, of course, was the big danger, and he was handling the rising ball well until he got one from F. M Misson which struck the bottom of his bat as he pulled it away, and dragged it on to the top of his stumps. R. Subba Row had been picking up a lot of runs by keeping down the rising balls on the leg side and steering them between the couple of men R. Benaud usually had stationed close in there. | Two of these shots went perilously close to W Lawry. but Subba Row steadily built up his score and reached 50 with five 4s in 124 minutes. K. F. Barrington looked as though he might become Subba Row’s partner, but he did not last and he was the second of Mackay's victims when he cut him straight into F Misson's stomach in the gully after scoring 21. M. J. K Smith went second ball. ’ caught by Lawry at backw’ard point, and then, in Mackay's next over. Subba

Row's long knock—l7l minutes—ended when he snicked one to R B Simpson at first slip. •In tor Kill” Mackay had shattered whatever hope England had of recovering and the Australians pressed in for the •■kill.” Benaud mapped up R. Illingworth and J. T. Murray, after Murray had struck four bold boundaries, and Tilingworth three Then D A. Alien and F. S. Trueman played out time. Scores

Total tor eichf wlrketa IN* Fall of wickets: one for M. two for S 3, three for M. four for 121, live for 121, all for 122. seven for ISS. elKht tor ISS.

ENGLAND First Innings G. Pultar. b Davidson n R. Sllbba Bow, c Simpson. b Mackay S9

K. R. I>rxt»r. e Davtdwn. b Mackay !• M. C. Cowdrey, b Mlsson 1J K F. Barrington, e Milson. b Mackav 21 M. J K Smith, c Lawry, b Mackay • K. Illingworth, c Grout. b Renaud IS J. T. Murray, c Davidson. b Benaud It I>. A. Allen, not out 11 S. Trueman, not out 14 Extras 4

Bowline O. -M. R. W. A. K Bavidion 26 • 7« 1 F. M. Ml*>on 15 6 41 1 K. Mackay ?« * 5ft 4 R Bonaud 11 7 • 2