England Has Every Reason To Be Satisfied

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29994, 1 December 1962, Page 14

England Has Every Reason To Be Satisfied

[Specially written for the N.Z.P.A. by W. J. O’REILLY 1 BRISBANE, November 30. A classic century from B. C. Booth saved the day for Australia who got away to a disappointing start after winning the toss for the right to bat on a wicket which had just enough preliminary life to help the fast bowlers, Trueman and Statham.

In spite of Australia's grand recovery, engineered by Booth, England had every reason to be thoroughly satisfied with the day s result. Disaster struck early when W. Lawry, the left-handed opener, fanned a simple catch to Smith from a good length delivery by Trueman, which went away quickly off (he pitch. That was the third time Lawry had made a dangerous pass to an offside ball —a fact showing that the young Victorian is short of match practice. He played each of the two fast bowlers with supreme confidence when they ran the ball down the legside but seemed reluctant to get right across to cover up safely when they concentrated on the off. Simpson went particularly

weU. He middled Ute ball safely and scored runs intelli. gently from a sound array of tradesman-like shots. But when he had reached the half-century he mistimed an attempted pull shot from a very short ball from Dexter and was caught from a high catch at wide mid-on. N. O'Neill started full of confidence, playing one magnificent back cut which stamped him immediately as a great batsman in wonderful form. But attempting another he was unlucky when a difficult chance to slips, going high, was dropped by Sheppard first, then by Parfitt, who dived in a gallant attempt to retrieve it. O'Neill's dismissal came from a prod shot —quite unworthy of him—at a lifting ball on the leg stump. Instead of going for the hook shot and hitting the ball safely to fine leg, where Dexter had no fieldsman posted for Trueman, O’Neill preferred to play defensively and paid for it. Not so long ago O’Neill was regarded as the most punishing hooker in Australian cricket but he seems to have discarded this valuable shot. Lacking Confidence Burge never looked likely to make runs. He, too, seems to be sadly short of the confidence that comes from match practice. While all these dismissals were taking place and Australia's stocks were slipping fast Dexter maintained the pressure admirably. with judicious handling of his attack.

Trueman was his ace attacking unit The nuggety Yorkshireman, sensing divi-

dends, bogged into his new ball job as though heat and Brisbane’s traditionally unsympathetic pitch presented, not the slightest problem. He beat the bat, Harvey’s especially, time and again and he ripped down occasional bouncers which lifted sufficiently to be classed as ribbreakers.

Just to make it a pleasant day to remember he took two catches, one of them a magnificiently judged flyer on the square leg fence to get rid of Davidson just as the bid left-hander was beginning to hit the ball with his customary power. Important Innings As Trueman dominated the show for England so did Booth for Australia. His innings must be classed as one of the most important played by an Australian in recent years. When Booth faced up to the bowling Australia had lost four vital wickets for 101 and England was so far on top that the luck of the toss had already been cancelled out.

Apart from that mental hazard, he had to face Trueman immediately after that vigorous speedster had collected two quick wickets from balls which lifted awkwardly. Most bowlers believe Booth has been particularly vulnerable to a lifting ball on the leg stump. But today he got in right behind the line of flight and played them confidently and safely. 'The best feature of his innings was the consistent accuracy with which he cracked the ball powerfully past point. His slice of luck came when he was missed in a stumping chance off Titmus. Face-saving Job Booth’s effort was a splendid face-saving job for his team. He stayed there long enough to retrieve the situation entirely and to bring Australia back into the enviable position of having the luck of the toss going full in their favour again. It clinched Booth’s position for the remainder of the series. One must hand out full marks to England's efforts. The fielding was far above anything they had done previously on the tour. This was the first time I have seen the bowlers given inspiring support throughout a day's play. Dexter handled his limited attack splendidly. When Trueman and Statham were making savage dents in Australia’s batting list, Knight and Dexter himself bottled up one end completely and occasionally beat the bat sufficiently to prevent liberties being taken. The off-spinner Titmus, bowling to a heavily packed off-side field failed to get much turn but, concentrating on accuracy in length, made run-getting difficult. He thoroughly deserved Booth’s wicket

With Mackay, Benaud Jarman and McKenzie to be dismissed, England still faces a stiff job, especially as the pitch looks likely to roll out the proverbial deathbed in the morning. This was a lucky day for Australia. That stumping chance by Booth that went astray prevented England from yarding our team into a tight corner.