‘Time Will Run Out’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 14

‘Time Will Run Out’

(Specially written for the NZJ>A Ou W. J. O’REILLY 1 ADELAIDE, January 28.

England missed the bus badly today when Dexter w r as out to the first mistake he made with the addition of only 11 runs to his overnight score. With conditions entirely in their favour England was expected to make a bold victory bid with Dexter using the remainder of his batting list as running partners.

Handicapped with a greasy ball which made it impossible for spinners to be brought into the attack with confidence, Benaud heaped all the responsibilities upon the powerful young shoulders of McKenzie, who gave out an inspiring effort which, for sheer determination and devotion to duty, represented the best bowling performance of the series. No' bowler appreciates a wet ball. It is not only difficult to hold—so difficult that spinners have no hope of gripping it securely—that even pacy men grow despondent about trying to get any movement out of it in the air. Benaud faced a two-fold problem with the handling of the bowling when play started two hours late today. He was due for a new ball almost immediately. He had to decide whether it was right to take that ball as soon as it became available or whether he should wait in the hope that the ground would dry sufficiently to solve the problem for him. New-ball bowlers regard the use of a new ball on damp glass as wilful sabotage. Benaud’s other problem concerned the absence of Davidson.

Was it possible to ask Mackay to attempt the long support role for McKenzie? The magnificent manner in which McKenzie responded to the situation helped the Australian captain out of the

embarrassment which looked likely to provide for him one of the toughest days of his captaincy career. I reckon Benaud will never be likely to forget the great effort of the enthusiastic young West Australian. Dexter’s Start

Dexter began quietly enough to suggest he was setting his sights on a long day at the crease.

He pushed the bail away on either side of the wicket with easy confidence but the first time b* decided to go for bis favourite shot, played Just in front of point, he was out to a snicked catch to the keeper, Grout. F. J. ntmus. his so-called running partner, stayed for the remainder of the day and generally made such light • ->ck of his batting task that he helped to emphasise the great opportunity England bad mimed.

Australia were sadly handicapped by the loos of Davidson. With him there and McKenzie bowling so well it is difficult to imagine bow England could have scrambled out of this day so weH aa she did Net Substitute

Mackay finished the day with two wickets but no-one. even la his most expansive mood, would believe that be trade any Impression at all as a substitute for the leftfa Oder, His two wickets. Smith’s and Trueman's, were little better than preeentattoaa.

The match looks likely to be drawn now. Time will run out before both teams can be dismissed again. With Sydney then becoming the deciding game Australian selectors will be facing the worrying problem over the fitness of Davidson. Today’s performances will have shown them Australia without the great left-hander is hardly a match-winning combination. The best that England can expect this innings is Titmus. who can add another 30 or

30 valuable runs before the Australians bat again. Australia will have to put their heads down and concentrate on getting at least another 350 runs in their second innings, and that will probabily take more than half the remaining time—unless they show some unusual enthusiasm to get on with the job of scoring runs. There is no need to have any misgivings about the wicket Had there been any chance of it breaking up on the fifth day the humid atmosphere today would have helped to restore its lasting power.

If England is finally faced with the job of just playing out time safely they will certainly remember the ease with which Titmus handled the situation today.