England’s Psychological Advantage In Fifth Test

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 10

England’s Psychological Advantage In Fifth Test

(Specialty written for the N.Z.P.A. by

W. J. O’REILLY]

SYDNEY, February 14. Adventurous team tactics will be the most interesting feature of the fifth test which starts here tomorrow. Only victory will be acceptable to England and this will be the team’s psychological advantage over Australia. As the Ashes will stay in Australia unless England wins, Australia may be content with a draw.

If England wins the toss, I think they must take the risk for the sake of victory and send Australia in to bat.

This late summer weather is ideal in Sydney for swing bowling. The humid atmosphere allows the ball to move dangerously, and the recent substantial falls of rain will have infused some life into the pitch. A continued run of humid weather will mean that the pitch cannot wear quite so quickly as it would ,in hotter and drier weather. Most of England’s hopes will be centred around the performances of F. Trueman and B. Statham, Should these two experienced test bowlers get an early break Australia could be in constant trouble throughout the match. Caused Trouble Trueman has never ceased to cause trouble this season, even when he is not taking wickets. He has given W. Lawry some wretched moments concentrating upon a recently detected chink in the lefthander’s armour. Lawry will be a pleased man when he battles through the leg stump attack that Trueman will (throw at him.

Statham’s form in Adelaide was superior to any he had shown previously on this tour. If he rises to the occasion to Sydney, where conditions are sure to favour him more than Adelaide, the Australian openers will be facing their toughest assignment. In feet, the efforts of the two Australian opening batsmen, Simpson and Lawry, are equally as important from a match-winning point as A. Davidson’s bowling. In Sydney for the third test, F. Tiitmua put up a wonderful performance for the off-spinners. He bamboozled the Australians, and they rarely attempted a scoring shot from them. Second Barrel

This tame he will be supported most likely by D. Allen. With two barrels

going against them this time Australian batsmen will need to show much more initiative than they did previously against off-spin. England’s bowling looks good enough to carry out the tremendous job set for it. It loses nothing by comparison with the Australian, but looking at their fielding support one feels inclined to sympathise with the visiting bowlers. In Adelaide their fielding was so embarrassingly weak it overrated the importance of the Australian batting effort. Lessons at Adelaide

Two important lessons were given to England in Adelaide-—the hopelessness of carrying' on with incompetent fielding, and the pressing need for care in running between wickets. If these two lemons have not been thoroughly digested now. England mignt just as well forget about the Ashes. I can see no reason why so many chances go to ground with this team. Cricket is their business tor so many months of each year that one would anticipate them all to be thoroughly reliable if not enthusiastically spectacular. In batting. England must carry the fight eagerly from the start.

Winning Start This looks likely to happen in the choice of C. Cowdrey a* opener with Sheppard. Sheppard has responded to the influence of his vice-cap-taln whenever they have batted together on tour. For that reason alone, Cowdrey’s promotion can do Australia a disservice.

Bust Cowdrey is to such wonderful batting form that he could give England a winning start before Dexter comes on the scene. He is seeing the ball better than any betaman on either side.

His forward style is well suited to the new ball job, especially Davidson’s indippers. His one weakness is a tendency to get an early snick if a bowler is lucky enough to get a shortish one to run away from him early. Dexter went down the list to No. sin Adelaide. That must not happen again. In this all-in match he will surely treat the engagement more as a series of hit-and-run skirmishes than an organised battle. He must start at his first opportunity. I look forward eagerly to see what England will do in this inspiring situation. Surely this is a challenge to the primitive instincts which bar nothing in attaining their ends. If Anglo Saxon blood still swells strongly to the call for ’ight-ning-like attack, pillage, plunder and rapine as it did in the time of Hereward the Wake, surely this match should cause it to run high yet again. Australian Chances

Australia’s chances of victory are equally as good as England’s. With Davidson fit they know that England will find it hard to set a winning total. Davidson’s amazing ability to swing the new ball sets up a tremendous mental hazard for all those batsmen who face him early. His accuracy with the in-dipper has been the mark of his long and successful career. G. McKenzie has improved outstandingly. At the moment he might even be faster then Davidson, and he is gaining some control over swing and direction—two features of fast bowling which take years of practice to perfect.

The Australians will be looking to R. Benaud for a big effort. His test record since Brisbane has been too dismal for a bowler of his bright ability. Australia will rely so thoroughly on leg-spin support for the pace men that Benaud will have no doubts about batting first if he wins the toss. A wearing ping pitch is fundamentally important to a leg spinner. Australian batting is a subject about which no-one wants to talk, as there have been so many humiliating setbacks. N. Harvey’s confidence could not have been fully restored during that Adelaide innings. It would have needed a man with casehardened nerves to build up stock on that lucky innings. N. O’Neill batted magnificently there and he may repeat it here. I hope N. Hawke gets a playing brief. He will add some positive interest to the game. Australia can do with a few more young men. Last Appearances

One of the melancholy features of this game is the number of men who will be making their last appearances. Both sides have men who will strut the stage no more. Good luck and thanks to them. I have never found it harder to forecast the result of a test than this one. England has such an inviting chance to hop in and kick every head that I feel envious. K Dexter can use his bloodstirring psychological advantage, England shou I have a great chance. I am certain that this will be a memorable match.