AUSTRALIA ON TOP IN FIFTH TEST

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 12

AUSTRALIA ON TOP IN FIFTH TEST

England Struggles For 195 Runs In Six Hours (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, February 15. England batted for a dreary six hours to score only 195 runs for five wickets on the first day of the vital and deciding fifth test against Australia at Sydney today. However, in spite of its “go slow” tactics, it might have been in a far better position had not R. N. Harvey—playing in his final test —taken three catches, the second described as one of the greatest ever seen on Sydney Cricket Ground.

This catch came after England had stubbornly but surely recovered from the loss of both opening batsmen for only 39 runs.

The score was 177 tor three, with T. W. Graveney facing G McKenzie. Harvey, who usually fields in the covers, was al short fine leg. Graveney glanced and Harvey, diving left, Bung out his left hand to hold a superb catch Earlier, Harvey had caught M. C. Cowdrey off A. K Davidson. Then, a few minutes before stumps, K. F Barrington, on 101. mistimed his shot off R. Beneud. and Harvey ran tn mid-wic-ket to catch him. Cowdrey as Opener England had made a bad start after winning the toss when Cowdrey was dismissed with the England score on five. He had been forced into the opening position when G. Pullar was left out of the team because of injury.

Cowdrey cocked a Lifting ball from Davidson forward of short leg and Harvey covered seven yards to take

a great diving catch. The pitch played easily from the outset. but D. S. Sheppard, after 105 minutes at the crease, was out to his first bad stroke. Sheppard hit a full-toss from the Australian test newcomer. N. Hawke, uppisbly on the off side of the wicket, and Hawke, following through, held the catch. < But then Barrington and E. R. Dexter began a good partnership to pull England round from 39 for two to 129 for three. Dexter, however, failed to bat with his usual aggression, yet looked very safe until tea. But the second ball after the break, R Simpson caught him close to the wicket off the leg spinner, N. O'Neill. It was a great break through for Australia, and when Harvey caught Graveney, England was really in trouble. Davidson bowled accurately but without his usual damaging pace. He showed no signs of the leg injury that forced him to leave the field in the fourth test in Adelaide. The wicket was not exactly lifeless and the Englishmen waited for the ball to come to their bats rather than step

out to the ball for quick runs. Barrington s 101. made in 320 minutes, was his eighth! test century, all made outside | England, and his fifth of the current Australian tour. Without showing his usual aggression. he steered England from an early crisis against the tight Australian bowling. Australia was in a very good position at stumps and with an early wicket tomorrow could have a vice-like •grip on the game and the Ashes Barrington Dropped The bright spot of the day’s cricket was the Australian fielding and the only blemish was B. Booth’s error when he dropped Barrington at 93, from a simple skied sweep shot. England’s 195 was the slowest day’s play of the series. The crowd of almost 26,000 sat stoically through most of it but there were outbreaks of slow handclapping and hooting. With a new ball due in another five runs, the Australians left the field immensely pleased with their performance. The bowlers had maintained an accurate, persistent attack on a slow wicket.