DREARY FINISH TO FIFTH TEST

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 16

DREARY FINISH TO FIFTH TEST

Stubborn Stand Stems Australian Collapse (N2. Preu SYDNEY, February 20. Australia retained the Ashes when the fifth and final test against England was drawn at Sydney today. The match and the series finally drew to a ’dreary finish when Australia refused a run-a-minute challenge set by England and then successfully recovered from a bad start that at one time threatened a desperate backs-to-the-wall fight.

England’s captain, E. R. Dexter, declared his second innings at 268 for eight, leaving Australia the task of scoring 241 runs for victory in 240 minutes.

But Australia never appeared to make any serious challenge. The first over dismissal of R. Simpson, bowled by F. S. Trueman for a duck, dampened any feeling of adventure, and four wickets fell before tea for only 75 runs. England’s off-spinner, D. A. Allen, spun out R. N. Harvey (28), N. C. O’Neill

(17), and B. Booth (0) in quick succession. But then W. Lawry, in the sheetanchor role, and P. Burge effectively put up the shutters. The pair batted right through the final session, frustrating any hope England might have had of further break throughs. Australia finished with 152 for four, 89 runs behind. Lawry took a marathon 240 minutes tor his unbeaten 45 and Burge batted 127 minutes for 52. The final hour was a disappointing fade-out and the crowd of nearly 15,000 frequently broke into slow handclapping in protest against the stubborn Australian batting performance England tried eight bowlers but only Allen and Trueman were successful. Trueman’s injured left leg failed to stand up to the strain of bowling and he retired from the field after sending down three overs.

England had lifted its overnight total of 165 for three to 268 tor eight with some adventurous batting, particularly in the second hour. K. F. Barrington finished only six runs short of his second century of the match He batted for 263 minutes and figured in a stand of 94 with M. C. Cowdrey Cowdrey was out tor 53, one of three batsmen who fell to A. K. Davidson in the morning’s play. Last Ball Wicket Davidson finished his farewell test on a brilliant note, taking a wicket with his last ball. He had A. C Smith caught at slip by Simpson. Tne series was the first five-test rubber ever drawn in Australia.

Scoreboard ENGLAND

First Innings .. .. 321 Second Innings D 8. Sheppard, c Harvey, b Benaud .. <8 R. Illingworth, c Hawke, b Benaud -.. ..18 K. F. Barrington, c Grout, b McKenzie .. 94 E. R. Dexter, st Grout, b Benaud .. .. 6 M. C. Cowdrey, c Benaud, b Davidson .. ..S3 T. W. Graveney, e and b Davidson .. ..3 F. J. Titmus, not out .. 12 F. S. Trueman, c Harvey, b McKenzie .. .. 8 A. C. Smith, c Simpson, b Davidson .. 1 Extras .. S Total (for eight wickets declared) .. 268 Fall of wickets: one for *O, two for 137, three for 145, four for 239, flve for 247, six for 249. seven for 257, eight for 268.

AUSTRALIA First Innings .. .. 349 Second Innings R. Simpson, b Trueman .. 0 W. Lawry, not out .. 45 R. N. Harvey, b Allen .. 28 N. C. O’Neill, c Smith, b Allen .. .. 17 B. Booth, b Allen .. 0 P. Burge, not out .. 52 Extras .. ..10 Total (for four wickets) .. 152 Fall of wickets: one for 0, two for 39. three for 70, four for 70.

First test at Brisbane—drawn. Second test at Melbourne— England won by seven Third test’ at Sydney—Australia won by eight wickets. Fourth test at Adelaide—drawn. Fifth test at Sydney—drawn.

Bowling R. W. o. IW. Davidson .. 28 1 80 3 McKenzie .. 8 0 39 2 Hawke .. 9 0 38 0 Benand .. 30 8 71 3 Simpson .. 4 0 22 0 Harvey .. 3 0 13 0

Bowling R. W. O. M. Trueman . 3 0 6 1 Statham 4 1 8 0 Dexter 4 1 11 0 Titmua 20 7 37 0 Allen 19 11 26 3 Barrington 8 3 22 0 Illingworth 10 5 8 0 Graveney . 4 0 24 0