ENGLAND SCORES 516 FOR SEVEN Cowdrey Leads Rout Of Australian Attack

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30948, 3 January 1966, Page 3

ENGLAND SCORES 516 FOR SEVEN Cowdrey Leads Rout Of Australian Attack

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE. A majestic century by M. C. Cowdrey in the second test at Melbourne on Saturday has paved the way for England to compile its biggest score against Australia in Australia for more than 33 years.

England, by the end of the third day, had amassed a total of 516 for seven in reply to Australia’s first innings’ score of 358. Two days still remain, and England, already 158 runs ahead with three wickets standing, including the pugnacious J. M. Parks, could have scented victory.

How the wheel has turned. England, humiliated and forced to follow on in the drawn first test in Brisbane, has bounced back in this second test to outplay Australia in all departments. The 32-year-old Cowdrey, was England’s hero on Saturday as he thrashed the Australian bowlers before an enthralled crowd of 43,745. It was his eighteenth test century, his fourth against Australia, and his third on this Melbourne ground. Australian hopes of keeping England’s first innings lead down to a narrow margin

evaporated as Cowdrey, in 197 minutes of graceful batting drove, cut and swept his way to 104. Earlier, J. H. Edrich had lifted his overnight score of 48 to 109, his second century against Australia. K. F. Barrington (63), M. J. K. Smith (41), F. J. Titmus (23 not out) and Parks (66 not out) were others to contribute to England’s mammoth total. Not since 1932 at Sydney, when England compiled 524 runs, has it prospered so well in a test in Australia. The Australians had another discouraging day in the field in which, once again, its attack was exposed in all its limitations.

The home side’s plight was

aggravated when P. J. Burge left the field with an injured wrist and G. D. McKenzie suffered trouble with his back. Happily, fears that Burge had broken his wrist were unfounded, and a precautionary X-ray examination revealed only a severe bruise. McKenzie failed to complete his twenty-first over after he had suffered a sudden spasm in his back. He feared it might lead to a recurrence of the back trouble that kept him out of the first test.

He returned to the bowling crease after the tea adjournment and sent down the most sustained spell of the innings to capture the wickets of Smith and B. R. Knight

Philpott Hammered

But English wickets were at famine prices for Australia, and the leg-spinner, P. Philpott, came in for a fearful hiding. His 30 overs to date have cost 133 runs without the compensation of a wicket. Cowdrey, deprived of much of the strike in the early stages, hit his way to 50 in 125 minutes, then a second 50 in only 68 minutes.

He left to a deafening ovation from the Melbourne crowd. Half-way to the pavil-

ion he was confronted by a spectator who offered his hand in congratulation. Cowdrey warmly shook hands and the crowd broke into more sustained applause. The spectator scurried back to the outer, delighted with himself, but a police constable less impressed, smartly marched him out of the ground.

Punishing Start But if England’s batsmen captured the crowd’s imagination on Saturday, they had been no less successful on Friday after Australia had slumped from an overnight 278 for four to 358 all out.

The opening pair, G. Boycott (51) and R. W. Barber (48), in an exhilarating stand, put on 98 runs in 77 minutes. Barber, although not getting as much of the bowling as his partner, contributed largely to the hectic scoring rate. When they left, Edrich and Barrington carried the score to 208 for two at the close. But the batsmen had a good deal of luck on Friday. Boycott, in the opening over, Barber and Barrington all survived chances. Earlier, the Australian batting again had been stodgy and mostly lacking in combative spirit. Its last six Wickets added only 80 runs.

Missed Century The left-hander, R. M. Cowper, who was on 90 overnight, to the dismay of the crowd was dismissed for 99. It was one run short of what would have been his first test century against England. He has hit two centuries against the West Indies. The 20-year-old K. D. Walters, the “hope” for a recovery after Cowper’s departure, batled disappointingly. He carried his overnight score of seven to 22 and survived a chance when 17.

The fast-medium bowler, B. R. Knight, sent out to Australia as a late replacement, captured four wickets for 18 runs during the collapse of Australia's batting.