Case For More Spin

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 3

Case For More Spin

When play began, four overs had to be bowled before the new ball could be taken, and it was expressive of the changed attitude of the Australians that they yielded 15 runs, from Yuile and Pollard. It was, perhaps, the comfort in which the batsmen played Yuile that kept the slow left-hander out of the attack from 11.15 a.m. until almost 3 p.m. It seemed reasonable, at the time, according to the pattern of the game, but in retrospect—the dug-out from which so many telling shots can be fired—perhaps Yuile should have been used more. Philpott, later in the day, turned the ball very sharply. and Yuile might well have played a more important part. With the new ball, Collinge bowled with much more vigour than in the opening stages of the innings, but the young batsmen handled him welt Near Run Out From Sheahan, there was much more than the pure, precise drive of the half-vol-ley. Both he and Davies square cut, drove and deflected delightfully, and their only moment of anxiety in the early stages was when a fine return from Taylor had Davies stretching for his ground. He collided with Harford, which made a full

assessment of the situation difficult.

They even had the audacity to take 10 from an over by Motz, a tally reached with four overthrows when Dowling found Sheahan backing up too eagerly. It was cricket with vitality and purpose, however, and it was of true quality, particularly when Davies square drove Taylor for 4. But when he was 50, and the partnership had reached 92 in 128 minutes, Davies was out. caught behind, a decision which he accepted readily, but with an obvious air of disbelief.

Jarman, a busy, bustling batsman, survived a sharp chance to Congdon in the gully off Collinge at 11, but at 16 he chased an outswinger from Motz and was caught behind. This brought in Philpott, who, well aware that his side was still 77 behind with only four wickets in hand, applied himself conscientiously. 3hr. To 50

But there was a fine drive for 4 off Collinge, and, next ball, the almost airy dismissal of a short one to the midwicket boundary. Sheahan took almost three hours to reach 50. a legacy of his labours the previous evening, but by this time his batting was authoritative, and most attractive. By lunch, 113 had been made in two hours, for two wickets, from 33 overs. Before Sheahan reached his century, there were some difficult moments with Tay-

lor when he was 99, an agon-i ising break for drinks. But it was from Taylor the vital runs came—a shot off his pads to mid-wicket for 3. Sheahan’s century took 270 minutes, his second 50 in only 95 minutes. Freeman, absolutely without inhibitions, swung his bat gladly and effectively, and if his left foot was often only distantly related to the pitch of the ball, it was a magnificent contribution to his side. At 17, he hit one high, and Motz, running in from long-off, failed to hold a difficult catch. Freeman pounded away with strong drives and pulls, and the Australians went from 350 to 400 in 44 minutes. The pair, in fact, added 50 in 37 minutes, with 16 coming from an over by Collinge. Dropped Again It was exciting, sometimes uproarious entertainment. At 37, Freeman was dropped by Taylor at long-on, slashed Pollard’s next ball through the covers, cut for 4, and was then bowled making a quaintly effete attempt to push for a single. Freeman made his 47 in only 44 minutes, with nine 4s, and his partnership with Sheahan was the fifth in the innings to exceed 50. The innings lasted only a further quarter-hour, but just before the end Sheahan made one shot almost without compare. It was off Pollard, and it was a cover drive for 4 a high lift and full swing of the bat, glorious and graceful, with the batsman down the pitch to make the stroke; in this lovely moment, Sheahan looked like a first cousin to Victor Trumpet. Sheahan was stumped, finally, at the second attempt, and his dismissal ended a New Zealand rout. The Australians’ last 50 runs were scored in an incredible 21 minutes: no depths of parochialism could evade recognition of its splendour. Sheahan came back to a most moving welcome, the ground standing to him. While there are batsmen like Sheahan, nothing can tarnish a great game. The Australians batted 509 minutes, but finally achieved a good scoring rate of more than three runs an over. Motz tried hard, but looked like a bowler who knew there was little reward this side of heaven. Collinge bad some life, but was not fast enough, or quite accurate enough, to contain batsmen who were assertive. Pollard finished a highly unlucky performance with three wickets, but without much turn; his brisk pace and flat flight did not hold the terrors of the first two tests.

New Zealand had 140 minutes of batting, and a deficit of 83. Frost struck the first blow with a bouncer pitched on a perfect line. Jarvis could not get everything away in time and was caught from a glove. For the next 35 minutes, all seemed well with New Zealand. Frost was fast and eager, but Congdon, much more at home than against the seam and swing of the first morning, batted well, and so too did Dowling, as composed and safe as ever. They played many good, firm shots, with Congdon picking up runs regularly

backward of square. They looked quite safe, and had added 42 in 37 minutes before Congdon played a strangely weak shot to a long-hop from Philpott, turning it slowly to Burge, forward of square, who took the catch well.

Sinclair, unhappily, was all doubt and diffidence. He seemed anchored by Philpott’s spin, and emerged from the shadows but briefly, when he square cut a short one firmly, for 4. While Dowling batted on with calm authority, all was well. But he was dismissed, at 77, by a leg-break pitching well outside him. No doubt conscious that New Zealand needed runs to check the Australian advance, he swept, but did not protect his stumps, and was bowled. His 37 was an attractive and competent innings, and it took his tally for the season to 800. Only 10 runs later Sinclair was also out, caught off a legitimate glance, a catch made to look easy by Jarman's swift reaction. And just before stumps, the industrious Connolly had Yuile leg before. So Thomson, dropped in the order, had to come in after all. He survived an anxious few minutes, made the shorter by a delightful passage at arms about Favell’s shadow across the pitch, cast from short cover. It was a debate carried on in the greatest good humour by both parties; and it saved an over. Pollard, after a diffident start, batted well towards the end. On Thomson and Pollard, nearly all New Zealand’s hopes will be entrusted. The Australians need only a final thrust to square the series; but it would not surprise if New Zealand, which had played with so much conviction until Saturday, make a real fight of it.