Test Honours To England

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31587, 26 January 1968, Page 17

Test Honours To England

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) PORT OF SPAIN (Trinidad). The England cricketers left Port of Spain yesterday for Jamaica in buoyant mood after their magnificent battle against the West Indies in a nervetingling finish to the first test.

England was 568 in its first innings and West Indies replied with 363. West Indies, in their second innings were 180 for eight at tea and still 25 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat, when they were saved by a record unbroken ninthwicket stand of 63 between the captain, G. Sobers and W. Hall, who steered their battered team to a close score of 243 for eight—and a draw. Cowdrey’s Skill But all the honours of the opening five-day test of the series went to England, and particularly to the captain, C. Cowdrey, who led his men with skill and aggression. England's first test display shattered earlier predictions about the outcome of the series, which was widely expected to be a walk-over for the West Indies, the unofficial world champions. Although West Indies will no doubt improve, England showed that the Caribbean cricket maestros are not unbeatable. The West Indies selectors, worried by the loss of form of some of their top players, have decided to take the first test XI and the fast bowler, L. King, to a three-day trial game in Bridgetown next week. I

While West Indies may be forced into making changes for the second test, beginning at Kingston on February 8, . England will almost certainly . field much the same team. Faster Wicket The faster wicket at Sabina Park might result in the inclusion of a third pace bowler, and the leg-spinner, R. Hobbs might be left out. The first test ended with the crowd jumping up and down in their seats, as Sobers and Hall defied the England bowlers for the last 90 minutes. ENGLAND First Innings .. ... 568 WEST INDIES First Ihnings 363 Second Innings S. Nurse b Titmus . 42 S. Comacho c Graveney b Barrington .. 43 N. Butcher lbw b Brown .. 52 R. Kanhai c and b Hobbs .. 37 C. Lloyd c Titmus b Jones 2 D. Holford b Titmus .. 1 G. Sobers not out .. .. 33 D. Murray lbw b Brown .. 0 C. Griffiths b Brown .. 0 W. Hall not out .. 26 Extras .. 7 Total (for eight wkts) 243 Fall of wickets: one for 70, two for 100, three for 164, four • for 167, five for 178, six for 180, seven f for 180, eight for 180. Bowling.—Brown, 14, 4, 27, 3; Jones, 15, 3, 32. 1; D’Oliveira, : 5,2, 21, 0: Barrington, 15, 0, 169, 1; Hobbs, 13, 2, 44 1; Titmus *27, 1, 42, 2; Cowdrey, 1,0, 1. 0.