ALL OUT FOR 172 Dismal batting by England again

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33753, 28 January 1975, Page 26

ALL OUT FOR 172 Dismal batting by England again

(New Zealand Press Association— Copyright) ADELAIDE. Australia had moved into a winning position at the end of the third day of the fifth test in Adelaide yesterday after another dismal batting performance by England.

Australia led England by 243 runs with eight second-innings wickets left and two more days left after the rest day today.

Australia started its second innings after tea with a lead of 132 runs after Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson had again exposed England’s batting weakness against pace bowling.

Lillee claimed four wickets and Thomson three in dismissing England for 172 in just under four hours. Australia was 111 for two at stumps after scoring at nearly" a run a minute as England’s bowlers toiled without success to keep the scoring down. lan Redpath was not out 47, and he shared a partnership with lan Chappeil of 76 in even time before Chappell was caught by the ■ wicketkeeper, Alan Knott, off Derek Underwood, when trying to hit another six off the leftarm spinner.

Greg Chappell was 6 not out, with the other Austra-

lian batsman out, Rick McCosker, caught by KnOtt off Geoff Arnold, for 11.

The day belonged to Australia, as Lillee and Thomson blasted open England’s batting and then called on Ashley Mallett, the off-spinner, to finish off the tail-enders by taking three wickets for 10 runs.

Lillee got Australia off to a flying start when he had Dennis Amiss caught at first slip, and the Australian fast bowler finished England’s innings by bowling Geoff Arnold who was the only batsman who was not caught. Resistance England’s wickets fell regularly after the opening blow, with the captain, Mike Denness, who scored 51, and Keith Fletcher, who scored 40, the only batsmen to show any signs of resistance. Denness and Fletcner were both dismissed by Thomson, who had to take a back seat yesterday to Lillee.

Lillee bowled the fastest he has done in the series, and always picked up a wicket when England seemed to be oh the way to recovery. Cowdrey, who survived a number of chances, was out to a magnificent catch from Walker at backward square leg for 26. Cowdrey hooked a Thomson bouncer, and Walker, a top Australian Rules footballer, jumped in the air, knocking the ball higher still and then taking the catch at the second attempt. The Australian bowlers again bowled many bumpers, and Walker felled Denness wtih a ball that hit him in the groin. Australia’s tactics were

evident immediately the second innings began as the batsmen moved quickly to grab singles and push the scoring rate along. Twelve wickets fell and 281'runs were scored during the day, making up for the first day which was lost through rain. ENGLAND First innings D. L. Amiss c I. Chappell b Lillee 0 D. Lloyd c Marsh b Lillee 4 M. C. Cowdrey c Walker b Thomson .. 26 M. H. Denness c Marsh b Thomson 51 K. W. R. Fletcher c I. Chappell b Thomson .. 40 A. W. Greig c Marsh b Lillee 19 A. P. E. Knott e Lillee b Mallett 5 F. J. Titmus c G. Chappell b Mallett 11 D. L. Underwood c Lillee b Mallett 0 G. G. Arnold b Lillee .. 0 R. G. Willis not out .. 11 Extras (Ib2, nb3) .. 5 Total "172 Fail of wickets: 2, 19, 66, 90, 130, 147, 155, 156. 161, 172.

AUSTRALIA First innings 304 Second innings I. Redpath not out .. 47 R. McCosker e Knott b Arnold 11 I. Chappell c Knott b Underwood ..41 G. Chappell not out .. r.. 6 Extras (nb6) 6 Total (for 2 wickets) 111 Fall of wickets: 16, 92. Bowling

Bowling Lillee 0 .. 12.5 M 2 R 49 w 4 Walker .. 5 1 18 0 Mallett 9 4 14 3 Thomson .. 15 1 58 3 Jenner .. 5 0 28 0

O M R w Arnold 6 0 29 1 Underwood . 8 2 24 1 Willis . 5 0 27 0 TItmus 6 1 25 0