Aust. batting collapses

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 60

Aust. batting collapses

NZPA Brisbane England finished in a strong position after Australia’s batting collapsed on the first day of the first, test at' the Brisbane Cricket ground; yesterday. Australia was bundled out for a meagre first-innings 116. When bad light stopped •play just before ' stumps, England in reply was 60 for two. including the wicket of Geoff Boycott. Australia lost a wicket in the first over of the match when the opener, Gary Cosier, was run out and the team never recovered from this early set-back. The England bowlers, led by a hostile Bob Willis, got right on top to have the Australians six down for 48 at lunch. Four more wickets fell before tea to have the Australians all out in 215 min off 37 overs. The chief destroyer for England was Bob Willis, who took four for 44 from 14 enthusiastic overs while his new-ball partner, Chris Old. ended with two for 24. It was left to Australia’s No. 9 batsman, Rodney Hogg, to top-score with 36. With the wicket-keeper,

John Mac Lean, he put on 60 in 79min in the only worthwhile partnership of the Australian innings. AUSTRALIA First innings |G. Wood c Taylor b Old 7 G. Cosier run out I P. Toohey b Willis . I G. Yallop c Gooch b Willis 7 K. Hughes c Taylor b Botham 4 T. Laughlin c sub (Lever) b Willis 1 i. Mac Lean not out 33 B. Yardley c Taylor b Willis 17 R. Hogg c Taylor b Botham 36 A. Hurst c Taylor b Botham 0 J. Higgs b Old 1 Extras (Ibl, nb6) 7 Total H 6 Fall: 2, 5. 14, 22, 24, 26, 53, 113, 113, 116. ' Bowling

ENGLAND First innings G. Boycott e Hughes b Hogg 13 G. Gooch c Laughlin b Hogg 2 D. Randall not out . .43 R. Taylor not out 2 Total for two wickets 40 Fall: 2, 38.

O. M. R. w. Willis .. 14 2 44 Old 9.7 1 24 2 Botham .. 12 1 40 3 Gooch 1 0 1 0 Edmonds 1 1 0 0

Bowling A. Hearst 7' 3’ 21 0 R. Hogg 7 4 8 2 T. Laughlin B. Yardley 6 2 2 0 u 15 0 0