Wood's century boosts Aust.

Press, 30 December 1978, Page 32

Wood's century boosts Aust.

NZPA Melbourne J Australia ha» fought its way, back into the Ashes series with! tome gutsy batting on the firstday of the third, vital test i against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A gritty, determined 100 not , out from Graeme Wood and sev-. era! fine partnerships took Aus-1 tralia to 243 for four at stumps! last night. Allan Border Is the other not! out batsman on 25. Four of Australia’s five part-’ nerships yesterday topped the 501 mark and all had Wood involved.; All the Australian batsmen,' with the exception of Kim Hughes, who was out to a dubious catch behind, put their heads down and got on with the iob. Their performances were a complete turn-around from the poor shows in the Brisbane and Perth tests The Australians around away at the formidable England attack, hampered bv a below-par effort from Bob Willis, on a wicket which was of a little help to •pin and pace alike. The Australian captain, Graham Yallop, who won his tenth toss in a row. had no hesitation tn batting yesterday morning. Wood’s innings, his longest in I test cricket, was a mirror ofi concentration and determination. He has been at the crease for six hours for his 100. which hasj included six fours. He *aced 267] balls. The teams are.—England- G.i Boycott, J. M. Brearley, D W Randall, G. 4 Gooch. D. 1.1 Gower, I. T. Both am. G Miller. F W. •’’aylor. J. E. MJ Hendrick., R. G. D. Wfilis.i Twelfth man, J Lever. Australia:! G N. Wood. R. Darling. G. N.

>1 Yallop, K. J. Hughes, P. M. I Toohev, A. R. Border, J. A. Mac- ’! lean, R. M. Hogg, G. Dymock, 11 A. G. Hurst. J D. Higgs. Twelfth t man, B. Yardley. AUSTRALIA i First innings I G. Wood not out 100 . R. Darling run out 33 . K. Hughes c Taylor b Botham 0 s G. Yallop c Hendrick b Botham . 41 tIP. Toohey c Randall b Miller 32 A. Border not out 25; Extras (IbS, nb4) 12 1 —i Total for four wkts 243■ Fall: 65, 65, 126, 189. Bowling O M R W 3 Willis 13 2 47 0 Botham 19 3 68 2 Hendrick .. .. 16 1 39 0 " Emburey 14 1 44 0 ’Miller 14 3 33 1;