England collapses to 284 all out

Press, 27 December 1982, Page 18

England collapses to 284 all out

NZPA-Reuter Melbourne A spirited fourth-wicket stand of 161 by Chris Tavare and Allan Lamb kept England’s hopes alive yesterday on the first day of the fourth cricket test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. But it was followed by a middle-order batting collapse as England slumped from 217 for four just after tea to 284 all out at the close of play. Tavare and Lamb came together in the first over after lunch when England was struggling at 56 for three in a match, which it must win to have any hope of retaining the Ashes as Australia leads the five-test series, 2-0.

They hammered Australia's bowlers at more than a run a minute and at the tea interval England looked set for a big score to give it the edge in the five-day game.

But soon after tea, Tavare was brilliantly caught by Bruce Yardley from a powerful square cut off Jeff Thomson, marking the start of the collapse in which England lost seven wickets for only 67 runs. Yardley ripped through the middle order, claiming four

wickets in the final session to transform his bowling figures from none for 70 to four for 89.

The spin bowler had Allan Lamb caught by John Dyson for 83, lan Botham caught at short square leg by Keppler Wessels for 27, Geoff Miller at silly point by Allan Border for 10 and Bob Taylor by Rod Marsh for one.

Derek Pringle was caught by Wessels off Rodney Hogg for nine and Norman Cowans went for three, caught by Geoff Lawson off Hogg in the final over as he tried to hit out. England’s captain Bob Willis was not out six.

Hogg made the initial breakthrough in the morning when he had Graeme Fowler caught by Greg Chappell at first slip for four. Chappell then caught Geoff Cook for 10 off the bowling of Jeff Thomson.,

The failure of the opening pair justified the Australian captain’s decision to make England bat when he won the toss. The catches also took his total for Australia to 111, passing the previous record set by one of his predecessors, Bobbie Simpson. David Gower, who had looked very comfortable on a good batting wicket, was out to a Marsh catch off Hogg in

the first over after lunch for 18. Tavare’s 89 marked a welcome return to form for the Kent player while Lamb’s sparkling contribution continued the fine form he has shown so far in Australia, but their efforts were overshadowed by the batting collapse which followed. ENGLAND First innings G. Cook c Chappell b Thomson • 10 G. Fowler c Chappell b Hogg 4 C. J. Tavare c Yardley b Thomson 89 D. I. Gower c Marsh b Hogg. 18 A. J. Lamb c Dyson b Yardley 83 I. T. Botham e Wessels b Yardley 27 G. Miller c Border b Yardley 10 D. R. Pringle c Wessels b Hogg 9 R. W. Taylor e Marsh b Yardley 1 R. G. D. Willis not out .. . 6 N. G. Cowans e Lawson b Hogg 3 Extras: 24 Total ' 284 Fall: 11, 25, 56, 217, 227, 259, 262, 268, 278.

Bowling 0 M R W G. F. Lawson 17 6 48 0 R. M. Hogg 23.3 6 69 4 B. Yardley 27 9 89 4 J. R. Thomson 13 2 49 2 G. S. Chappell 1 0 5 0