SECOND TEST MATCH

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 9

SECOND TEST MATCH

AUSTRALIA GETS FIRST STRIKE EIGHT WICKETS DOWN FOR 251 UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT TO PONSFORD In the second Test match, which commenced yesterday at Sydney, the Australian captain roused enthusiasm by winning the toss. The home team has done much better than at Brisbane, although the score is not a large one, eight wickets being down for 251. An unfortunate accident . happened to Ponsford that may prevent him batting again in the match.' The Englishmen’s bowling and fielding were good. United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

(Rec. December 15, 11.45 p.m.) Sydney, December 14. The second Test match commenced to-day in warm weather on a perfect wicket. Australia omitted Bradman from its team, and England left out Mead. The action of the Australian selectors is criticised, as Bradman is a good batsman and the finest outfield in the team. Being youthful, he has great cricket prospects, whilst some of the others are near the. close of tlieir career. The teams are :— England. — Chapman (captain), Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hammond, Jardine, Hendren, Tate, Larwood, Geary, White, and Duckworth. Australia. —Ryder (captain),. Woodfull, Ponsford, Richardson, Kippax, Hendry, Nothling, Oldfield, Grimmett, Ironmonger, and Blackie. Ryder in winning the toss delighted the huge crowd, for the wicket was made for run-getting. Pbnsford ' gave way to Richardson as the opening batsman with Woodfull. Richardson was not quite as safe as the Victorian against the fast-rising balls from Larwood, some of which were snicked over the heads of the slips. Richardson was eventually bowled by Larwood with one which kept a little low. DISMISSAL OF KIPPAX. Kippax’s dismissal caused a mild sensation. He turned to play Geary to leg and his leg stump was struck. The batsman remained at the wickets while some of the visitors lay down on the field. After a few minutes Kippax left, stating later that he did not know how he was out. At the luncheon interval the umpire stated that Kippax was bowled off his pad, but it is peculiar that it was Umpire Elder, at the striker’s end, who gave the decision, though outside hisjurisdiction. Hele, the proper official, had walked away from the wicket, it being the last ball of the over. Duckworth was hooted for appealing, the barracking increasing when the adjournment was made for lunch. Further ill-luck followed when Ponsford, after making five, received' a blow on the hand, breaking a bone. He is unlikely to play for over a month. SOME BRIGHT BATTING. During the Woodful-Hendry partnership the batting was very bright. Larwood- dropped his pace considerably, both batsmen swinging short ones tq the boundary. Tate was always hostile, but White, Geary and Hammond just accurate for some time, till Geary became dangerous. Woodful tried to turn a ball from him to leg. It kept low and got the Victorian l.b.w. He had played a fine innings lasting 173 minutes. He hit four 4’s, made many nice shots to the on side, and drove finely, getting over the ball well. Hendry provided Geary’s third wicket. He was clean bowled. He batted eighty-two minutes for 37. He hit four 4’s. Nothling having gone cheaply, Oldfield gave Ryder some assistance. He jumped out to Geary, missed and was out leg before. He was playing very forcefully and confidently when he took a risk with a ball which was a little better than the one that beat his colleagues. Oldfield gave a brilliant display for forty minutes. He is not out with Grimmett. He had added 30, and then when partnered with Blackie 29 were scored. He made many neat shots through the slips, and also drove to cover nicely. A splendid throw by Tate broke the wicket, resulting in Grimmett being run out. Blackie played doggedly, giving Oldfield most of the strike. The latter undoubtedly shared with Woodfull the batting honours against classy bowling and sound fielding. ONLY ONE WICKET TO GO. Virtually nine wickets are down, since Ponsford cannot return to the crease owing to his injury. Geary has taken five wickets for 35, which was a noteworthy feat by comparison with Larwood and Tate. Geary was accurate, with an occasional turn from the off, but had the players used their feet more frequently and to better purpose be would not have been so dan-

gerous. Larwood, with two for 77, sent down really fast balls .in the early stages, but lacked the sting later. Tate bowled with a good length, although be failed to get a wicket. Duckworth kept wickets brilliantly throughout the afternoon. Umpire Elder’s questionable action in adjudicating on the Kippax incident is universally condemned, although Kippax should not have left the wicket, when be did. The attendance was 40,700, which is a record for the first day of a Test match. The takings amounted to £4200. The following are the scores: — AUSTRALIA.

Total for eight wickets 251 Fall of Wickets.—One for 51, two for 65, three for 152, four for 153, five for 171, six for 192, seven for 222, eight for 251. SYMPATHY WITH THE KING. The Board of Control and both teams sent a cablegram sympathising with the King and expressing hope for his rapid recovery. KEEN INTEREST IN MATCH (Rec. December 14, 11.45 p.m.) Sydney, December 14. An indication of the great enthusiasm and keenness in the cricket Test is that the evening newspapers, besides issuing special editions, erected hoardings outside the offices on which the progress of the scores was posted and witnessed by thousands of people, but the march of science was again strikingly exemplified by an electrically controlled invention outside the “Evening News.” This depicted the actual cricket pitch and the movements of the ball after leaving the bowler’s hand, also where it travelled to after being hit. Two discs represented the batsmen at either end. When they rau, so the discs would move backwards or forwards, crease to crease, even indicating the batsmen’s hesitancy to steal an extra run, and whenever the ball reached the boundary a big crowd of spectators, who w-ere thus able fully to visualise the finer points of the game taking place three miles away, cheered lustily.

NO REPETITION OF BRISBANE DEBACLE COMMENT OF MORNING POST” (Australian Press Association.) London, December 13. The “Morning Bost,” in an editorial, says: “Whatever happens in Sydney, we may be sure that the Brisbane debacle will not be repeated. Australia had all the worst of the luck, but what was more surprising was that she did not show that tenacity iu a tight corner which is one of the most formidable characteristics of Australian sides. Australian cricket, like English in 1921, is in a state of transition. It is difficult to decide the claims of the oldsters and youngsters. The selectors have shown courage in. making few changes. It illustrates the saying that it is hard to enter a Test team in Australia, and still harder to get out of it. With the statistics on their side as well as the thrilling sympathy of the most exuberant crowd on any of the Empire’s playing fields, we are confident that whoever wins the toss, Chapman’s team will not only succeed, but will deserve success.”

First Innings. o Woodfull, l.b.w., b. Geary ,... OS Kippax, b. Geary .... 9 Ponsford, retired hurt . Hendry, b. Geary ............ ,... 37 Hyder, l.b.w., b. Geary .... 8 Oldfield, not out .... 40 Grimmett, run.out ... 9 Ironmonger, not out .... 0 Extras .... 15