ENGLAND’S BIG LEAD

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 72, 18 December 1928, Page 11

ENGLAND’S BIG LEAD

IN SECOND TEST MATCH FIVE WICKETS DOWN FOR 420 DOUBLE CENTURY TO HAMMOND England has established a good lead in the second Test match, having scored'42o for the loss of five wickets., Hammond has made 201, not out, and speculation is rife as to whether he will beat Foster’s Test record of 287. The Australian bowling is declared to have been below Test match standard, but the fielding was good.

United Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright.

(Rec. December 17, 11.45 p.m.)

Sydney, December 17.

For the Test-cricket match, the wicket on resumption was slower than Saturday’s. The bowlers were able to turn the ball, but without any pace off the pitch. Blay reopened in warm weather.

Hammond was far more aggressive than earlier in the innings, his cover drives off Grimmett and Ironmonger being magnificent. Jardine provided a great contrast, making his runs very carefully.

After the pair had added S 3, Hammond drove the ball back, slightly away from the bowler. Blackie, who dashed across, picked up cleanly, and threw down the wicket before Jardine had completed his run. The Surrey man was an hour and a half making 28. Blackie’s bright work in this incident surprised the English pair, who had been taking risks when balls went to Blackie and Ironmonger, who are generally clumsy fieldsmen. Hendren and Hammond were brilliant, entirely collaring the bowling, which was positively without sting. Both batsmen drove to the on and the off with terrific force whilst the pair were together. Richardson was at great form at coyer. Hammond reached 100 after 195 minutes. End of Hendren’s Dashing Innings. With the total at 293 Hendren made a very poor shot, turning Blackie into Richardson’s hands at forward short leg. He bad played a dashing innings of just over two hours. He hit eight 4’s. The partnership produced 145, six runs less than the English fourth wicket record by Fry and Jackson in England in 1905, but considerably lower than Australia’s best, 221 bv Svd Gregory and Harry Trott at Kennington Oval in 1896. Chapman hit two great 6’s off Blackie, one to long-on and the other straight. . Hammond weakened slightly, giving a possible chance when 133 to Ironmonger off Blackie, but the fieldsman did not move promptly. At 149 be hit one back to Ryder, who just failed to hold it. He fell just as he touched the ball. At the tea adjournmnt the score board read four wickets for 327. Sensational Catch by Ryder. On resumption both batsmen were quiet for a while. Then Chapman tried another big hit off Blackie. The ball went high over the head of Ryder at deep mid-on. He turned and ran about fifteen yards with the sun in his eyes and took a sensational catch with his arms outstretched. The crowd cheered the feat for some seconds. Play slackened with the coming of Larwood. Blackie was now bowling splendidly, turning the ball well from the off. Hammond became more subdued. He was evidently tired. He, however, moved slowly towards his second century. Kippax, who rarely bowls in club or first-class cricket, was the seventh bowler tried, but the batsmen did not hurry. Hammond Congratulated. Hammond reached two hundred to the accompaniment or prolonged cheering. The Australian captain and other Australian players rushed up and shook Hammond’s hand most cordially. Soon afterwards stumps were drawn. Hammond’s 201 took 395 minutes. He hit twenty-two 4’s. If was a fine knock. He made beautiful shots past point, but his main stroke was through covers and mid-off. He equalled Syd. Gregory’s score in. Sydney Tests, which was the highest for Australia at the Sydney ground, and Ryder’s made at Adelaide against the last tennis The records still intact are Murdoch’s 2H at Kennington Oval and R. E. Fosters 287 on the Sydney cricket ground.

The bowling was so weak to-day that it is not improbable he will break these records to-morrow. The bowling is not up to Tost standard. Probably there will be many changes for. the next game. Grimmettls one victim cost 123 runs. Ironmonger’s 88 and Blackie’s two wickets 101. The Feilding was good. Richardson's being perfect. The attendance was 32.000. and the receipts £3247.

Apropos of Hobbs’s birthday present, Hobbs stated to-day that he was deeply touched by the wonderful spirit behind the gift. He was receiving telegrams of congratulation and goodwill from all over Australia and as far afield as New Zealand, for which he was deeply grateful. The following are the scores: — AUSTRALIA. First innings ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs, c. Oldfield, b. Grimmett .. 40 Sutcliffe, c. Hendry, b. Ironmonger 11 Hammond, not out 201 Jardine, run out -8 Hendren, c. Richardson, b. Blackie 74 Chapman, c. Ryder, b. Blackie .. 20 Larwood, not out 57 Extras 9 Total for five wickets 420 Fall of wickets: One for 37, two for 65, three for 148, four for 293, five, for 341. UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE THE KIPPAX EPISODE (Rec. December 17, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 17. The "Daily News” says: “It was particularly unfortunate that the Kippax episode occurred when Australia had already been so unlucky. There seems no doubt that Kippax was out, b’. it is equally clear, as Gilligan points out. that the English players were wrong in the manner in which they got him declared out, when he had been given not out by the bowler s umpire. The decision, however obviously unjust, ought to be accepted. In calling for revision, the English gained a point, but lost something far more valuable, the spontaneous goodwill of their opponents and the spectators. In calling for the umpire's report the Board of Control took an unusual step. We hope that neither their action nor those of the English side, occasioned as they were by the excitement of the moment, will be repeated.” “HAS DECLINE SET IN?” (Australian Press Association.) London, December 16. “Has a decline set in?” asks the “Evening Standard,” commenting on the comparative failures of Hobbs and Sutcliffe in the Tests. It recalls that on the last tour a century from either was a commonplace. They are now comparatively easy victims. It adds: “Perhaps we expect too much from Hobbs.” It is significant, however, that the same paper, commenting on the Hobbs presentation, heads a paragraph : “But Jack has a boomerang.” Leicestershire, which does not often provide Test cricketers, is overjoyed at Geary's success. The County Club has cabled Geary congratulations. “AUSTRALIA UP AGAINST IT” Dominion Special Service. Auckland, December 17. “Australia is well up against it. and I think the Englishmen will win all through.” That is the opinion of Mr. W. E. Bush, Auckland city engineer, who came back to Auckland by the Niagara from Sydney. He saw the best part of the first cricket Test, played at Brisbane. “The Englishmen have a very strong batting side, and their bowling is superior to that of the Australians.” One of the most delightful facts about tlie Englishmen, snid Mr. Bush, was the perfect understanding between Hobbs and Sutcliffe in their first wicket partnership. Their batting and running between wickets wns beautiful to watch, and they fullv deserved the high opinion which thev had won for themselves. Both sides had shown good work in their fielding. SHEFFIELD SHIELD GAME EBELING PERFORMS HAT TRICK. Australian Press Association. Melbourne. December 16. In the Sheffield Shield match, against Queensland. Victoria won the toss, and batted. Both sides were below strength, especially Victoria, due to the absence of players engaged in the Test match. The wicket wns perfect. Victoria, in the first innings, made (Rigg and Baring each 50, Scarfe, not Queensland's first ininngs produced but 07 (O'Connor 44). Ebeling took i wickets for 33. including the lint trick, and four wickets in one over; A’Beekett, three for 29 (Rec. December 17. midnight.) Melbourne. December 17. Victorin in the second innings had made 344 for seven wickets, declared (Rigg 38. Seaife 36. Ellis 107 not out, Wilkinson's 6). Thurlow took three wickets for 102 and Amos two for 89. Queensland in the second innings has made 8S for no wickets.