THE THIRD TEST

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 82, 31 December 1928, Page 9

THE THIRD TEST

AUSTRALIANS WIN TOSS IN GOOD POSITION AT END OF DAY’S PLAY KIPPAX AND RYDER SCORE CENTURIES The Australians won the toss in the third Test match, and although they started badly, losing two wickets for 15 and three for 57, Ryder and Kippax, batting confidently, added 161 for the fourth wicket, thereby putting the home side in a good position. Bradman and Ryder continued to bat dashingly until stumps were drawn, when the score was 276 for four wickets.

United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright

(Rec. December 30, 5.5 p.m.)

Melbourne, December 30.

The third Test began in perfect weather, on a splendid wicket. The attendance was 03,300,and the gate receipts were £6OOO. Australia won the toss, Woodfull and Richardson opening to Larwood. Neither batsmen was coinfoftabTe. Richardson was caught first ball from Larwood in the second over, the batsman being at the wicket eight minutes, and the score reading one wicket for 5 runs. The crowd was barracking Duckworth for his appeals. Woodfull playing a fast rising one from Tate, was cleverly caught by Jardine at mid-on. Hendren and Chapman gave a brilliant exhibition of fielding, while Tate and Larwood puzzled the batsmen. Three Wickets Go Cheaply. Hendry, who was placing nicely .appeared set when he was caught off a rising ball from Larwood. The score now stood at three for 57; Ryder partnered Kippax, and the batsmen immediately collared the bowling of Tate and Larwood, and scored proliflcally. Kippax, who was pulling particularly well, hit three successive 4’s off Larwood. Ryder followed suit, hitting him for 6. It was bright cricket, 36 runs being scored in 17 minutes. The batsmen missed no opportunity for short runs. Kippax nearly hit on at 52. White and Geary were in great form, their bowling steadying the scoring. White had nine overs for ten runs, his off theory being very troublesome, Hendren was invaluable in the outfield, reducing to singles many lusty hits. Both batsmen were cautious, facing White and Geary. The game was temporarily delayed to remove a crowd which encroached on the boundary. The usually reliable Chapman twice misfielded. . , The Englishmen’s throwing. in was deadly. Duckworth got a nasty knock taking a ball from Geary. Kippax and Ryder were delightful, completely mastering the bowling. They awaited loose balls to pull them for 4’s. ■ At the tea adjournment, the score stood at three for 158.

Dashing Batting Delights Crowd.

On resuming the crowd was in ecstasies at the dashing batting, but White was saving countless runs for Kngland. The partnership was faultless, not a semblance of a chance being given. England’s fielding retained its keenness, especially that of Hendren, Jardine, and Chapman. An appeal by Duckworth against Kippax at 89 was disallowed. Tate was tried with the breeze, but was of no avail. Kippax was scoring rapidly with pulls to leg. Both batsmen see-sawed their score, with a 20 margin in Kippax’s favour. Runs came smartly with Larwood bowling, the batsmen swinging his rising balls lustily to the boundary. A magnificent drive off Larwood for three brought Kippax to 100. The ovation had hardly stopped when the next ball from Larwood was swung hard to leg, Kippax being caught by Jardine in the outfield. Valuable Partnership Ended. The valuable and brilliant partnership had added 101 runs. Kippax batted for 230 minutes. Bradman commenced confidently, and quickened the runs. He had 17 up when Ryder dashingly drove White to the boundary, and topped his century. Ryder had played , solidly and staunchly for his century. Hendren twice made remarkable boundary saves. It was batting de lux, with Bradman and Ryder smashing delightfully and scoring well till stumps were drawn. The following are the scores AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Woodfull. c. Jardine, b. Tate .... 7 Richardson, c. Duckworth, b. Larwood ..; 3 Hendry, c. Jardine, b. : Larwood .. 23 Kippax, c. Jardine, b. Larwood .. 100 Ryder, not out Hl Bradman, not out 20 Extras 0 Total for four wickets 276 KANGAROO ON THE BOX SEAT AUSTRALIA'S PROMISING OPENING . (Notes by ‘‘Burwood,”) Australia certainly bad bad luck iu losiug that great all-rounder. Jack Gregory, in the nrst Test, and that prince of batsmen, I‘onsl'ord, in the second trial of strength, to say nothing of Kellcway’s loss through -itoiuaine poisoning during the progress of the first Test at Brisbane. However, the fickle goddess Fortune has a knack of evening things, and she has made amends by allowing Ryder, the Australian captain, to win the toss twice out of the three Test matches entered upon so far. Australia was in a desperate position when the third Test was commenced at Melbourne on Saturday. England already had two legs in. which meant that if John Bull took the third game he would win the . übber and thus retain the cricket sunremacy of the world he regained by defeating Australia in the fifth nnd only Test match played to a finish in England in 1926. Australia therefore, simply had to will the third Test match, and there must have been great rejoicing when Rvder again bent Chapman for the spin of the coin, giving Australia the great advantage of first knock on a batsman’s wicket. There must, however, have been something like consternation when the Australians made a disastrous start. 5 ietor Richardson, the South Australn't' stalwart. was the first to go. snapped up by Duckworth behind the sticks off Larwood. As if this were not enough.

that' great defensive batsman, Woodfull, snicked one from Tate into Jardine’s hands, and two of Australia's leading batsmen were out on a perfect wicket for 15 runs. Hendry and Kippax put their backs to the wall and endeavoured to retrieve the early disaster, but with the total at 63 Jardine took his second catch, disposing of Hendry off the express bowler Larwood.

One can imagine the anxiety amongst the big crowd on the Melbourne ground when 63—3—23) was hoisted on the board. But here the Australians proved that they still possess the wonderful fighting spirit which has made them famous the world over, not only at Lord's, the Oval, Old Trafford, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, but on the sterner field of Villers Brettoneux, where they said to the advancing German hordes, “Thus far shalt though come, and no further.” Ryder, the Australia captain, joined Kippax, and the pair made a stand which will go down in history as one of the finest fighting efforts Australian batsmen have ever put up. Kippax and Ryder grimly set out to take the bloom off the deadly bowling of Larwood and Tate, which had played such havoc with the earlier batsmen. So well did they succeed that they got on top of the bowling, and the second hundred was hoisted with the pair still going strong and well. One can picture the satisfaction of the crowd as this pair of valiant batsmen over by over repaired the fallen fortunes of their side, nnd brought Australia back to a respectable position. What ringing cheers must have rent the heavens when Kippax reached the century, the first he has recorded in Test matches against England. Equal praise must be given the lion-hearted Ryder, who showed his nien how to deal with Larwood and Tate. When Kippax ran to three figures, Ryder was 79. Some players are seriously handicapped by the cares of captaincy, but the Victorian appears to have the ideal temperament for leadership, and in the present scries of Tests has set his men an inspiring example, notwithstanding all Clem Hill has had to say. Kippax and Ryder, b” their splendid fighting effort, redeemer the Australian innings, and paved the way for the men behind them to take toll of the bowling later bv giving them confidence. As the result of the spirited stand made bv Kinpax and Ryder on Saturday, Australia should resume the match todav with renewed confidence. Let us hope thev will pile up a long score. It is Australia’s turn to win, as a win for England would give them the rubber, and rob the two remaining games of much of their interest. Kippax, who is 31 years of age, has had ten years’ experience in first-class cricket and, although he has not jet had a trip to England, has built up a great batting record in Australia. He is the most attractive batsman in Australia, with delightful strokes on the off. Unlike most players of the piesen. day, he is not afraid to cut, and makes this paying shot with ei.se, grace, and power, both back and late. Possessing sound defence, he drives straight and through the covers with great power. He was late in getting his chance in big cricket. He first came into prominence in the 1922-3 season, when he scored 631 runs for New South V ales at an average of 90. Altogether, in first-class cricket, up to the end of last season, lie had scored 4996 runs at an average of 65. In Sheffield Shield games, he hart scored 1694 runs against Victoria, 1421 against South Australia, and 90— against Queensland, his best scores being olu not out against Queensland last season, 271 not out, 217 not out, and 212 not out against Victoria, and 248 against South Australia. m He played in one of the Test matches against Gilligan’s English team in. 1924-5, scoring 42 and eight. Kippax is wellknown in New Zealand, having visited this country with Australian teams in 1921, 1924, and 1928. He did not meet witli much success with the Australian team in New Zealand early in the present year, his best scores being 115 against Nelson, and 76 against North Otago. Ryder, the Australian captain, who did so much to retrieve Australia’s laurels at Melbourne on Saturday, has been one of Australia’s loading, players for several seasons past. The Victorian, who is 39 years of age, is a batsman who can hit hard and score freely. He is also a useful change bowler, and fair fieldsman in the slips. This is his fifteenth Test match against England, and up to the end of last season he had totalled 568 runs, at an average of 37.86, his best score being the 201 not out he hit up for Australia against England in the 1924-5 season. In Sheffield Shield games, up to the end ot last season, he had scored 1635 runs against South Australia, 1673 against New South Wales, and 318 against Queensland, his best scores being 242 against South Australia and 295 against New South Wales. GAME’S PROGRESS WATCHED IN SYDNEY (Rec. December 30, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney,. December .30. The progress of the third Test match, in Melbourne, was witnessed by thousands of people yesterday in Sydney, who gathered on the lawns in Hyde Park, directly opposite the “News” office, which again displayed a magnetic scoring board. Everybody agreed that it was a rare treat to be able to watch in such congenial surroundings a gratuitous portrayal of the most minute details of the celebrated Test 500 miles away, with a little silver ball cutting capers all over the improvised cricket field, even to Ibe batsmen running between the wickets. Automatically. the scores went up with each run. The whole story of Australia’s remarkable recovery was told in a pleasingly novel way, which is a triumph of ingenuity. AUSTRALIA’S MISFORTUNES BUT NO REASON FOR DESPAIR (Australian Press Assn. —United Service’ London, December 28. P. F. Warner describes the team as without a ftiil. but unless A'Beckett is the bowler for whom Australia is waiting. he does not see why on a good wicket England should make loss than from 4(10 to 500. The “Daily Express” says editorially: "Though the luck thus far • has been against Australia, the worst misfortune

is being up against a better team. Whether this is a permanent handicap remains to be seen, but even if England wins all five Tests, there is no reason for Australia to despair. She is an old hand at all sports, and at one time champion at most. She knows that in this sphere of cricket more than others there must be ups and downs. The thorough drubbing she is now receiving will just be the stimulus towards victory in 1930 that Australia needs.”

FAMOUS BAT AND BALL

London, December 2S.

A wonderful collection of historical exhibits at the Schoolboys’ Own Exhibition at Westminster includes the ball with which M. W. Tate took a big share in winning the 1926 Test match, and the bat with which Ponsford made his world's record score.