ENGLAND’S DAY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 63, 8 December 1936, Page 12

ENGLAND’S DAY

Change of Fortunes in Cricket Test AUSTRALIA MAKES 234 Deadly Fast Bowling By W. Voce CENTURY TO FINGLETON (By J. B. Hobbs—Copyright in all countries —Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) (Received December 7, 11.10 p.m.) Brisbane, December 7. As the result of the third day’s play England is in a splendid position in the first cricket Test against Australia. One way in which England could have forfeited its advantage was by losing four or five wickets cheaply to-night, but this was not done. This has been England’s day. Perhaps this is the first time I have been able to say that on this tour. Unable to stand up to some good bowling by Voce, Australia’s batsmen unexpectedly collapsed and were all out for 234, ■ leaving England wtih a lead of 124 runs. England did not throw away the advantage by going for runs and risking the loss of several wickets. Instead the batsmen wisely forgot about 1 the lead and played steadily. Time aids England, because the wicket will gradually wear. There were few signs of this to-day, but occasionally the slow bowlers made one turn. I am expecting the spinners to come into their own to-morrow and the following day. England played magnificently before lunch, securing three more wickets for the addition of 51 runs. McCabe was the first to go. Soon after completing his 50 he was caught when making a hook shot just where Barnett made such a great effort to catch him on Saturday—at mid-on, very wide and deep. He was also caught in this position in the New South Wales game, so had not profited by the lessons. Robinson had scored only two when he was well caught low down at first slip by Hammond, and Chipperfield was then taken at the wicket, all three falling to Voce. Brilliant Bowling. 1 In two spells Voce bowled six overs, with four maidens, for six runs, and three wickets. Allen opened the bowling, but, after giving two fours away in his second over, gracefully retired in favour of Voce. What a good move it was! In three overs Voce took two more wickets for two runs. Not one four was hit off him in this session. It was altogether a brilliant performance. Verity and Robins, the slow bowlers, backed him up solidly. Verity, for instance, was scored off only three times in six overs. Allen is a lucky captain, insomuch as his tactics suctake the new ball when Voce went on ceeded. He. was fortunate he did not take the new ball when Voce when on again just before lunch, because he might not have bad Chipperfield dismissed. I'ingleton played an admirable back-to-the-wall innings, adding 28 in 90 minutes before lunch, taking exactly five hours for his century, which he completed 35 minutes after the interval. It took him a long time to get the last run, this creating tense excitement. His mission was to stay there and try to give Australia a chance to recover. Allen persevered with the old ball after lunch. First Voce, then Robius and Verity had a turn, hoping to dislodge Sievers, whom they considered more likely to succumb to slow than fast bowling. As it happened, Fingleton was the batsman to get out. Verity deceived him completely with pace when he bowled his fast yorker. Fingleton shaped at it much too late. Ultimately Allen and Voce took the new ball and the tail was soon dismissed. McCormick had # runner and was applauded for his pluck in appearing. “Well Done, Boys.” 1 had given Australia 500 in this innings so, along with other English supporters, I was delightfully surprised. In fact, England performed so well that I got quite excited. We bad all been saying such unkind things about them, and it was indeed difficult to say nice ones. Therefore it gives me additional pleasure now to exclaim, “Well done, boys.” Voce was perhaps helped by some weak play by batsmen going for balls on the offside, but six for 41 against such a. supposedly powerful batting side is a' truly marvellous feat. In 10.6 overs to-day he got five wickets for 16. Earlier in the tour he had been unlucky, often getting one wicket when he bowled well enough to take three or four. Verity was a perfect foil. He took only one for 52, but indirectly contributed to some of Voce’s wickets. His turn should come late/ in the match. Though well nursed by Allen, Voce maintained his pace splendidly under a gruelling sun. While he kept a good length, his chief merit was his ability to make the ball run away.

Australia was handicapped by the loss of McCormick, so McCabe was one of the opening bowlers when England batted a second time. The attack lacked sting, with nobody above medium pace. Worthington had scored only eight when he missed a yorker from McCabe and had the mortification to find the ball rebound from the wicketkeeper’s pads. The ball just shook the bails off and he was out stumped. Barnett was completely out of touch. Several balls from O’Reilly found the edge of his bat, and he was almost bowled with the fifth ball of O’Reilly’s first over. He was eventually caught at bleep square leg off Ward when having a swing at a ball outside his legs.

AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. ■I. It. Fingleton, b. Verity 100 C. L. Badcock, b. Allen 8 ' I). G. Bradman, c. Worthington, b. Voce 38 S. J. McCabe, c. Barnett, b. Voce 51 It. H. Robinson, c. Hammond, b. Voce 2 A. G. Chipperfield, c. Ames, b. Voce .... 1 M.' M. Sievers, b. Allen 8 W. A. Oldfield, e. Ames, b. Voce 6 IV. J. O’Reilly, c. Leyland, b. Voce - ■ 3 F. Ward, c. Hardstaff, b. Allen 0 E. L. McCormick, not out J KxtrAs 10 Total 234 Fall of Wickets.—One for 13. two for 89. riiree for 166, four for 176, five for 202, six lor 220. seven for 229. eight for 231, nine f -.r 231. Bowliuir Analysis.

ENGLAND. First innings 358 Second Innings. S. Worthington, st. Oldfield, b. McCabe 8 C. «T. Barnett, c. Badcock, b. Ward .... 26 A. E. Fagg, not out 24 W. R. Hammond, not out 32 Extras 5 Total for two wickets 75 Fall of Wickets. —One for 17, two for 50.

THE ENGLISH SIDE Effect of Accidents and 111-health Dominion Special Service. Auckland, December 7. The opinion that the English cricket team now playing in Australia had become morally disorganised as a result of accidents and ill-health among the players, was expressed by Mr. A. Fairfax, a former New South Wales player, who arrived from Sydney by the Aoraugi. He is ou his way back to Londou, where he has been conducting a coaching school for the past three years. Sir. Fairfax, who has represented Australia in 15 Test matches against England and the West ludies. said that the English team was a good side, but it seemed to have struck a bud patch Tlie players could not do a thing right and they were palpably weak against slow bowling; also, the pace of the Australian wickets seemed to have the batsmen tricked after the wet season they had experienced in England. Hammond was still as good as ever, and Barnett was the second-best bat in the team, but none of the others seemed to be shaping well. None of the bowlers. except Verity, was bowling well.

“I think the odds are on Australia for the Tests,” said Mr. Fairfax. “Eng land will be lucky to win the ashes. Taking it all,,round the team is weak as international teams go. but that is only because England is passing through a stage that all cricketing countries go through at some time. The English players are all experienced and they should get over this bad patch England is really building up a new team and giving younger players a chance. “They should do quite well if there are one or two spin bowlers in the team,” said Mr. Fairfax, when asked how the NeiV Zealanders would fare on the tour in England next vear. Spin bowling was necessary, as the Englishmen did not play it properly. OPTIMISM IN ENGLAND London, December 6. Cricket commentators express relief at England’s recovery. The team finished on Saturday in a far belter position than was expected The opinion Is expressed that Iltfmmond will surely not fail twice. They are also banking on Australia’s disadvantage in batting ou the last wicket

o. M I? W <;. 0. Allen 11; , I 3 \\. Voce •i 41 U W. I?. Hammond .. 4 0 12 0 IB. Verity 28 11 • >_ 1 ft. W. v. Rebins .. 17 0 4.S 0

f Bowling Analysis. It. IV. o. M. M. M. Sievers ;i 1 10 0 S. J. McCabe 1) 12 1 F. Ward 10 4 :;o i AV. J. O’Reillv ... . 12 6 15 0 A. G. Chipperfield . -1 - 3 0