TACTICAL BATTLE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1930, Page 9

TACTICAL BATTLE

CHAPMAN AND WOODFULL

COMMENT ON THE GAME

(Eeceived 16th June, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 15th June. Tho -weather at Nottingham at 5 in the afternoon was fine, aud showed no signs of breaking. Tho Australian. Press Association representative, commenting, says that il; would not be accurate to describe the. 'pitch, as bad, although

undoubtedly it was a bowler's wicket. Balls flew awkwardly and breaks took deadly effect. Tate bowled superbly, and Chapman handled the attack cunningly. An interesting battle preceded the dramatic fall of wickets, for it appears that Woodfull was anxious to resume before lunch, when the sun had not had a chance to make the wicket difficult. Chapman, who naturally wanted to get Australia in after the sun had affected the wet pitch, would not agree, so the umpires decided in the Englishmen's favour. It was almost miraculous how a batsman of Hobbs's age played with sueli perfect confidence throughout, timing beautifully, even when the light was at its worst. The dim light in the first part of the day was partly responsible for the downfall of England's best batsmen in such sensational fashion. Grimmett, who was deadly, scarcely ever used a high toss ball, but bowling with his left shoulder well down, maintained probably the lowest trajectory ever seen in Test cricket. The "Central News" says that during the spell in which ho got three wickets Grimmett was absolutely unplayable. The "Observer" says: "It was believed that the Australians would find the wicket difficult, but such a staggering start was beyond all contemplation. Fairfax's 14 in eighty minutes threw Kippax's free hitting into praiseworthy relief, but the Australians are a side stiffened, not softened, by adversity, and a fight-to tho last man now is beyond doubt. Our visitors are Test match metal. The rubber will be finely contested."