ENGLAND'S TAIL WAGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 137, 7 December 1936, Page 11

ENGLAND'S TAIL WAGS

AUSTRALIA TWO FOR 151

(By J. B. Hobbs—Copyright in all countries —Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) BRISBANE, December 6. The Test match between England and Australia has reached an interesting stage. Australia, with Bradman out, has two wickets down for 151 in reply to England's total of 358. England did a good job today. The position at the end of the second day was not much in Australia's favour, and I. am satisfied. I wanted them to put up a good show, and it must be agreed that they are doing so. Moreover, I noticed in Verity's long final spell that he made an occasional ball turn, which confirms my earlier impression that there will be possibilities in the wicket for slow bowlers towards the end of the match. it has been a typical Test, with dour fighting all the day, except that the partnerships of Robins and Hardstafi! and Bradman and Fingleton brought brightness and set the crowd alight, while Robins saved at least a dozen runs by .eager fielding. The ground was packed with a record Brisbane crowd of 30,775. The weather was hot and sunny, tempered by a breeze that the weatherwise said came .from a stormy quarter. That possibility of rain suggested to Allen a definite policy of staying as long as possible and keeping Australia from eating too much into their total before the weekend. TAIL-ENDERS BETTER. The English tail surprised everyone by the manner in which it played, adding 95 runs today. I take back what I said about them yesterday. Robins showed the way, ably supported by Hardstafi. They got off to a quick start, and both, especially Robins, repeatedly found gaps in/the field, many fours resulting. In the first 30 minutes they gaily scored 48. After they had made 59 for the seventh wicket, Hardstaff was caught when having a swing at O'Reilly outside his legs. McCabe made a good running catch. In the same over Robins, in trying to hit O'Reilly into the long field, was easily caught at cover. Allen and Verity carried on, though both were beaten in turn by O'Reilly, Ward, and Chipperfield. They refused to throw in the sponge, and were still together at lunch time. Verity had been in 53 minutes for three runs. England's innings closed with a much better total than I at one time thought possible. Considering. the bad start it was a grand performance. O'Reilly flighted the ball as well as ever, but was not beating the bat on this occasion. His five wickets for 102 had one caught at the wicket on the leg side and the others were caught having a hit. When the batsmen were content to play him they were safe on this beautiful wicket. I thought Bradman persevered with Ward too long, for he was proving expensive, while Chipperfield bowled well enough to secure a more extensive trial. Bradman was handicapped by the abscice of McCormick owing to a slight attack of lumbago. When Australia batted the wind had brought clouds up and the weather was cooler. I wonder what B. Iman is worth in sterling to the various State cricket associations? Half the big crowd avowedly came to see him bat. To use a colloquialism, they are Bradman mad. When he was in they watched him breathlessly, expecting every shot to be a boundary. He is a good showman and was in a merry mood. BRADMAN'S RECEPTION. Allen bowled with much life at the start of the innings. In his first over he made one come back quickly very close to Fingleton's . stumps. In his next' he bowled another break back that caused Badcock to play on. Bradman's reception was terrific. He showed his appreciation by hitting two great boundaries in the same over with a late cut and a wonderful hook. Facing Voce, Bradman was beaten and almost bowled first ball. Voce must think himself an unlucky bowler to miss so closely, but he had a triumph after tea. The bowlers found difficulty in keeping Fingleton and Bradman quiet. At tea 81 had been scored in 75 minutes. Allen proved expensive, conceding 45 funs in six overs. Fingleton was playing excellently, though, naturally, he was overshadowed by Bradman, who made lusty strokes till tea upset him. He added only one and then tried to drive Voce, was a bit late, and the ball sped almost straight to the gully, where Worthington took it knee-high. After Bradman's dismissal play was quiet. The only, mistake I saw Fingleton make was in Voce's first over after tea, when he nearly gave Verity a catch at short leg. At one time,, while Bradman was in, there was a danger of England letting Australia run away, but afterward they held the batsmen tight. McCabe, in attempting to hook Voce, skied the ball over midon's head. Barnett, fielding rather deep, made- a heroic effort to take the catch. If that had succeeded England could have claimed a slight advantage in the match so far.

Fall of Wickets. —One for 0, two for 20, three for 20, four for 119, five for 162, six for 252, seven for 311, eight for 311, nine for 343.

Details:— ENGLAND. First Innings. T. S. Worthington, c Oldfield, b McCormick 0 C. J. Barnett, c Oldfield, b O'Reilly 69 A. E. Fagg, c Oldfield, b McCormick 4 W. R. Hammond, c Robinson, b McCormick 0 M. Leyland, b Ward 126 L. E. G. Ames, c Chipperfield, b Ward 24 J. Hardstaff, c McCabe, b O'Reilly 43 jr. W. V. Robins, c sub., b O'Reilly 38 G. O. Allen, c McCabe, b O'Reilly 35 H. Verity, c Sievers, b O'Reilly ... 7 W. Voce, not out 4 Extras 8 Total 358

Bowling Analys sis. O. E. L. McCormick .. 8 M. M. Sievers 16 IV. J. O'Reilly 40 F. Ward 36 \. G. Chipperfield.. 11 3. J. McCabe 2 M. 1 5 3 2 3 0 R. 26 42 102 138 32 10 W. 3 0 5 (l 0

AUSTRALIA. First Innings. J. H. Fingleton, not out 61 C. L. Badcock, b Allen 3 D. G. Bradman, c Worthington, b Voce .' 38 S. J. McCabe, not out 37 Extras 7 Total for two wickets 151 Fall of Wickets.—One for 13, two for 89. Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. G. O. Allen 12 1 58 1 W. Voce 10 1 25 1 W. R. Hammond ... 4 0 12 0 R. W. V. Robins ... 1 0 4 0 H. Verity 16 2 45 0-