HAMMOND STILL UNCONQUERED

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 13

HAMMOND STILL UNCONQUERED

PLAY ON SECOND DAY OF SYDNEY TEST MATCH

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, SYDNEY, December 19. At. the end of the second day of the second cricket Test match between England anl Australia, play in which was curtailed by thunderstorms, England were'still at the creases and now seem to have a very firm grip on the game. The visitors today added 147 runs for the loss of three wickets. Hammond is still unconquered, having been in more than 7-J- hours, during which time he has scored 27 boundaries. Pie was solid rather than brilliant today and did not give a chance throughout his long stay. The attendance was 42,746. ' . ......

McCormick and Ward continued the attack, bowling a better length than the previous day. The fielding was also keener. Hammond and Ames played defensively, waiting for loose balls to scor6 from. These were usually dispatched to the fence. Hammond reached 150 during the first over after 270 ! minutes at the crease. Ames was very stodgy, adding only 10 in an hour. The jbatsmen, however, were untroubled and continued to await scoring opportunities.

the match he had Allen leg-before to his googly.

When Hammond reached 162 he had scored 2000 runs in Tests against Australia, and the addition of another halfdozen gave him 1000 runs for this tour. The field was set deep for Hammond and three men' were stationed on the fence, but he continued to gather boundaries. A 100 partnership was established after 115 minutes, Ames's contribution being only 27. DISMISSAL OF AMES. The bowlers stuck well to their task and were rewarded when Ames was caught in the covers during the last over before lunch. He was at the wickets 123 minutes and played a solid defensive innings, helping to consolidate England's favourable position. Two 4's immediately after lunch carried Hammond to 200. He had been batting 365 minutes, and so far had not given the "semblance of a' chance. This is Hammond's third double century against Australia in Tests, all having been made in Australia. He treated all the bowling on its merits, his off driving and sweeps to leg being brilliant and effortless. Allen collected two boundaries during his brief stay, and) with Hardstaff in, the Australians became very keen, clustering round the wicket. At 2.55 p.m., however, a heavy thunderstorm drove the players to shelter for 20 minutes. Upon their resuming it was expected that the bowlers would be handicapped by the greasy ball, but O'Reilly and Chipperfield had Hammond and Hardstaff playing right back .to keep the ball away from the stumps. Hardstaff was in dire trouble facing O'Reilly, and he was extremely fortunate when 11, pulling a ball into Robinson's hands squarely, but an easy catch was lost. Hammond, too, was scratching for the first time during his long innings, but a full-blooded cover drive to the pickets raised 400 after 454 minutes. Bath batsmen survived until . tea, when England's score was 418 for five. OLDFIELD DROPS A CATCH. ■McCormick bowled with a new ball after tea and Hardstaffs off stump was sent flying. Hardstaff had been shaky throughout his stay at the wickets. In the same over Oldfield failed to hold a chance given by Verity before he had scored. - Heavy rain at 4.30 \..m. again stopped play and drenched thousands on '' •: Hill, who were unable 'o gain shelter. The sun was shining a quarter of an hour later. The< captains inspected the wicket, but it was too bad. They took another look at 5.5 p.m. and made a further survey at 5.35 p.m. Decision was then left to the umpires, wfte decided at 5.40 p.m. that there would be no further play. Details:— ENGLAND. First Innings.. A. E. Fagg, c Sievers, b McCormick 11 C. J. Barnett, b Ward 57 W. R. Hammond, not out 231 M. Leyland, lbw (n.r.), b McCabe 42 L E. G. Ames, c "Lobinson, b Ward 29 G. O. Allen, lbw; b O'Reil 1- .... 9 J. Hardstaff, b McCormick ~ 26 H. Verity, not out . 0 Extras 21 , Total for six wickets 426 Fall of wickets! One for 27, two for 118, three for 247, four for 351, five for 368, six'for 424. . Bowling Analysis. - 6. M. R. W. E. L. McCormick ..20 1 79 2 M. M. Sievers .... 16 4 30 0 F Ward 42 8 132 2 W. J. O'Reilly .... 41 17 86 1 A. G. Chipperfield .13 2-47 0 S. J. McCabe .... 9 1 31 1