ACCORDING TO PLAN

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

ACCORDING TO PLAN

ENGLAND DIG IN

STERNLY-FOUGHT BATTLE

CREDIT FOR BOWLERS

(By J. B. Hobbs.— Copyright in all Countries.—Reproduction in whole or Part Forbidden.)

(Received December 21, 10.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, December 19. Everything worked according to plan for England up to lunch. Australia's necessity was a quick wicket dr.wo while our batsmen's duty was to dig themselves in again* . Australia failed to get them, a,nd it looked as-it. our. fourth* wicket pair would go into lunch without being parted. Ward sent down a real long hop..Ames-either couldn't believe his eyes', or else it was so near lunch time that he was afraid to let rip. Trying to cut it past extra-cover he hit up the" dolliest of catches to cover-point, very much to his disgust. This partnership, lil«s Hammond's with Leyland, had added a century. England were still in a strong position. But for that wicket the Australians would have been sorely disappointed with their morning's work. The batsmen did not worry about scoring runs before lurich* and added only 72. They took no risks. Hammond, who started in his best fashion; was very sound, looking as if nothing could get past his defence. Twice he hit two successive 4's, one being a beautiful square off-drive off a good length ball that O'Reilly pitched just wide of the off-stump. It beat the fieldsmen by sheer pace. Hammond's second century was the signal for a wonderful demonstration. HOW THE BOWLERS SHAPED. Ward was certainly turning the ball, but it was not coming off quickly, maybe due to the easy pace of the wicket, or because he was too slow through the air. O'Reilly did not bowl so much negative stuff, attacking more, but he still couldn't get the ball past the bat until after lunch. In his thirtieth over of

I thought Sievers looked more like getting a wicket than anybody before lunch, and he might have been bowled more. McCormick, if not quite so fast, was less erratic than yesterday. It took us thirty-five • minutes longer to get 100 today than yesterday. All credit must be given to the Australians for sticking to their task so well. There was no loose bowling; if there had been it would have been taken full advantage of. Their bowling was far from being collared, despite our big score. REMARKABLE CONCENTRATION. Hammond was playing more keenly than ever, taking fifty minutes to go from 201 to 215, his concentration being remarkable. On Allen's dismissal Har,dstaff started with a brilliant out for 4. A bit of mis-fielding produced a wicket immediately after tea. The first ball of McCormick's first over was hooked by ttardstafl to long-leg where the fieldsman- slipped, enabling- 2 to be run. The next ball knocked his off-stump out of the ground. But for the fielding error Hammond would have received it and, I think, would have played it all right. .Hardstaff, like the others, played solidly, and the wicket added a useful 56. When 11 he had had a stroke of luck. Hitting O'Reilly hard to leg he was missed by Robinson, fielding behind the,umpire, and I am told,that at the same time he dislodged a tiail with his foot. The umpire couldn't see and, on appeal, had ,to give him not out. In the Press box we arc-too high in the clouds to see these things. Verity, off the second ball he received, was missed at the wicket. Another heavy shower drenched the crowd and the wicket. DEBATABLE POINT. England were in a very strong position when the rain came. Some may argue that it would have been advantageous to have scored faster, but if that had been tried they might have been all out. I was prepared from the start for a Stodgy exhibition from our batsmen. Played-out Tests are affairs of wearing the other side down. Still, when the scoring is slow, I like to seek the reason instead of blaming the batsmen straightaway. The bowlers seldom receive credit for bowling well and keeping the runs down or the captain for a well-placed field. Australia's field was again cunningly placed today. Another reason was that the slow bowlers; . Ward especially, were able to turn the ball all day. Even Hammond could not go out for many strokes. Bradman bowled his pace men, McCormick- and Sievers, very little, relying pn spinners. This rain may help Australia because it will probably bind the wicket together when the roller comes on. Be-, fore that there were signs that the wicket was breaking up and I saw the fielders give it many anxious looks. Prior to the heavy rain at 4.30 p.m. there had been 192 minutes' play today and 147 runs added. Hammond'^ share being 84, so let us praise Australia's bowlers and fieldsmen, and Bradman. It was dull cricket, but England got runs and Australia have still to obtain them.

The strain of a long innings like Hammond's is the constant concentration, and only a strong man can stand it. Right to the end when a ba,d ball came he hit it hard. He has not so far given an Actual chance. He should on Monday beat his previous highest score in Tests between England and Australia of 251 and is going all out to beat Bradman's record in the same .series of 334 if anyone can stay with him.

During the tour of Jardine's team Hammond established a Test record score of 336 not out against New Zealand at Auckland.