HISTORIC THIRD TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1937, Page 8

HISTORIC THIRD TEST

They are making cricket history in Melbourne in these eventful clays of the third Test match between England and Australia, and it would be safe to say that not a lover of cricket but would give a great deal to see with his own eyes how the game goes loday. Saturday's play, sensational in itself, to a degree hard to parallel in the story of cricket, left ihe game in a position from which any prophecy of ihe final outcome would be pure guesswork. Australia had made a moderate start, after winning the toss, on a wicket not specially difficult. Overnight and early-morning rain, with sunshine

at interval?, altered the whole outlook. Men; was Melbourne's famous "glue-pot," and Bradman, seizing the opportunity, quickly declared and sent England in lo face similai conditions to those which had resulted in the downfall ol Australia ,in the first two Tests. The Englishmen proved no better than the Australians on a stiekv wicket, and after the three stalwarts, Hammond, Barnett. and Leyland, were out there was nothing but a procession. Allen, the English captain, with a true cricketer's decision, cut it short with the second declaration of the day, hoping that Australia might lose some of their best batsmen before slumps were drawn. Bradmau replied by putting in bis tail men and managed to get through the ordeal! with the loss of only one wicket. Thus in a battle of tactics the advantage for the moment rests with Australia. Everything depends 011 the state of the weather and wicket in Melbourne today and on Australia's fighting spirit. The present position of the games means that to have a further opportunity to save the Ashes they must win this match and one can be sure at least that they will play in the spirit of a consciousness of that fact. For the spectators on the spot and the millions watching at a distance throughout the Empire today will be a memorable one for cricket.