AUSTRALIA'S GRIP TIGHTENS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S GRIP TIGHTENS

O'REILLY GETS HAMMOND AND LEYLAND

The commencement yesterday of England's reply to Australia's huge total of 604 runs in the fifth cricket Test at Melbourne was not5 impressive, stumps being drawn with the score at 184 for four wickets, the batsmen out including three of the side's mainstays, Barnett. Hammond, and Leyland. The last two were dismissed off the bowling of O'Reilly, who was once more the great problem which the English batsmen had to solve in their efforts to build up a score. For the remainder of the innings England's hopes rest chiefly on the two not-out batsmen, Hardstaff (who went in first wicket down) and Wyatt. Proceedings during the day emphasised the strong grip which Australia had secured on the game in the first innings. Commentators generally express disappointment with England's showing at the wickets, the London "Evening News's" correspondent remarking that "we threw wickets away with unbelievable prodigality.' 11 Commenting that England's reply was not as good as was expected, C. G. Macartney says that, after a brilliant opening, the English batting descended into defence, and that many runs were lost through lack of enterprise. . Although stumps were drawn a quarter of an hour early owing to failing light, the weather continued to be .fine, and the public's interest in the match was revealed by an attendance of 63,728, following the crowd of 77,188 on Saturday.