BEST ENGLISH BATS

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

BEST ENGLISH BATS

CHEAP DISMISSAL

DISASTROUS TO TEAM

BOWLING FLATTERED

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graph—Copyright.

(Received March. 2, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day.

The "Sydney Morning Herald's" commentator says: "The cheap dismissal of the three batsmen who have been England's best in the Test matches—Hammond, . Leyland, and Barnett—proved disastrous to the team and,- at the end of the day, England's prospects of winning the Ashes were. even gloomier than at the ; start of the day's play." C.1 G. Macartney comments: "The situation is strongly in favour of Australia and it .is difficult'to see how they can lose. England did not make as good a reply as was expected considering the grand batting conditions. ' VALUABLE RUNS LOST. "After opening brilliantly the English batting descended into defence. The situation was critical but that was no reason why half-volleys .should be allowed to go unpunished. The running between the wickets slackened and many valuable runs were lost. It was not a good exhibition of Test batting.

"With the exception of O'Reilly's work the Australian bowling was not so high class that runs could not have been obtained more rapidly. Barnett played one of his adventurous innings which, unfortunately, was short-lived. Worthington met with his greatest success in the opening position and; whije he should never occupy it, he played splendidly. • Hammond and Leyland never settled down.

"In this series Hardstaff has never played as well as yesterday. He was sound and more certain and, during the early part, made some sterling strokes full of power." ■

Commenting on the bowling Macartney says: "Ido not consider that Nash is in international class. McCormick did not show his best. and FleetwoodSmith could have been more expensive by a little batting enterprise. O'Reilly was always troublesome." ■