DRAMATIC CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1938, Page 9

DRAMATIC CRICKET

Catted Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright, (Received June 25, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 24. The representative of the Australian Associated Press says: "After a day of excitement and fluctuations Australia's triumph was converted into dismay and she may be forced, as in the first Test, to concentrate on saving the game, especially as there is the prospect of batting a man short.

lhe highest innings ever played by an English captain against Australia, at last revealing Hammond in his greatness on his native soil, with another demonstration of Paynter's remarkable big-match temperament, completely changed the outlook of the game between noon and 4 p.m, "McCormick played his part but the spin bowlers who were called on to drive home the Australian advantage failed lamentably. It was not until O'Reilly's two leg-before decisions in the middle of the afternoon that Australia looked like recovering command. Then Ames, though often shaky, hung on with the seemingly infallible Hammond."

Near the end of the day's play Chipperfield attempted to take a hot chance from Hammond off his own bowling, and it was stated at first that he had broken the top joint of his finger and was unlikely to take further part in the match, but the manager of the Australian team, Mr. W. H. Jeanes, later announced that the finger was not broken. Whether Chipperfield would participate further in the match would be decided after another examination tomorrow.

Howard Marshall, writing in the "Daily Telegraph," says: "Hammond carried England from disaster to security. With Hammond in such form England's chance of regaining the Ashes increases considerably." THE TEAMS. The teams are:— - Australia.—D. G. Bradman, C. L. Badcock, B. Barnett, W. A. Brown, A. G. Chipperheld, J. H. Fingleton, L. O'B. Fleetwood-Smith, A. L. Hassett, S. J. McCabe, E. L. McCormick, W. J. O'Reilly, and M. Waite (twelfth man). England.—W. R. Hammond, L. E. G. Ames, C. J. Barnett, D. C. S. Compton, W. J. Edrlch, K. Fames, L. Hutton, E. Paynter, H. Verity, A. W. Wellard, D. V. P. Wright, and J. Hardstaff (twelfth man). The weather was fine and hot, and the ivicket good, though with signs of a few patches. Twenty thousand people were present when the game began, hundreds being coatless. The gates were closed at noon, every seat having been sold. The crowd was 32,400 and the takings £3991.

Barnett and Hutton were the opening batsmen, and McCormick began the attack from the pavilion end. There was a light breeze across the wicket. McCabe bowled at the other end. EARLY DISASTER. Disaster came early. Hutton, after scoring 4 off a no-ball from McCormick, played defensively at a shortish inswinger on the leg stump and cocked up an easy catch to Brown at short square-leg. There was plenty of life in the wicket, and McCormick was bowling at the highest speed he has achieved since his arrival in England. He badly beat Edrich in the third over and shattered his stumps, two wickets being down for 20 within 20 minutes, discounting England's advantage in winning the toss. Hammond joined Barnett, who was

batting with characteristic confidence, and began crisply. To the first ball of McCormick's fifth over Barnett 1 was out. The ball pitched well up oh the oil stump, and Brown, dashing from short square-leg, held a spooned-up catch. McCormick then had three wickets for 15 in a sensational first half-hour. He made the ball rise sharply, and was also swinging it, being barracked by the crowd for "bodyline" bowling. Fleetwood-Smith replaced McCabe when the score was 35, O'Reilly a little later replacing McCormick. Fihgleton went close to throwing down Paynter's wicket. ATMOSPHERE LESS TENSE. The atmosphere became less tense with Hammond aftd Paynter playing Fleetwood-Smith and O'Reilly with firm skill. Hammond was especially graceful and confident. He crashed O'Reilly to the boundary on several occasions. Paynter, after making 17 in an hour

FORTUNES VARY IN SECOND TEST

ENGLAND'S LEADER PLAYS GREATEST ROLE

Fortunes changed dramatically in the first day of the second cricket Test between England and Australia at Lord's today. England was again favoured by the toss but the good start made by the opening batsmen at Nottingham was not repeated, Barnett, Edrich, and Hutton all being dismissed off the bowling of McCormick with only 31 runs on the board. The Kangaroo's tail was up. Then two stalwarts in Hammond and Paynter became associated and, with the former playing a real captain's part and leading the way, the pair were not separated until they had laid the foundations of another tig score. After Compton had gone cheaply Ames stayed with Hammond until stumps, when the score was 409 for five wickets (Hammond, not out, 210, Ames, not out, 50). The Lion had regained the advantage.

hooked Fleetwood-Smith to square-leg for 6, raising 100 in 95 minutes, and the partnership was worth 100 after 85 minutes. It was a remarkable scoring rate considering England's bad position. At lunch, when the score was 134 for three wickets, the brilliance of Hammond and the patience of Paynter had helped to offset Australia's advantage. KING INTRODUCED. Play was resumed ten minutes late after lunch, the King, accompanied by Earl Baldwin, having been introduced to the teams by Hammond and Bradman at the front of the stand, after which Hammond called for cheers. i The batsmen continued to score at a good rate. Hammond, when 87, square-cut McCormick hard to point where O'Reilly missed a difficult low left-hand catch. Chipperfleld, who had bowled one over before lunch, came on again at 178. Paynter, when 54, drove one hard straight back to Chipperfleld who missed a difficult high catch and the ball went to the boundary. Hammond reached his century In 145 minutes, the Australians joining in

the applause for a magnificent Innings. It was easily his finest Test innings against Australia in England.

J Fleetwood-Smith and Chipperfleld „ were expensive and the total of 200 was passed in 175 minutes. McCormick used the new ball, but his pace [ had sadly fallen off. The partnership I was worth 200 in 160 minutes. McCormick was limping and appeared to " have strained his ankle. His bowling dropped to half-pace. j PAYNTER OUT.

The batsmen were now decidedly the masters and scored freely, but when he was 99, Paynter nervously faced O'Reilly and walked straight into a leg-before trap. His sound . and occasionally brilliant innings lasted 185 minutes. He hit a 6 and thirteen 4's. The partnership of 222 is a fourthwicket record for England. Compton was unhappy against O'Reilly and was out in trying a big on-drive. Hammond and Ames batted quietly until tea. McCormick was still limping after the adjournment, and reopened at moderate pace. Two boundaries by Ames raised 300 in 265 minutes.

Hammond, though now not showing his earlier brilliance, looked as safe as ever. None of the bowlers troubled him, and the bowlers and fieldsmen tired. McCabe bowled for long spells in the hope of keeping down the runs. In a gallant attempt to catch Hammond, who was 188, off his own bowling, Chipperfleld damaged his left hand and retired. The partnership was worth 100 in 90 minutes, and Hammond, hitting splendidly, reached 200 after 315 minutes. Bradman made frequent bowling changes, but, with McCormick worn out and Fleetwood-Smith unable to llnd a length, runs came freely. The total of 400 occupied 350 minutes. At stumps Hammond had been batting 335 minutes and had hit twentysix 4's. Ames had batted for 120 minutes for his half-century. Details:— ENGLAND. • First Innings. Hutton, c Brown, b McCormick .. 4 Edrich, b McCormick 0 Barnett, c Brown, b McCormick .. .18 Hammond, not out 210 Paynter, lbw, b O'Reilly 99 Compton, lbw, 'b O'Reilly 6 Ames, not out 50 Extras 22 Total for five wickets 409 Fall of wickets: One for 12, two for 20, three for 31, four for 253, Ave for 271. Bowling: McCormick took three wickets for 76 runs, McCabe none for 57, Fleetwood-Smith none for 127, O'Reilly two for 76, Chipperfleld none for 51.