THE SECOND TEST

Evening Star, Issue 20054, 20 December 1928, Page 3

THE SECOND TEST

Australia’s Plucky Fight

Four Wickets for 339

Centuries to Woodfull and Hendry

Ryder’s Powerful Driving

Tress Associatioa—Bj, Telegraph-Copyright. SYDNEY, December 19, The test match was resumed in pleasant weather and on an excellent wicket. Hendry and Wood full soon got on top of the bowling, despite frequent changes of Larwood, Tate, Geary, and White. They were rarely at fault, but Hendry narrowly escaped being stumped off Tate. Then he glanced, drove to the on and to the off in beautiful fashion. ft is about .the best innings ho has played on the Sydney Cricket Ground. Woodfull was not quite so dazzling, but was very sound with splendid olfdrives, Hendry reached his first century in test cricket in 202 minutes, and soon afterwards Woodfull also had three figures, taking 299 minutes. The next bull Hendry tried to play Tate to the on, but it struck his pad, and he was out leg before. Ho had played a great knock for 233 minutes, and hit seven 4’s. 215 FOR THE SECOND WICKET The pair added 215, and had Macartney and Woodfull’s second wicket record of 235 in sight when they were separated. They revealeu £hat the Australians still possess. the fighting spirit when their backs arc against the wall. Kippax and Woodfull added another 19 when the Victorian played Tato back slightly to the oil'. The Victorian ran through, but Kippax did not start, Woodfull turned when in- the middle of tho pitch, but Tate’s throw to Duckworth easily beat him. WOODFIRL'S FLAWLESS INNINGS It was an inglorious ending to a fine, flawless innings lasting 258 minutes, in which he hit six 4’s. Ho always got well behind the ball and. drove with power. lb looked as if Australia had expended her fighting qualities, for Kippax soon went leg before. A bull Horn Tate came through fast and low, and the batsman triecl to turn it to tho on, bub missed. THE CAPTAIN AT HIS BEST Ryder and No tilling now made another fine stand, and the captain was particularly aggressive, moving out td tho bowling. He drove with tremendous power, causing Chapman to place three fieldsmen on tho boundary, Rydejf lifted Hammond over the fence to long on, and he ran to 50 in 36 minutes. Nothling, who is generally a hard-hit-ting batsman, was content to keep his end up whilst his comrade fiercely smacked the bowling. Ryder is at his best when going for runs. His off strokes were powerful and well placed. Larwood left tho field suffering Irom chafed toes. His bowling did not terrorise tho Australians to-day. Ryder:; quietened as the light faded, and four appeals were madd regarding the light, stumps being drawn at 5.52, Ryder and Nothling being together. ' THE CRCWD DELIGHTED Though, Australia has to make 44 runs to save an innings defeat, tho players’ great fight delighted everyone. They gave tho best Australian display of tho tests, and showed that the English bowling, though good, can be mastered. Had Woodfull not been unluckily run out, they possessed a great chance of giving the Englishmen a good number to get in the second innings. Tate took all three wickets, which went to tho bowler’s credit for 90, but the bowling Was never very dangerous, except at intervals. The attendance_ was 14,000 and Che receipts were £1,20). Details:— AUSTRALIA First Innings 253 Second Innings. Richardson c Hendreu b Tato ... 0 Woodfull run out ... ... 11l Hendry Ibw b 'fate ... 113 Kippax Ibw b Tato 10 Ryder not out 77 Nothling not out \ 20 Extras 9 Total for four wickets ... 339 ENGLAND First innings 636

greater part of the burden of keeping the Australian side together. An early failure on his part might have meant a different story; but Woodfull has tho temperament for test cricket, and ho did not fail when Ins side was badly hemmed in. His 111 represented his third century in test matches, the other three-figure tallies being scored in England in 1926 —141 at Leeds and 117 at Manchester, both chanceless innings. Woodfull’s average for the present series of tost games is 69.66, and ins average in all tests is 57.22, the total runs scored by him being 515. Woodfull was unlucky in being run out when he looked set for another big score, and in view of the battery of bowlers that was engaged botli Hendry and Woodfull performed with great brilliance. Ryder is within sight of the century, Loo, and the day’s play closed after a great stand by Ryder and Nothling, the pair being together when stumps were drawn. Prior to the present series Ryder had had eighteen innings in test matches, his total being 563 runs, his highest score 201 not out, and his average 37.86. Ryder has 77 to his credit, and as he is essentially a forcing batsman his aggressiveness on this occasion was not to bo wondered at. Ryder’s captaincy has caused criticism, and while it is even possible that he may be dropped from that position, his latest display was such that lie is certain to retain his place in the next test team. Nothling is best known ns a bowler, but according to M. A. Noble, in his book written just before the tests, Nothling is “ a, fair bat who would do much letter if lie used his strength and showed more aggressiveness.” He was content to hold his end up, and finished up with 20 not out to his credit. Kippax was tho most disappointing of all, but he has not shown his true form, and will probably make runs before the tests are over. Tato was tho most successful of the English bowlers, three wickets falling to him. Larwood apparently did not possess his earlier sting, and if the Australians are able to master him there should bo larger scores in the future games.

Australia is not out of the wood yet, and while there lias been this decided improvement in the batting, it remains to be seen whether the bowlers can do any belter than lias been_ tho case to date. It cannot be denied that the Australian attack has been sadly Jacking in stiim so far, and tho loss of Gregory and Kelleway weakened it greatly. Still, if the Australians are only able to assert themselves in batting, the bowling should be good enough to make tho Englishmen fight harder for runs.

A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

[By Substitute.]

Alter a series of disappointments the Australians Lave at least shown form of such a nature as to give the critics some cause for hope that they will do much better in later test games, for while it is too much to expect Australia to win, the home side has made a great recovery, and with only four wickets down 339 runs are on the board. From the Australian viewpoint the most heartening aspect of the whole game so far has been the fact that Woodfull, Hendry, and Ryder have all shown that the English bowling is not perhaps as difficult as might have been imagined from the manner in which the players had previously gone about their task of making runs; and while Australia’s bowling needs strengthening, it may bo said that the improvement in batting will do much to increase the interest in subsequent tests. Even if hope is .abandoned regarding the result of the present test, the Australians’ recovery when they were well up against it has shown that the fighting spirit is still there, W. M. Wood 111! I and if. L. Hendry have proved themselves the most consistent run-getters of the Australian side, and for that matter Hendry has done better in the present games than ever previously. In seven test innings prior to the present series Hendry made 57 runs, his average being .11.4(3. In the four innings ho has played at Brisbane and Sydney in the present series Hendry has, made 30, .6, 37, and 112, giving.him an average of 46.25. Last season in Sheffield Shield cricket Hendry had an average of 80.14, his highest score being 163, while.his total runs were 520. Hendry is one of the soundest all-round players in Australia at the present time, and his success will be welcomed by followers of the game, it being his first. century score in test cricket. When on© considers the,uphill fight with which the Australians were faced, . Hendry’s effort stands out all the more meritoriously. He laid the wood on well and hard. Woodfullhnay not have been quite as dashing as Hendry, due probably to the fact fhat on his shoulders rested the

THE HOME SIDE’S ILLLUCK

PRAISE FOR BLAGKIE Proas Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 19. In the midst of the justified rejoicings at England’s record innings Australia’s ill-luck finds a prominent place in tho Press. P. F. Warner says that there will be certain changes in the third test. Bradman and A’Beckctt are strong candidates, and Kelleway will probably be lit. Lord ’Tennyson says it was a wonderful tribute te> tho sporting character of the Australians that they should flock to witness England’.* triumph and accord a deserved ovittion. “Wo are all grateful to the Australians for their impartial enthusiasm. Every lover of cricket, in view of their hard luck, would like to see tho Australians make a big score in their second innings.” He is greatly eulogistic of Blackie, who bowled like a hero, an amazing feat for one of his age. Clem Hill is whole-hearted in praise of the batsmen, and adds that it was made obvious that the ’bowlers, even when fresh, were not dangerous, and when they were tired whatever sting they might have had disappeared Australian Press Association