BRADMAN’S DISMISSAL

Evening Star, Issue 25993, 7 January 1947, Page 3

BRADMAN’S DISMISSAL

EVEN THE BOWLER SURPRISED SIDELIGHTS ON THIRD DAY'S PLAY [By Abthur iMailey.] (Exclusive to the ‘ Star.’) t MELBOURNE, January 4. For the first time in the tests this year the Englishmen achieved their objective of getting Bradman out comparatively cheaply, but it doesn’t, seem to have helped them The match had another of its grim, dour periods, when Bradman and Morris gave the crowd a lesson in patience. After batting an hour and a-half, Bradman was still in his thirties, and Morris, equally as tenacious, scored at about the same rate. We saw a flash of Bradman’s real form in a vicious half-arm jolt at a shortish ball on the leg stump and then, seemingly satisfied that he had convinced the public that he is still a genius, he took things easy, and waited for the runs to come. I think Bradman had planned a day of leisure in his bath on Saturday morning. He took a leisurely breakfast, and then, sat in the lounge reading letters until it was time to meander down to the ground, and after padding up Barnes gave him sufficient time to yawn, stretch himself, and stroll out on tb the field. There was no need to. get hot and bothered about this business of winning test matches. Even the shot which cost him his wicket was a casual one, which appeared to be made without his' usual concentration. I had never seen Bradman look more comfortable, and less likely to lose his wicket, and I think Yardley was as surprised as everybody else when Bradman gently patted the ball back into his hands. BATSMEN PINNED. The bowling was mainly in the hands of Yardley and Wright, who appeared to rise to great heights. Runs were very difficult to get against this pair, and the fact that the Englishmen worked like Trojans in the field made this business of run-collecting more hazardous. Miller is by-no means a dodderer, yet he took nearly half an hour to score five runs. He made several fine strokes, but brilliant fielding made them as valueless as a Portuguese coin in Fiji or somewhere. Whatever doubts there may have been regarding Morris’s ability as an opening batsman before this match, it is now ob T vious that he will be Australia’s first batsman for years to come. His defence to-day was beyond criticism, and one of the most pleasing features of his innings was his desire to play the ball with his bat, and not his pads. Morris was just as attractive and entertaining as his captain, and there were times when he appeared to be much more at ease. Yesterday Morris did what Bradman has a habit of doing—breaking England’s heart.