FIRST TEST MATCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1930, Page 7

FIRST TEST MATCH

ENGLAND’S MODERATE SCORE

GRIMMETT BEST BOWLER

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. June 14; 9 a.m.) LONDON, June 13.

The hundred and twentieth test match commenced at Trent Bridge. The gates were opened at 9 o’clock. Ten thousand were present an hour before play started. Rain was reported to be falling 20 miles away, but the weather at Trent Bridge was fine, though gloomy. The wicket was good, hard and true. The teams were: —

Australia: Woodfull, Richardson, Kippax, Bradman, Fairfax, Ponsford, Grimmett, Hornibrook, McCabe, Oldfield, Wall, with Jackson as twelfth man.

England: Chapman, Robins, Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hammond, Woolley, Hendren, Tate, Larwood, Duckworth, Tyldesley, wtih Duleepsinhji as twelfth man.

England won the toss. Oldfield was much fitter this morning. His injured neck is improving. The omission of Duleepsinhji disappointed the crowd. The Australians wore black armbands out of respect to the late Sir H. Toone, as did Hobbs and Sutcliffe who took first strike. Wall and Fairfax were the opening bowlers. A light breeze blew across the ground. There were only two in the slips, Hornibrook and Richardson, with Fairfax fielding at point. Sutcliffe had scored nine, when a rising ball from Wall struck his right hand. The Yorkshireman carried on, but the injury was painful. Wall was ineffective. Grimmett bowled a particularly slow projectory of good length.

Hornibrook badly dropped Sutcliffe at first slip, when twenty-two. Hobbs and Sutcliffe bated with complete confidence. Neither Wall nor Fairfax looked the least dangerous, but Hobbs often mistimed Grimmett, who deserved to get almost anyone. Bradman and Richardson fielded splendidly. England's first fifty took sixtynine minutes.

Fairfax sent up a beautiful rising ball. Sutcliffe, who was in two minds, nibbled thereat. The ball flew high and touched Oldfield’s hands,- being deflected to Hornibrook, who handsomely repaired his earlier mistake.

TWO DISASTERS befell England from successive balls. Hammond started with two delightful fours, then walked into Grimmett’s straight ball. Woolley played forward to a googly and Oldfield achieved a magnificent piece of stumping, thus three wickets were down for sixty-three. This dramatic change in the fortunes of the game made the atmosphere tense. Two runs later, England nearly lost Hendren who had a narrow escape from stumping. He fell in scrambling back to the crease. Grimmett worried Hendren with deadly bowling. The latter tried a square cut but the ball broke from the off and took the bails. Four wickets had now fallen while eighteen runs were being scored.

Hobbs, with Chapman in, was naturally quiet. Play was resumed after lunch, in threatening weather, bad light and misty rain. The attendance was disappointing totalling no more than twenty thousand. Wall and Grimmett took up the attack. Chapman raised the hundred after 130 minutes, driving Grimmett to the boundary, and he hit two more fours off the same over. An appeal against the light at 2.33 was upheld. Play resumed at three, after a sharp shower. Chapman continued a mefry innings. He again hit Grimmett to the fence, and in the next over drove him for two successive fours. The ball was now greasy and handicapped the bowlers. Hobbs slamming Wall to the boundary reached fifty-three after 150 minutes. Chapman continued to hit hard and after an hour’s batting had compiled fifty. Hornibrook ended Chapman’s fine fighting knock, when the partnership had added eighty-two, Ponsford taking an excellent running catch on the boundary. Chapman hit ten fours. Rain again stopped play at 3.35. The covers were removed, and play resumed at 5.25, the pitch being unaffected. The bowlers used sawdust. Hobbs continued to play with quiet confidence, but Larwood was fluky. McCabe had his first bowl in a test match at 187 sending down a maiden to Larwood, who went out the next over in attempting to hit Grimmett. Robins driving McCabe for four made England’s total. 203 after 215 minutes. He batted with remarkable freedom for a player making his first appearance in a test match against Australia, and helped Hobbs to improve the English position. Meanwhile, the veteran .was steadily advancing. Then McCabe had the distinction of dismissing Hobbs, who cut a ball hard straight to second slip. He had batted 225 minutes. He hit seven fours, a patient skilful courageous innings, holding the side together at critical moments. Robins continued to bat attractively. Tate was also vigorous, but played on Grimmett off the last ball of the day. Scores: — ENGLAND—IST. INNINGS.

Hobbs, c Richardson, b McCabe .. 78 Sutcliffe, c Hornibrook, b Fairfax 29 Hammond, 1.b.w., b Grimmett .. 8 Woolley, st. Oldfield, b Grimmett 0 Hendren, b Grimmett .. - • •• Chapman, c Ponsford, b Hornibrook 52 Larwood, b Grimmett 18 Robins, not out 28 Tate, b Grimmett Extras 10

Total for eight wickets .. .. 241

“ABSOLUTELY UNPLAYABLE”

LONDON, June 13.

The Central News says that in the spell, in which Grommett got three wickets, he was absolutely unplayable.