TEST—SECOND DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 June 1930, Page 5

TEST—SECOND DAY

AUSTRALIANS COLLAPSE

ENGLAND’S USEFUL LEAD

[BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, June 14.

After the first day’s play in the test match, rain fell incessantly overnight, and also in the early morning to-day, which delayed play in the match at Nottingham till 2.15 p.m. It is almost miraculous how a batsman of Hobbs’s age played with such perfect confidence throughout his tilings. He was timing beautifully, even when the light was at its worst. A dim light in the first part of the day was partly responsible for the downfall of England’s best batsmen in such a sensational fashion.

Grimmett, who was deadly, scarcely ever used his high-toss ball, but he was bowling with his left shoulder well down. He maintained probably the lowest trajectory that has ever been seen in test cricket.

England made a stubborn lastwicket stand, in which Robins, who is featured as the “mystery bowler,” was the principal figure, he carrying his bat for fifty runs, after attacking the bowling in a most amazing manner.

Australia’s start was as sensational as had been England’s. Tate got three stalwarts, Woodfull, Ponsford and Bradman very cheaply, and thus Australia’s chance of winning the game suddenly changed to the prospect of defeat. Kippax and Richardson were the only men to make a decent showing on the tricky wicket. The ground presented a soiTy sight, in the morning. There were mud patches round the wicket, and the outfield was sodden. Notices were posted up as follows:—“Play uncertain! Enter at your own risk! No money returned. Heavy overnight rain. Deluge at 3 a.m.”

The captains inspected the wicket on a couple of occasions, on the last of which they disagreed. Play, however, eventually began in bright sunshine, with a light breeze. About eighteen thousand people were then present. Fairfax, bowling, used a new ball, which kicked sharply on the lively wicket. Tyldesley skied one into Fairfax’s hands. Robins continued to bat daringly, shaping like a number one batsman. He and Duckworth ran several smart singles. Robins relished Wall’s short pitched balls/ from which he scored freely. He reached fifty runs by spirited batting. Duckworth was out next ball, and the innings ended at 2.40. Robins hit five fours. Australia was -now left with an awkward deficit on a wicket that was likely to prove troublesome. The English innings had occupied 265 minutes. Woodfull ordered the groundsmen to use only a light hand roller between the innings. The strength of the sun and wind increased, and Woodfull and Ponsford came out with the sky almost cloudless. Tate spread sawdust in order to get a foothold. Woolley, Hammond, Sutcliffe and Chapman fielded in the slips. Ponsford again showed his vulnerability on the leg side, when a beautiful ball in Tate’s third over swung in and took his leg stump. Fairfax came in instead of Bradman, and he faced a position full of difficulty. The batsmen played “rock” to such effect that the total was only six after thirty-five play. Then the second wicket fell, Woodfull cutting a ball which Chapman splendidly caught at backward point, showing fine anticipation. Tyldesley worried Fairfax, who twice mishit. Bradman was only seven, when Woolley, at first slip fielding close to the wicket, failed to hold a catch off Tyldesley, but in the next over Tate swung across the wicket and hit the top of Bradman’s stumps. Thus three good batsmen went inside an hour. Fairfax maintained a solid defence Three times he hit Tyldesley to the boundary. Kippax batted delightfully from the outset, and he hit Tyldesley for two successive boundaries. This pair brought up fifty for eighty-five minutes’ play, and they were still together at tea time. Robins got Fairfax shortly after tea, Hobbs umping to take a catch at cover point.

McCabe opened auspiciously, driving his first ball for a fourer, but he was out off the next ball in Robins’ over. Hammond taking a running catch from the shoulder. Richardson had a lucky escape early in his innings, Woolley missing a hard low left-handed catch off Larwood whose bowling increased in pace.

Richardson then punished Robins scoring three fours in one over, and one hundred runs went up for 135 minutes’ play. The pair had added fortyfour runs, when Richardson was badly beaten, playing right over a ball from Tyldesley. He had hit seven fours and had batted for thirty-five minutes. Oldfield came next. He defended stoutly. Kippax reached fifty-one runs in 1.15 minutes’ play. Duckworth, with a triumphant yell, heralded Oldfield’s departure, he taking a good catch at the wicket, this making Robins’s third victim.

After a stubborn stand for no less than forty minutes, Robins coaxed Grimmett to try a hit, and this dismissed his fellow googly bowler for a duck.

Hornibreek came in, and he survived the two remaining balls of the day. The scores are: —

ENGLAND —Ist Innings Hobbs, c Richardson, b McCabe 78 Sutcliffe, e Hornibrook, b Fairfax 29 Hammond, 1.b.w., b Grimmett 8 Woolley, st. Oldfield, b Grimmett 0 Hendren, b Grimmett . . .. 5 Chapman, c Ponsford, b Hornibrook 52 Larwood, I) Grimmett .. .. 18 Robins, not out .. .. 50 Tate, b Grimmett .. .. 13 Tyldesley, c Fairfax, b Wall .. 1 Duckworth, 1.b.w., b Fairfax .. 4 Extras - 12 Total 270 Bowling: Wall 17 overs, 4 maidens, 47 runs, one wicket; Fairfax 21.4 overs 5 maidens, 51 runs, 2 wickets; Grimmett. 32 overs, 6 maidens, 107 runs, 5 wickets; Hornibrook, 12 overs, 3 maidens, 30 runs. 1. wicket; McCabe, 7 overs, 3 maidens, 23 runs 1 wicket. Fairfax bowled one no ball. The fall of wickets was as follows;

—One for 53, 2 for G 3, 3 for 63, 4 for 71 5 for 153, 6 for 188, 7 for 218, 8 for 241, 9 for 242, 10 for 270.

AUSTRALIA—Ist Innings

Woodfull, c Chapman, b Tate 2 Ponsford, b Tate • • •• “ Fairfax, c Hobbs, b Robins .. 14 Bradman, h Tate .. •• Kippax, not out, .. ••,.’* , McCabe, c Hammond, b Robins Richardson, h Tyldesley ... 37 Oldfield, c Duckworth, b Robins 4 Grimmett, st. Duckworth, b Robins 0 Hornibrook, not out 0 Exerts ®

Total for eight wickets .* 140

COMMENTS ON PLAY

LONDON, Juno 14.

The “Observer” says: It was believed that the Australians would find the wicket difficult, but sucli a staggering s|art as they made was beyond all contemplation. Fairfax’s . score of only fourteen in eighty minutes threw Kippax’s free hitting into praiseworthy relief, but the Australians are a side that is stiffened, not softened, by adversity, and they fight to the last man. It is now beyond doubt that our visitors are of tost match metal. The rubber will be finely contested.

CHAPMAN’S CAPTAINCY.

(Received June 16, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 15.

The weather at Nottingham at five o’clock this (Sunday) afternoon was fine, and there were no signs of it breaking. . , The Australian Press . Association s correspondent, commenting on Saturday’s play, says: It would not be accurate to describe the pitch as lead, although it was undoubtedly a bowlers wicket. The ball 3 flew awkwaidly, and breaks took deadly effect. Tate bowled superbly, and Chapman handled the attack cunningly. An interesting battle of _ wits preeded the dramatic fall of wickets,, for it appears that Woodfull was anxious to resume before lunch, when the sun had not had a chance to make the wicket difficult. Chapman, who naturally wanted to get Australia in after the sun had affected the wet pitch,, would not agree. The umpires decided m England’s favour.

COUNTY” CHAMPIONSHIP.

LONDON, June 13.

Middlesex in the first innings against Essex scored 264. (Newman 110 not out); second innings (Hearne 93). Essex first 420 (0 Connor 104, Russell 102); second 90 for one wicket. Essex won by nine wicAgainst Northants, Derby 214 (Clark 5 for 68); second 123 (Matthews 4 for 27). Northants, first 93 (Mitchell taking 6 for 28), and second 173. Derby won by 71 runs. Gloucester against Kent made 198 (Freeman taking 6 for 97), and in the second 245 (Dacre scoring 51, and Freeman taking 8 for 101). Kent, first 170 (Parker taking 6 for second 156 (Parker taking 5 for 28). Gloucester won by 117 runs. Leicester against Surrey made 2<5 (Armstrong 147, Allom taking 4 foi 54); second 99 (Gregory taking 5 foi 34). Surrey, first 168 (Sandham 76, Geary 4 for 17); second 104 (Astill 7 for 32). Leicester won by 102 runs. Yorkshire against Warwick made 364 for nine wickets and declared (Mitchell 76); second 2 for 100. Warwick, first 148 (Robinson taking 5 for 41). They followed on and made 314 (Santali 105 not out). Yorkshire won by eight Wickets. Lancashire against Sussex made oOb (Hopman scoring 82, Bowley 5 for 79). Sussex, first 141 (Hodgson 5 for 35L They followed on and lost 7 for 173. Lancashire won on the first innings.