ENGLAND’S WEAK BATTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 7

ENGLAND’S WEAK BATTING

COLLAPSE AGAINST VICTORIA AMES TO THE RESCUE / [BY CABLE—-PBESS ASSN.—COPYEIGHT.] (By J. B. Hobbs. Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) MELBOURNE, February 19. England’s early batsmen figured in a startling collapse on a fast wicket on -the first day of the match with Victoria, and at stumps eight wickets were down for 169. The teams were: England:—R. W. V. Robins, C. J. Barnett, L. E. G. Arnes', H. Verity, J. Hardstaff, W. R. Hammond, M. Leyland, R. E. S. Wyatt, J. M. Sims, W. Voce, W. H. Copson. Victoria: —H. Ebeling, K. E. Rigg, I. S. Lee, R. Gregory, A. L. Hassett, J. Ledward, W. E; Pearson, M. W. Sievers, R. Barnett, F. L. McCormick, L. Nasli, L. P. O’Brien (twelfth .man). The Englishmen broke another dry spell soon after reaching Melbourne, though the weather was brilliant this morning, an overnight thunderstorm delayed the. start of the* match till 2.30 p.m. The sky then became overcast and a breathless atmosphere threatened more thuinder. Half an inch of rain had, made the turf near the cover on the. wicket very soft. It was a slow, dull opening, but only because of the weather and: because everyone’s mind was occupied with •thoughts of the great event to' be held here next Friday. Robins, still deputising for Allen, won the toss. England made another deplorable,'; start, this time worse than ever, in ' the hour and a half before tea, England lost five wickets for 49 runs.

McCormick and Nash opened the bowling. All that came from the first two overs was a bye.. In MqCprmick’s second over, Barnett and Verity each got a single, but off the seventh ball Barnett, was caught in; the gully high up off a ball that rose considerably. In McCormick’s first over there had been an appeal for a catch in the same position, which the bowler’s umpire referred to ills colleague, who shook his head. Pearson, the fieldsman concerned, was in the limelight for in Nash’s second over he caught Verity in the same place after the Yorkshiroman had been missed there two balls before.Only ten runs came in 40 minutes, when Hammond having a cut at two successive balls from McCormick without connecting, hit the last one of the over past cover for four, all run. ■ ■ ■

Nash, having delivered three overs, went on at McCormick’s end. Hardstaff livened things up, scoring a four and a two to leg. In Nash’s-sec-ond over at his new end, Hardstaff hooked a ball for two, and then cut onq straight to the gully, .giving Pearson his third catch. Hammond cut Ebeling for four, and then was bowled when not attempting to play the ball.

. McCormick replaced Nash in another change, which was successful, Wvatt being caught at the wicket off the fourth-ball. The pitch was certainly lively. A certain amount of moisture is necessary in the prepara-, tion to make it last. This makes it sweet under the cover. Victoria with three fast bowlers and two mediuinpaced, has an attack able to take advantage of this. McCormick we knew' was a good fast bowler; - Nash bowled against England on the last topr, but not in the first match this season. Short, in stature, he has speed.’ Both delivered several short balls that reared and were difficult to negotiate, but this cannot be offered as an excuse for the feeble display. Ebeling bowled a good length throughout. Recently, the English batsmen have shown a great dislike of the rising ball, except Hardstaff, who plays it well, facing it and getting his bat •ight up in the air.' However,, allowing for the poor resistance, - it was a really good bit of bridling by Victoria before tea. After tea SieVerp bowled' for the first time. Ames hit his second ball for a four, cut the next, and- hit another, four. Leyland on-drove the last ball of his second over to the boundary, so it looked as if we were in for a ’much-needed stand. Hopes were dashed, when Leyland, trying to offdrive Sievers, hit the ball hard, but his timing was sadly out, and he was easily caught at extra cover. Robins played 2 plucky knock and helped Ames to add 56 for the seventh wicket. Both made splendid shots. Many fours resulted, and for the first time to-day wo saw the fieldsmen chasing the ball. One cause was that the life seemed to go out of the wicket. Another was that Ebeling did not bowl Nash, McCormick or himself much. The batsmen relished the other bowlers more. In spite of the improvement, the poor display of the earlier batsmen was disconcerting, with the test in the offing. There is certainly a suspicion that they were playing carelessly. Even so, I am worried. I am afraid they are not batting as well as before the fourth test. Perhaps the players have been suffering from too much cricket and have gone stale. One bright note is; that Ames seems 1 to be absolutely at the top of his< form. Scores; —

ENGLAND—First Innings. Verity, e Pearson, b Nash .. .. 1 Barnett, c Pearson, b McCormick 1 Hardstaff, c Pearson, b Nash .. 14 Hammond, b Ebeling • • • • 11 Leyland, c Ledward, b Sievers .. 19 Wyatt, c Barnett, b McCormick .. _1 Ames. not. out Robins, c Nash, b Pearson .. Sims, c Ledward, b Ebeling .. 16 Voce, not out »• 8 Extras 3 Total for eight wickets .. 169 RIVAL FAST BOWLERS. (Recd. February 20, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 20. The “Herald's” cricketing writer, commenting on England’s dramatic loss of the first six batsmen for 65, points out that they are all Test players. The wicket was fast and lively. It was a. collapse similar to that in tho first innings against South Wales on tho fast Sydney wicket, but there was a difference later in the day, when Ames and Robins figured in a bright stand. The fast bowlers, Mc-

Cormick and Nash, made the bprll rise in disconcerting ’ fashion,.: and i -ast . in Sydney. England’s early batsmen failed against this type of attack. This has enlivened! the discussion on the probable selection fpr the^final Test team. Nash, who played.for an Australian eleven Against / England at Melbourne in 1932-3, has been looked i|poh in Melbourne as a rival'to McCormick.. He maintained; his pace well yesterday. The attendance was 6824.

N.S.W. V. S. AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, February 19. In a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia, New South Wales in the first innings- has lost eight for 317 (J. H. Fingleton 1, R. Robinson 47, S. J. McCabe 39, S.: Barnes 31, W. A. Oldfield not out 58,. E. S. White not out 78). The weather was delightful', and the wicket was good. The match has unusual interest because of the approach of the final Test, for which two vacancies in tho Australian team hav.e to be filled. Five possibles are taking part in the match, including J. G. Lush and H. J. the fast bowlers. Lush has d^init^jclafrns- to being an all-rounder. D. G. Bradman, being a selector, has a .full opportunity as captain of the South Australians for judging the merits of the candidates. x » The New South Wales wickets, fell rapidly in the morning, but a fine partnership between Oldfield and White saved the situation. . NOTTS COUNTY CLUB. LONDON, February 18. The grave position of county cricket, already shown by the financial difficulties of Leicestershire, is again emphasised by the Nottinghamshire annual report, which disclosed' that the club lost £2568 in 1936, making the accumulated deficit £3792. It is announced that the chib' is appealing for public assistance.

OTAGO V. CANTERBURY. HOME’ SIDEIS COLLAPSE. s» ’• t't * DUNEDIN, February 19. . Bright, sunshine replaced the heavy showers that postponed the opening of the Plunket Shield match between Otago and. Canterbury this ...morning, enabling ,h comxriencemenf toi be made at 2 o’clock. A strong wind ’assisted in drying the wicket, which was expected to play easy, though, not giving the New Zealand selectors the opportunity of gauging -the merit of the fast bowlers. • The toss'was-Avon by Otago, Badcock and Knight taking the strike to Maplebeck, the visitors’ find as a fast bowler, and Mulcock, as cast in other shield engagements; Disaster overtook Otago from the commencement. The impetuous Badcock swung.at ball from Mulcock; Hadlee accepi'ingfa high catch finely at deep square leg. T.hen, with his next delivery; Mulcock - badly beat Knight, who played right over the top of x a straight ball, and two wickets had fallen for only three! runs. Already, Otago seemed unable •* to cope with • quite ah ordinary attack; and the impression that the innings was going to be a debacle was strengthened when,: after t Mulcock had missed a chance of achieving the hat trick, Kerr and Elmes were skittled by Maplebeck for ducks four wickets being down for a few runs. Uttley and Chettleburgh, and then Chettleiburgh and Mills stopped' the rot", but on their dismissal, the remaining wickets fell cheaply. Otago’s innings l which lasted 118 minutes, closed for 124. The Canterbury colt, Maplebeck, bowled well, taking t> for “43. Scores:— . ......

OTAGO —First Innings. *■' , ... r . ' - • .k ■ Knight, b Mulcock 1 Badcock, c Hadlee,’ b Mulcock . . 0 Kerr, b Maplebeck i. -i.'.. 0. Uttley, b Maplebeck .. .... _ 13. Elmes, b Maplebeck ......... ...... 0. Chettlebirrgh, c Maplebeck, b Mulcock .. 39 Mills, b Sharpe , . 21 Groves, b Maplebeck '.. 2 Dunning, not out .. .... • 15 Nimmo, c Mulcock, b Maplebeck 4 Silver, b Maplebeck .12 Extras ' . .. . • ••. • • Total .. -124 Bowling: Maplebeck 125 overs, 3 maidens, 43 runs, 6 wickets; Mulcock 14 overs, 5 maidens, 29 runs, 3 wickets; Cromb 4 overs, 1 maiden, 6 runs, 0 wickets; Sharpe, - 8 overs, 29 runs, 1 wicket. The wickets fell as follows: One for 3,2 for 3,. 3 for 5, 4 for. 7, 5 for 40, 6 for 7G, 7 for 91, 8 for. 91', 9.;, for 95. .5 . »’■ •• A ’ CANTERBURY—First Innings. Kerr, b Dunning : , . . . 27 Hadlee, b Elines *..* • • •■; 13 Menzies, lbw, b Dunning .. .. 12 O’Brien, not out 4 Page, not out . 1 Extras ;. ... 6 . ..... r > ’ j ' * Total for 3 wickets 63 Bowling: Dunning' 8 overs,7 maidens, 4 runs, 2 wickets; Silver 9 overs, 3 maidens, 17 rubs, 0 wickets; Elmes 12 overs, 4 maidens, 23 runs, 1 wicket: Nimmo 5 overs, 2 maidens, 12 runs, 0 wickets; Groves 1. , over,; 1 run, 0 wickets. - The wickets fell: One for 31,-2 for 52, 3 for 61.