AUSTRALIA’S FINE START

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 March 1937, Page 7

AUSTRALIA’S FINE START

. “INCOMPARABLE DON"

BADCOCK-GREGORY STAND

[BY CABLE —PRESS aSSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

MELBOURNE, February 27

The huge crowd, which far exceeded the attendance of more than 52,000 on the first day, experienced great disappointment when Bradman was dismissed early to-day. Most of the. spectators had come specially to see Bradman perform, and: the milder weather encouraged those enthusiasts who had dodged yesterday’s heat.

Bradman shaped, well, but in the second over from the fast bowler, Fames, was driven back by a beautiful ball, which came in quickly and hit his middle stump. Bradman batted 223 minutes and hit 15 fours. From all points of view it was a magnificent innings, and even though England missed chances yesterday, none of these was. debited against the incomparable Don. HOBBS’ REVIEW. (By J. B. Hobbs. Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.)

MELBOURNE, February 28

With another 251 runs added, to the first day’s score, and nine wickets down for 593 at stumps, Australia is in a. commanding position in the decisive fifth Test match with England. Bradman went out early, after adding only four to His previous total. A splendid partnership between Badcock and Gregory revealed the calibre of these young players. Badcock adding 118 and Gregory 80. The bowlers made very little impression, Fames being the best, with five wickets for 92 runs. ,

Thanks to a cool breeze and more cloud, the weather was less trying for the second day of England’s fight to regain the Ashes. There was a larger crowd, too, in spite of an important race meeting. English cricket enthusiasts would be amazed at the entertainment offered between the periods of play, and sometimes between the overs, when dozens of loud-speakers made announcements ‘or played canned music. Quite one-third of the huge crowd was feminine.

Another stubborn partnership appeared likely when Allen and. his men tool; the field, for Bradman was still there. England’s position was precarious, to say the least of it, but Bradman was dismissed with the addition of only four runs, all from his bat, and the visitors received a rare filip, which, unfortunately for them, failed to turn into more urgentlyneeded wickets before lunch. Verity and Fatnes opened the attack, and, as a matter of fact, the Yorkshireman kept on at the new stand end' until lunch.;, ..Fames ; got Bradman with the first ball' Of his second over. Don tried to foice to the on-side with a vertical bat, a ball which was a wee bit, if anything, short of length, and completely missed it. This surprised me, because I couldn’t remember him playing 1 at a single ball and missing it before in this great knock. One gets tired of trying, to say new 'things about jßriadman’fe; marvellous qualities. This innings was as near the old Bradman as we have seen on this tour. I might add that maturity has brought, solidity and. made him more difficult, than ever to get oat when he is in the mood. His dismissal was. a great, disappointment for thei crowd, who wanted to see him make 200 or 300. Two youngsters, Badcock and Gregory, who will be 21 to-moirow, became associated, and the only time England looked like getting anothei wicket before lunch was when Gregory edged Verity just wide of Hammond at first slip. ; These, two are about the same height, small of stature, but Badcock is the stockier. However Gregory was putting much more power into his shots to-day. They plaved good cricket in the interes o of their side, never missing a chance to crack anything sccn-able. though there were few loose balls about. When Bradman got oiit there was still hope for England but these two thwarted us and added 5.. for the fifth wicket by lunch. Badcock is a beautiful .stroke pla. e. with all shots, not unlike our Patsy Hendren. All Verity coulld do was to try to keep these two young veterans Fames was by far the most deadly bowler on view before lunch. The others did not trouble the batsmen unAt one time the score board showed Allen with no wickets for 83 y uns * Voce the same, and Verity one wicket for 88 runs. . A new ball was taken immediately after lunch, but still no reward came for England’s poor bowlers. Fames still looked the most dangerous, but the closest we got to success was when first Gregory, and then Badcock put. hard cuts near the gully.

BOWLERS LASHED. After completing 50, Badcock had an inspired period when he lashed t.ie bowlers unmercifully. Ten came in one over from Fames—two hard hits, cuts, au.d a grand square drive, magnificently timed, which sped like lightning to the boundary. Facing Hammond, who had just relieved Voce, Badcock cracked a beauty past covei. Allen could make no impression. He handed the ball to Worthington, in whose first over Gregory twice m succession placed wide balls luckily over Hammond’s head for boundaries The crowd had increased, the ground apparently being packed as Badcock approached his 100, and Gregory his 50, and the enthusiasm was tremendous. , By now, the Englishmen must have been fooling very tired, but the} stuck it well. The fielding was an improvement, on yesterdays. Now everybody did continuous good work. Some thrilling chasing of the ball, and picking up was cheered. There was a breeze, but Verity had operated before lunch with it behind him, while all the fast, bowlers faced it. The only cxi lunation is that the new high stand cut it off from the field of play. This fifth wicket stand was another on the linos of the BradmanMcCabe partnership, without the dominating personalities. One could

scarcely believe that they w'ere mere boys, practically new to Test cricket, because they were calling the tune to their seniors. All the bowlers could do was to continue turning their arms over and hope for something to happen. Badcock took 17 off one of Worthington’s over, including three boundaries from cuts. A singlet off .the last ball made him 99, and hitting Verity's first to cover for a single completed a magnificent 100. ‘Two balls later Gregory reached 50. Eventually, the ball was handed to Voce with a good luck gesture from Worthington. He must have put influence on it, because Voce’s first delivery brought the long-desired wicket. It was a wide ball, pitching almost level with Badcock’s feet. The batsman tried to hit square, bitt sent the ball straight to the gully, ■' where Worthington gratefully took a catch. The partnership yielded 161 in 160 minutes, against fairly good bowling, certainly none of it of (he “help yourself” variety. BADCOCK IMPRESSIVE. This is Badcock’s first century in Test- cricket. I feel sure that many will follow. It was Patsy Hendren at his best, except that there were no lofty drives. I have had' great admiration for. this boy ever since he got 100, when I first saw him .at Perth, but I delayed judgment, because he did not hit the ball on the off side. Some weeks later I watched him get another hundred at Sydney, when he hit all round 1 the: wicket, and impressed me as. the best of . all the promising young Australian batsmen.

Only 14 runs . had been added after tea, when, in a shower of ” rain, Gregory was caught at short leg. Fames was again the successful bowler. His four wickets for- 80 nitas at this stage represented lion-hearted work.

Eighty runs in Test cricket from a fellow who will be 21 to-morrow is a huge scorn Truth to tell, I should have liked Gregory to get a hundred to celebrate his majority. ' He is another youngster who is going to be an Australian bulwark in future. He lacks the dynamic force of Badcock, but was livelier to-day. Once he jumped out to Verity and drove him high over deep mid-off. It says much for him that he did not play second fiddle more than he did while Badcock was hitting so hard. Gregory edged a couple, but gave no chance, and refused to let the cheering crowd take him out of his stride.

Ames was again in great form behind the wicket. In face of this big score, many people would criticise the howling, but .1 prefer to say it was good batting. The class of spin bowler such as. Australia always seems to have at its disposal might have made a. difference, although I am inclined to doubt it. For one thing, the wicket was still too good, and for another the Australians play that type of bowling, better than our men, because they have superior stroke players. \ Allen was not up to the form he showed in. the', previous Tests, although had a catch been taken off him early yesterday it might have made all the difference. Neither -was Voce in top gear, although he was much the better of the two. Verity’s work was a great feat of endurance. • . I have the warmest admiration for Fames. Apart from getting those wickets, he was quite the most dangerous member of our. attack.

Australia is now in a commanding position, but although.the majority of Australians 'will say that England has not a chance, I argue that if the positions were reversed they would still have every in the ability of their side to win. I haven’t given up hope, but I am like a drowning man. Scores: —

AUSTRALIA—First. Innings.

J. IT. Fingleton. c Voce, h Fames 17 K. Rigg, c Ames, b Fames .... 28 D. G. Bradman, b Fames 169 S. J. McCabe, c Fames, b Verity 112 C. L. Badcock, c Worthington, b

Voce • • • • US R. Gregory, c Verity, b Farnes .. 80 W. A. Oldfield,'e Ames, b Voce 21 L. Nash, c Ames, b Farnes' .. .. 17 W. J. O’Reilly, b Voce .. 1 E. L. McCormick, not out .. .. 9 L. O’B. Fleetwood-Smith, riot out 11 Extras .. ... 10 Total for nine wickets .. 593 Fall of wickets: One for 42, two for 54, three for 303, four for 346, five for 507, six for 544, seven for 563, eight for 571, nine for 576. BOWLING ANALYSIS.

MACARTNEY’S TRIBUTES.

MELBOURNE, March 1

Macartney comments: The huge score compiled has relieved Australia of any worry about rain. Bradman played a wonderful part for Australia. He' started confidently on Saturday, but Fames unearthed a beautiful ball, to dismiss him. After this early success for England, an exhibition of batting little inferior to that of Bradman and McCabe was given by Badcock and Gregory. Badcock satisfied everybody by the. skill he displayed in his timing, placing and stroke execution generally. Gregory’s work was sound. Both these batsmen should be assured of the English tour, next year, and both have bright, prospects. , .. After Gregory went, too much time was wasted in defence, when, offensive measures should have been exploited, with the idea of getting England in on Saturday afternoon. With a, full day’s rest, the Englishmen will be fresh to-day. The wicket was in excellent condition, and the bowlers were as helpless as on the first day. Fames was the best of the English bowlers. He bowled with vim, and was mostly -m the stumps. "PRECARIOUS POSITION."

SYDNEY-, March 1. The “Herald,” commenting on the Test, says: The match is not yet won, but the English players' position is precarious. The early dismissal of Bradman, on Saturday, raised English hopes which sank again when the two youngest members of the Australian team, Badcock and Gregory, engaged in a brilliant and courageous fifth-wicket partnership, which pro-

duced 161 runs in 160 minutes. , Badcock’s innings was a classic mixture of solidity, aggressiveness, and superb stroke play. 'Fy L F “BUMPERS” BARRED. ... MELBOURNE, March 1.

It is revealed that, before the Fifth Test-began, an arrangement was entered updh between the captains, Allen and Bradman; that no bumpers should be bowled in the match. This decision was arrived at following a lengthy discussion, between the captains, and conferences with officials, in which th© Chairman of the Board of Control (Dr. Robertson) took a prominent part. It is known that Allen expressed the opinion that an increase; in bumping deliveries had occurred in recent matches, and he feared that, should there be aj.repetition in the. Test, unpleasantness would arise... Bradman emphasised that f he was op- : posed to short-pitched deliveries.

ENGLISH COMMENTS.

LONDON, February 27.

“England faces huge total,” “Australia’s huge score,” were th© evening newspaper po.sters’-announcements to the thousands who heqrd Y. V. Richardson’s and A. F.- : Kippax’s broadcast. The “Star.” ran two .bills, “Australia go on. and; on,’£'and, //Now we’ve got nine out.”://;' 7 ' //,. The “Observer” says: “The Englishmen -require high tenacity to keep the game alive. England’s greatest batting side might well shiver at 1 the sight of 593 for nine wickets.. We are in a deep,, dark hole, and the; majority will be content if England makes a good fight.” --c

The “Sunday Times,” recalling that. Australia is l within sight of beating its own highest score in Australia; compiled in Melbourne in 1925, adds 1 :/ “Australia will give us a nice problem in 1938. She possesses youngsters apparently capable of knocking about the best. English bowlers.” H. A. H. Caron, in the “Evening News,” says: “Australia’s bowling Jis not' so deadly, so we should still have a slender hope.” He thinks that Eng-, land’s bowling is not good enough on such a wicket. It was l a case of waiting for the batsmen to err. Writing earlier of Friday’s play, he stated: “We have only ourselves to blame. Missed chances’ put .Australia on top. It is galling and surprising that our catching was so faulty and our ground fielding so safe. As soon as Bradman is out it, Will become an ordinary game of* cricket in which the Australians are lucks’ enough to have an excellent start, but. it is unlikely that they will ihake another hundred. I have witnessed: most of Bradman’s centuries; and none lias been played so easily; naturally and faultlessly as to-day’s.”

SELECTORS AT FAULT?

LONDON, February 26. /•

The nomination of E, R. Holmes and A. W. Richardson as candidates for election as Test selectors ’ fore-” shadows radical changes in. the personnel. There has been a strong feeling of late that the selectors are out of touch with modern first-class cricket, that they are lacking in practical experience, and that younger blood, including two playing cricketers, should be elected. P. F. Warner, Perrin, and Higson will stand for reelection; consequently a ballot may be necessary.

NEW LEG-BEFORE RULE.

LONDON, February 27.

The Marylebone Cricket Club will hold a special meeting on May 5 to amend Rule 24 to give effect to the new leg before wicket rule which has been tried for the last two—years. TO-DAY’S PLAY.

SULTRY WEATHER. (Reed.’ March;!; 3.15 p.m,) . MELBOURNE, March 1. The weather is cloudy and sultry. The wicket. is apparently not affected as the result of the morning rain. There is a large attendance. V According to a wireless message, at 3.15 p.m. .(New. Zealand time);'. England had scored. 53 runs for ; ,'[he loss of one wicket. \ The Australian innings closed for 604.;

0. M. R. w. G. 0. Allen .. 17 0 99 0 K. Fames .. 27 5 92 5 W. Voce .. 27 117 3 W. R. Hammond: 16 1 62 0 H. Verity .. 41 5 127 1 T. S. Worthington 6 0 60 0 M. Leyland .. 3 o ■ 26 6