CRICKET M.C.C. Bowling Improves

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1946, Page 4

CRICKET M.C.C. Bowling Improves

Third Match of Tour at Perth PERTH, October 17. At stumps, the Combined Australian team had lost five wickets tor 271 runs in the match against tne M.C.C. team. Between lunch and tea the combined team lost four wickets, Barnes and Edwards being c ’ l ® miS ® e I ct when they had each scored 45. Edwards was run out as the result of smart fielding by James Langridge. The English bowlers generally showed improvement. However, they were let down badly in the field, especially in the slips. At least half a dozen chances were missed. ine fast medium right-hander, A. V. Bedser, hgd three chances missed oil flint The pitch assisted spin and a feature was the extended trial given to Ikin, a slow right-hander who turned from the leg. He captured three wickets, including those of Barnes, a test team certainty, and Meuleman, a strong possibility as opening batsman. Barnes was forced down to a slow rate of scoring by the accurate bowling.

COMBINED TEAM First Innings. K Meuleman, c Pollard, b Ikin .. 16 Edwards, run out . • • • ■ • • • ’5 S. G. Barnes, c and b Ikin ... . . 4a Robinson, c and b Ikin • • • • g Watt, not out Herbert, b Edrich Johnson, not out •••* Extras 2 Total for five wickets . . . . 271

Double-Century Record to Hammond

LONDON, October 17. A member of the recently formed Society of Cricket Statisticians in a letter to The Times says that W. R. Hammond’s double century against Western Australia at Perth was Ins 36th in first-class cricket, thus giving him a lead of one over Bradman, who is credited with 35 double centuries. Hammond requires 272 more runs

in first-class cricket to complete his 50,000. So far he has played 981 innings, so he is almost certain to become the first cricketer to reach this figure in fewer than 1000 innings. W G. Grace, J. B. Hobbs, F. E. Woolley, E. Hendren, C. P. Mead, and H. Sutcliffe all passed the 50,000 mark, but all batted on more than 1000 occasions.

Bradman’s Future Still Uncertain SYDNEY, October 17. “Don Bradman’s future _in firstclass cricket is still uncertain,” writes A. G. Moyes in the “Sydney Sun” this afternoon. “It can be stated authoritatively that he is not fit to take part in a four-day game, nor is he in any batting form. He has not yet had a bat in his hand this season. “As England plays South Australia to-morrow week, Bradman must make up his mind at the week-end whether he should play for the state. He has had a minor operation for gastric trouble, a recurrence of which sent him to bed for 10 days when he thought he could attend net practice. Pie has done everything possible including sacrificing a ‘fantastic’ offei' to cover the tour for an English newspaper, in order to make himself available.” United Club Teams for Sunday The following United Club cricket teams will play a match at the Recreation Ground on Sunday at 1.30 p.m.:— Possibles: Coffey, Westwood, Marshall, Thorburn, Lawson, Dcvonport, McLean, Dittman, Kerr, McKendry, • Taylor, Panther, Hill, Mallett. Probables: Bowes, Vincent, Vernon, Blair, Thomas, Malloy, Constable, Currie, Ryan, Pascoe, Scott, Hendry, Hopkins, Gatton, Thompson.

O. M. R. W. R. Pollard . . 17 5 3G 0 A. V. Bedser . . 17 2 0 W. J. Edrich . . ”10 4 20 1 J. Langridge . . 18 3 46 0 J. T. Ikin . . 23 1 113 3