High Praise For Compton And Morris

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1947, Page 8

High Praise For Compton And Morris

(BY

W. J. O'REILLY)

ADELAIDE, February 6. Compton scored a great century against odds. From the time his score entered the forties, Bradman, by setting an extra deep field to him had lost all interest in trying to dislodge him by any ■ other method than the effluxion of time or the deflection of running partners.

His chances of penetrating the defensive field were so remote that he was satisfied with the singles which came regularly towards the end of each over interspersed with the twos which were to be taken by smart running between the wickets. So completely did he overcome this war of attrition that his running partner, Evans, who had shown remarkable concentration, took 95 minutes—time spent mainly in watching his partner taking charge of the game—before he opened his score. In scoring a century in each innings of an England-Australia test, Compton joined company with two other Englishmen, Sutcliffe and Hammond, and one Australia, Warren Bardsley. I doubt whether any of his fellow record holders accomplished the feat under such circumstances as Compton did. His performances in this game stamp him as one of the game’s greatest modern exponents. Innings Closed. When Compton and Evans returned to the creases after the lunch adjournment, Hammond closed the innings after Lindwall had bowled one ball only. It was an extraordinary move which caused much speculation as to the reasoning behind it. It may have been done as a tribute to the grand effort of Compton and his partner. They had certainly saved the game for England by changing an almost hopeless position to one from which their captain was able to ask Aus- | tralia to bat again. It might also have been a gesture of impatience with the defensive field placing which had made Compton’s innings really worth double its scoreboard value. Morris accepted both the opportunity to bat again and the implied English challenge to get the runs. He set about the bowling as no othei Australian batsman has done this season. His strokes were played witn delightful freedom and tremendous

speed to all corners of the ground. He ran the English outfield off their legs with many futile attempts to cut off shots which crashed into the fence like bullets. Three Test Centuries

I heard several English critics comparing him in a favourable light with the great Frank Woolley. What a marvellous compliment to a young player engaged in his first test series! His remarkable innings yesterday was one of the greatest I have seen. Three successive test centuries culminating in the bowler-paralysing display today were sufficient to class him as the leading batsman in Australia to-day. With the New South Wales selectors searching for a captain with all the necessary attributes for the job, they would be well advised, I think, to choose Morris to skipper their side against England this month. He is an Australian captain in the making and is already thoroughly fitted to be given his first taste of responsibility. He has already scored 1000 runs in first class cricket this season and has the benefit of cricket knowledge gained in four test matches. There need be no fear of the responsibility affecting his form. Bradman Bats Attractively Although the game ended in a draw, the batting of Morris, Harvey, and Bradman provided a great deal of interest.’ Harvey started well and played several classy shots before he was clean bowled trying to hook a ball from Yardley. Bradman, overcoming an indifferent start, batted attractively and towards the end of the day revealed much of his former skill. Hammond, by his placing of the field, kept the game open and interesting, even when Morris was going at full blast. Compton’s fighting innings for 103 not out and Morris’s remarkable display for 124 not out were the outstanding features. Each of these young players placed his name in the record book by scoring a century in each innings. In Morris’s case it was an instance of history repeating itself. The only other Australian to perform the feat was Bardsley, also a lefthanded opening batsman.