FINAL TEST

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11877, 23 February 1933, Page 5

FINAL TEST

BLOW TO AUSTRALIA

WALL UNABLE ■ TO PLAY

ALLEN ALSO ON INJURED LIST.

(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright):. SYDNEY, Feb. 22.

Australia’* chances of winning .the fifth test, which some critics consul; or negligible, received a hard ’blow when it was announced that. the fast howler, Wall, would be unable- ‘to play owing to a badly bruised heel. His place will be. taken by tha Victorian speed merchant, Alexander. The. latter has captured 25 wickets in Sheffield Shield matches this season, at an .average cost of 21 runs.

Allen, of the visiting team,,Ts also cm the injured list, with a strained left side.

The Englishmen were reunited in Sydney yesterday. They are anxiojis to win the last test, thus drawing level with Australia in the total number of tests won.

Of the 128 test matches played since the inception of the series in 1876, England has won .50 games and Australia 51, while 27 have been drawn.

START OF HARD-FOUGHT GAME

ANTICIPATED TO-DAY

WALL MAY YET PLAY FOR

AUSTRALIA

(U.P A. hv Elec. Tel. Copyright.) (Received Feb. 23, 12.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 22.

Although by winning the “Ashes” England has taken some interest out of the final test opening to-morrow, the public generally are looking forward to a hard-fought game, wherein the batsmen are expected to take more risks than hitherto.

It is not yet absolutely certain that Wall will be out of the Australian side, but it is regarded as highly improbable that Allen will play for England, which is regretted. Seven special trains from, Melbourne have arrived in Sydney, bringing nearly 3000, including a percentage from Adelaide. The weather to-day in Sydney is very hot and a continuance is forecast. The wicket is in splendid order.

—Test Matches. —

(To be played to a finish) February 23—Fifth, at Sydney

—Other Fixtures. —

March 3 to 7—v. Victoria

March 10 to 14—v. South Australia. After the tour the Englishmen will visit New Zealand and play three matches as follows:

March 21 to 22—v. Wellington, at

Wellington. March 24 to 27 —v. New Zealand, at Christchurch. Auckland. April 1 to 4.— v. New Zealand, at

SPEED WAR

THIRD TEST POST-MORTEM

TEST MARRED! BUT MANY THRILLS.

The Australians were beaten in the Third Test because of their failure to play fast bowling writes Arthur Staffer. For the time being we will treat leg theory as fast bowling and forget the influence or methods which are being described at intimidatory. Whether leg-side bowling, or, as the Board of Control desire to call it, bbdy-line bowling, is fair or unfair, or whether this type of bowling is against the true spirit of cricket. I do not intend to dismiss in this article. What I intend to ddi is to hold a post-mortem on the prostrate form of Australia, and try to diagnose iris somewhat undignified demise, and review the match generally. The match was marred unfortunately, by a good deal of unpleasantness, and this was intensified by the fact that. Woodfull and Oldfield received rather nasty knocks. Despite that, however, the match had many thrills. The great partnership of Leyland and Wyatt, followed by the Yorkshire-Lan easliire coalition, when A erify and Paynter batted s 0 bravely, were features in England’s first innings, and intensely interesting in view, of England losing four wickets for 30 tuns.

AUSTRALIA’S THOUGHTS *

Everyone thought, to use a racing expression, “it was all over bar shouting,” when those four men were dismissed for such a miserable score. England, however, fought back pluckitv, and amassed a respectable total of 341.

Even this, we thought, was not beyond Australia on the perfect Adelaide wicket, especially when it- was remembered that Australia, had justbeaten England on the. Melbourne wicket. Australia,' however., fell -to England’s fast bowlers, Allen, who bowled- splendidly, taking four and Larwood three. It was sufficient proof that Australia was in the first innings demoralised by England’s fast bowlers. Ponsford played a magnificent innings, played leg and off theory alike with great judgment, and Oldfield, until Tie was hit, played the innings of his life. OLDFIELD’S ABSENCE

Oldfield’s injury .was a great handicap to Australia. I doubt whether .any man in, the Australian team would have been more valuable. While this incident might not have been one of the main reasons fee Australia's defeat, it- certainly affegtod Australia’s morale. .Richardson duf remarkably well; for a man who seldom keeps wiekefs. , O; In tlio second innings the Austrm Rails again crashed before England,s fast attack. This should bo sufficient proof that tlie Australian, batsmen, hava yet to conquer Larwood, A-Uen. and company. \ ' ' V L iL - " Woodful again proved Ins fighting , ‘spirit, especially in- thee second innings, when he played almost a lone hand. ' ' > ' ,