475 FOR TWO

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1934, Page 5

475 FOR TWO

AUSTRALIA OPENS THE REAL BRADMAN Ponsford’s Double Century AFTER SOME LIVES. (Aus. and N.Z Cable Assn.) LONDON, August 17. The Australians, with the exception of Grimm,ett and Wall, the absence of the latter indicating that he will not be available, practised at the Oval in sultry weather, which is likely to continue. Bradman batted freely'. Bromley, following the extraction of some teeth, has renewed symptoms ot appendicitis and was taken to hospital to-day for observation. The selectors announce that Hendren has a severely bruised arm, which will prevent him from playing. Walters is fit. Woolley has been invited to attend at the Oval. The dramatic recall of Woolley, hero of the Oval Test of 1912, is everywhere hailed with delight. Tt. is generally fell that, although he. played in his first Test before some of the Australians were born, he is just that dashing type to knock the bowlers off their length. AVoolley celebrated the invitation by scoring 100 out of 140 in sixty-three minutes. He hit three sixers and 15 fours. The critics are unanimous that much depends on the toss. The wicket is covered and will be guarded throughout the night. Exceptional interest is being taken in the final cricket Test, and advance booking for seats have been exceptionally' heavv.

The general impression is that tho game will last five days. D. R. Jardine thinks that the wicket will last a week, and that Wyatt should be able Io keep up a continuous fast attack, and this gives England an advantage. The Australian Press Association says that the drought has left the Oval rough and bare. It presents a hideous appearance owing to the huge canvas screens which have been erected to block pirate photographers from outside, while the ground is plastered with notices offering a reward of £1 a head for those detecting pirate cameramen inside the ground. The rewards are offered by the firm which purchased the exclusive photographic rights. (Received August 19 at 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 18. The weather was hot and fine for the final Test match at the Oval. The crowd numbered 22,000, and the gate was £2,409. Many people waited throughout the night, and there was a queue of thousands at dawn. The Oval ground is materially and aesthetically inadequate for a great occasion. The wicket was green, contrasting with the hard, fast, brownish, dried outfield. Woodfull won the toss. The teams had a quiet reception. Soon after the start of play, an umpire had to signal to the film operators to switch off their glaring searchlight, which was getting in the batsmen’s The teams were: — Australia: Woodfull, Ponsford, Bradman, McCabe, Oldfield, O’Reilly, Grimmett, Ebeling, Brown, Chipperfield and Kippax, with Darling as twelfth man. England: Wyatt, Walters, Sutcliffe, Ames, Hammond. Leyland, Allen, Verity, Bowes, Clark and Woolley, with Gregory as twelfth man.

PAST BOWLER GETS BROWN. Bowes and Allen opened the bowling, but the former was displaced by Clark when the score was at twenty. Clark bowled fast round the wicket, with three men stationed as a leg trap. His first three balls were well outside the off stump, but his fifth ono swung in beautifully, taking Brown’s off and middle stumps. Bowes then took Allen’s end. Bradman opened badly, but he and Ponsford soon commenced to put on runs, and with Allen and Hammond on to bowl, they enjoyed a spell of comfortable scoring. When the total was fifty-seven, Ponsford gave a chance off Allen to Wyatt at square leg. Ono hundred runs went up for ninety minutes’ play. Clark returned to bowl at 105. He struck Ponsford painfully on the thigh, but the latter continued to bat admirably. At lunch the score was one for 123. Ponsford, when at 68, was dropped at second slip by Woolley, off Bowes, it being a difficult right-hand catch. Two hundred runs appeared after 160 minutes’ play. The batsmen were scoring at an impressive rate, despite changes Tn the bowling. A CENTURY EACH. Ponsford’s fifth test century was compiled in 170 minutes. Bradman reached his hundred in 165 minutes. 'Ponsford was three times hit by Clark, who again was bowling with great zest, and was swinging the ball awkwardly. Runs, however, continued to come freely. The batsmen were exasperating the fieldsmen with cunninglyplaced singles. HIS LUCKY DAY. Ponsford, at 115, had his third escape, when Wyatt, at mid-off, dropped him off Verity. AVoolley again dropped ponsford one run later off Allen. NEW RECORDS. The partnership when it had realised

236 runs, beat Woodfull’s and Macartney’s second wicket test record established at Leeds in 1926. Thus the same pair in successive tests shattered the second and fourth wicket records. Three hundred runs took 235 minutes. BOWLERS TAGGED. The bowlers were now looking the worse for wear. Ponsford and Brad man established their second successive test partnership of 300 in 255 minutes. The run getting now seemed Io be ridiculously easy. Ponsford was driving Bowes as though he were a slow bowler. Wyatt bowled, for the first time in the current test series, at 357, coming on with Verity. Scoring four off each, Ponsford raised 400 runs in 300 minutes. A CHANCELESS 200. Bradman reached a magnificent, chanceless two hundred in 2SO minutes. In the same over this batsman broke his own test record partnership of 38S established at Leeds. Smackingtwo pathetic, successive full tosses from Leyland to the boundary, Bradman brought, the colossal partnership to 400 runs in 285 minutes, after which the runs came even at a more devastating rate. Bradman then hit A’erity .for the first six of the match. Ponsford became cautious approaching bis first test double century, which he achieved after 330 minutes’ play. BRADMAN GOES. Ten minues before the close of the day’s play, Bradman, in bending and trying to hook a short ball from Bowes, failed to connect well, and he was caught at the wicket. He had made 244. He was in for 310 minutes. Tt was a chanceless innings. It included one six and thirty-two fours. The partnership realised 453 runs. Ponsford and McCabe quietly played out time. Ponsford has thus far batted for 345 minutes, and has hit one five, and nineteen fours. Scores:— AUSTRALIA —First Innings. Ponsford, not out 205 Brown, b Clark 10 Bradman, c Ames, b Bowes .. .. 244 McCabe, not out 1 Extras 15 Total for two wickets .. .. 475 Bowling analysis: Bowes 21 overs, 1 maiden, 110 runs, 1 wicket; Allen 18/1/110/0; Clark 22/3/77/1; Hammond 9/0/36/0; Verity 23/3/79/0; Wyatt 4/0/21/0; Leyland 3/0/27/0. The sundries were: Byes, 1; leg byes, 8; wides, 2; no balls, 4. Fall of wickets; One for 21; two for 474.