AUSTRALIA 701

Grey River Argus, 21 August 1934, Page 5

AUSTRALIA 701

PONSFORD HIGHEST FIERCE BOWLING With Leg Trap FINE WEATHER FOR RESUMPTION (Aus. and N.Z Cable Assn.) (Received August 20 al 10 pin.) LONDON, August 20. For tin* second day of the Test match, the weather i s line. There is a cloudless sky, with n-o sign ol The. wicket has been protected throughout the night by tin- police. McCABE GOES EARLY. (Received This Day at 12.2 a.m.) LONDON, August 20. The Australians resumed their innings with 475 runs on for two wickets. McCabe was bowled when he had scored ten .runs. Woodfull succeeded him, and at the latest the score was three for 526. The details were:— Ponsford, not out 234; McCabe, b Allen 10; Woodfull, not out 10; extras IS; total for three wickets 526.

Ponsford Makes 266 DESCRIPTION OF PLAY. LEG TRAP PROMINENT. (Received This Day at 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, August 20. The Australians at the luncheon adjournment had taken their score to 571 for four wickets, adding just 100 runs since the resumption. An hour before play began this morning light rain fell, but it was not sufficient to affect the ground. Play was resumed in bright weather. Allen began to bowl, using a. new ball. McCabe, glanced him for two and then for four. Clark resumed bowling at the. opposite end to that from which he bowled on Saturday, with a breeze swinging the ball towards his leg trap. This consisted of four men, with another on the square leg boundary. McCabe cocked a ball towards Allen in a most pronounced suicide position. Then McCabe nicely glanced him for a three. Tn Allen’s second over, however, a splendid fast ball uprooted McCabe’s middle stump. Clarke’s leg theory to-day has been far more intensive than it was on Saturday. Even Ames, the wicketkeeper, has been standing across. Consequently Woodfull had an uncomfortable start. The bowling has been faster and more aggressive than it was on Saturday, and the wicket is livelier. Ponsford went on batting nicely and confidently, hitting an occasional boundary, and the score was mounting till it reached 500 for 365 minutes’ Clarke’s leg trap came still closer up for Woodfull, who, however, defended solidly. Allen bowled with great spirit, but Ponsford was now baiting brilliantly. He hit three fours in one over, thus bringing up fifty runs for today in even time.

Bowes kept down the runs. Hammond, Verity and Woolley were all tried at. bowling without, success. Woodfull was dropped by Woolley, and Verity dropped a difficult chance from Ponsford. Both batsmen then increased their rate of scoring. They took the total to 514, and then Ponsford got out, hitting his wicket when playing Allen. Tie made 266 runs, or 22 more than Bradman. Luncheon then followed, the scores being as under:—• AUSTRALIA —First Innings. Ponsford, hit wicket, b Allen .. 266 Brown, b Clark 10 Bradman, c Ames, b Bowes .. .. 244 McCabe, b Allen 10 Woodfull, not out 25 Extras ID Total for four wickets .. .. 574 LATER. Australia: Four wickets for 626 runs —Woodfull not out 49; Kippax not out 29. LATER. Australia: Eight wickets for 682— Woodfnll 49. Kippax 28. Chipperfield 31. Grimmett 7. O dfield (not out) 28. AUSTRALIA MAKE 701. LATER. Australia all out for 7 01.-—Oldfield (not out) 42; O’Reilly 7; Ebeling 2. SATURDAY’S STAND. PRAISE FOR BATSMEN. ONLY EIGHT MAIDENS ALL DAY. LONDON, August 19. Commenting on the cricket, the Aus tralian Press Association says:— There has been ample precedent to warrant the assumption that, a consistently good fast attack will keep the score within reasonable dimensions, but Ponsford and Bradman, with the Australian knack of making precedent look foolish, rose so far above the occasion that a spectator knowing nothing of the history of the tour might have been pardoned for thinking this spate of speed was turned on especially for the challengers’ benefit. There was never a dull period, to which fact there were only eight maidens all day, is eloquent testimony PONSFORD’S “LIVES.” Ponsford was missed four times before lie was 110, none easy chances, but two provided a reminder of how many runs Woolley must make to jus-

tify the selectors recalling him from the wilderness. Nevertheless, Ponsford played the greatest innings of his Test career. That delightful old soldier, with his cap over one ear, expressed after his unlucky dismissal at Leeds, a determination to get two hundred at the Oval, also to show ho was capable of playing fast bowling. He fulfilled both ambitions with the greatest credit ami pluck. He suffered many bruises, but gamely stood his ground. THE MASTER BATSMAN. Bradman never played a bad stroke after the first run was obtained from mishitting Bowes to the boundary. He made the Englishmen despair, constantly tantalising the field by smilingly malicious placements to counteract each move made to block his run getLord Tennyson in the “Nows of the World,” says: Bradman is the wonder of this and all cricket ages. His ova tion was the greatest ever heard at the Oval. He deserved it Jardine says: It can scarcely be doubted that the partnership of Ponsford and Bradman to all intents and purposes, won the match by tea time on the first day. Equal credit is due to both partners. THE BODYLINE. CLARK’S USE OF IT. LONDON, August 19. Carr, in the “Sunday Express,” says; 1 should say that Clark bumped more than Voce did at Nottingham. Some of the ducking, particularly by Ponsford, was absurd. Batsmen who duck balls a little more than stump high deserve all they get if hit. Why Clark was allowed to bowl as he did after all the recent fuss about Voce is a great puzzle. Perhaps it is legitimate as long as it’s not bowled by a Notts bowler. The Australian Press Association says; The Australians did not appreciate the tactics of the bowlers, despite the rapidity and apparent ease with which they scored They considered Clark’s attack with a leg side field and to a lesser degree, the bumpers by Bowes, with a leg trap, infringed what was regarded as England's undertaking that such bowling would not be employed in the Tests. The Australians emphasise the fact that though they scored so handsomely, this does not affect their stand on principle against, a fast attack directed to the body with a side field.

As one member of the team told the Australian Press Association: “We’ve never contended that bodyline could not be scored against, but the physical danger and bad feeling engendered leave us as antagonising as before. Now we can’t be accused of disliking bodyline because we failed against

it.” The “Sunday Times” says: Maybe Larwood and Voce would have given the Australians more than wickets to defend, and would have succeeded in unsettling them, preventing their true form. If so, we need not regret the dangerous attack was eliminated. Clark, Bowes and Allen were quite hostile enough for any game. Sir F. S. Jackson told the “Sundav Chronicle”: Leg theory is not dead. The sooner England and Australia realise they must still find a solution, the better. I firmly believe that if Larwood and Voce bowl in Australia, there would be a grave risk of an outburst terminating cricket relations It would be better to discontinue permanently, than permit really bad feeling. The “Dispatch” says: England’s reserve team is playing owing to politicians interdicting Jardine and Larwood and Voce making the Test a farce. STOP THE TESTS! Tate in “Reynold’s News” says: The time has come when the rulers of the game must arrive at a definite decision about leg theory. The Australians came keen to bury the past, and it is high time the past was really buried. A “Reynolds” editorial renews the former demand to stop the Tests. The “Observer,” in an editorial, criticises M.C.C. for not postponing the Australian visit until the leg theory quarrel had subsided, or was settled. It says: No governing body could have faced the difficulty with more feebleness. There never were so many people who neither cared what the result of the current match would be nor attached any relish to the prospect of another. NIL DESPERANDUM LONDON, August 20. “There is no reason why we should not get as good a score as Australia,” Wyatt told the “Daily Mail.’’ The weather forecast for the Test, is: “Clouds increasing, and probably slight rain in the afternoon.” BROMLEY’S HEALTH. LONDON, August 19. Bromley spent a good night. An operation will be necessary, probably this week.

COUNTY MATCHES. LONDON, August 17. The following are to-day’s county cricket results:— Middlesex v. Derbyshire.—Middlesex, first 205; second 227 (Hendren not out 72, Copson 5 for 63). Derbyshire, first 136 (Smith 5 for 51); second 212 (Smith 97, Sims 6 for 85). Middlesex won by 84 runs. Surrey v. Somersetshire.—Surrey, first 461 declared (Gregory 114, Squires 98, Fishlock 99). Somerset, first 213 (Holmes 4 for 23); followed on 249 for one (F. Lee no’t out 140, J. Lee 86). Surrey won on the first innings. Northamptonshire v. Kent. —Northants, first 157 (Timms 100, Freeman 7 for 81); second 340 (Bakewell 112, Freeman 7 for 125). Kent, first 304 (Knott 118); second 4 for 194 (Woolley 104). Kent won by six wickets. I Hampshite v. Nottinghamshire.— Hampshire, first 494 (Mead 75). Notts,

first 8 for 495 (Walker 83, Hardstaff 153). Notts won on the first innings. Lancashire v. Essex. —Lancashire, first 269 (Fames 5 for 55); second 235 (Nichols 7 for 84). Essex, first 257 (Booth 5 for 94); second 6 for 163. Lancashire won on the first innings. Warwickshire v. Glamorganshire.— Warwick, first 160 (Clay 6 for 76); second 175 (Wyatt 51). Glamorgan, first 159; second 139 (Mayer 6 for 37).

Worcestershire v. Yorkshire. —Worcester, first 183 (Martin 80, Smailes 5 for 53); second 192 (Verity 5 for 44). Yorkshire, first 401 (Sutcliffe not out 187).