CRICKET WASHBROOK’S GREAT INNINGS: ENGLAND’S GOOD START

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1948, Page 3

CRICKET WASHBROOK’S GREAT INNINGS: ENGLAND’S GOOD START

LONDON, July 23. Washbrook and Hutton regained their old form in the fourth test and England has scored 268 runs for two wickets on a batsman’s wicket. Washbrook defied the Australian attack until five minutes before the close of play when Johnston deceived him with a slower leg-break, which he edged easily into Lindwall’s hands at slip. This dramatic end to an otherwise almost wise almost unblemished century has not lessened England’s profound satisfaction at the first authentically fighting start the team has made in this series.

Hutton, who returned to the team in his own county, with a tarnished reputation to regain, made 81 runs, which might have been much less. He gave a sharp chance to Hassett off Loxton at 25, but botli Hutton and Washbrook revealed a delightful reptertoire of strokes after lunch and scored freely off bowling, which, though not helped by the pitch, lacked the determined hostility of the earlier tests. SERIES OF CHANGES

Bradman made a series of changes to break the partnership early, six bowlers being tried before lunch. Hutton, as he neared his 50, began to reveal his superb range of strokes, and England’s first century in an opening partnership in the series was completed by. two neat fours off Lindwall.

There were two interruptions by rain during the afternoon. The new ball, taken with the total at 164 runs, brought Hutton’s downfall, Lindwall beat him with a beautifull in-swinger after he had batted 190 minutes and had hit 10 boundaries.

Edrich took no risks and, content to leave the run-getting to Washbrook, made only 27 in the first 100 minutes. Before Washbrook reached his 100 he flicked dangerously at rising balls from Lindwall, but he survived to reach his century in 230 minutes. Washbrook went into his shell as the day neared the encl, but lost his wicket five minutes before stumps. Edrich had then contributed 41 to the partnership of exactly 100. Washbrook batted 317 minutes and hit 22 fours. Scores: — ENGLAND First Innings Hutton, b Lindwall 81 Washbrook, c Lindwall, b Johnston 143 Edrich, not out 41 Bedser, not out 0 Extras 3 Total for two wickets .... 2"68 Fall of wickets: One for 16S; two for 268. Bowling.—Lindwall, 19/5/46/1: Miller, 12/2/33/0; W. Johnston 21/6/48 /I; Toshack, 22/5/58/0: Loxton 15/ 1/39/0; lan Johnson 17/6/41/0.