A GREAT RECOVERY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 February 1925, Page 9

A GREAT RECOVERY.

AUSTRALIA IN THIRD TEST

It has .often been remarked that the most certain thing about cncicet its uncertainty; indeed, many peoP'e Intend to see in this feature ot the game its greatest charm (says Dr. Poidevin in a Sydney exchange). lo me the latter suggestion commends itseli no at all: and in respect of the tonne, it is usually found that under analysis much of the so-named uncertainty nl the . game is capable of rational explanation. The Australian first innings illustrates both points particularly wen It began with .an unexpected .batting failure —three wickets falling for runs The very useful partnership of Richardson and Ponsford mended the failure to some extent; then another few broken links in the chain of expectation, and six wickets was tlov u for 119 runs. At this stage a total of 250 for the innings seemed almost to exceed the expectations ol the optimist. The next partnership, however, completely altered the position by more than 'doubling the score m taking it from 119 to 254 runs. The good work thus inauguarted was earned to still further unexpected fruition by successive partnerships, and the in.nings, which in its early and half-way stages promised so little, finished with what must seem a match-winning total of 489 runs. The Australian batting took very heavy toll of the depleted strength of the English attack, chifley in a leisurely “let the runs come” sort of way. The success of “Jack” _ Ryder, of course, was the outstanding batting feature of the innings. Coming into the eleven as a promotion from the emergency position, Jie had the personal felicity not only of justifying his inclusion, but of making his first threefigure score in ‘test cricket, as well as linking his name with those of Murdoch (211) and S. E. Gregory (201), as the only batsman who have scored the double century for Australia in AngloAvistralian Test matches. He now shares with S. IC. Gregory the distinction of making the highest score for his country in Australia. The intervention of fortune at thri other end alone seemed to prevent him beating this record, which has stood for 30 years; and as one who saw that wonderful innings of Gregory’s, and still admires its remarkable skill, versatility of stroke and resource, I think, considering the circumstances that fate was right on this occasion. Ryder, of course, deserves the best commendation for his innings, begun on the .previous day, in an atmosphere of collapse, when five wickets were down for 116 runs. It was an occasion demanding both skill 'and nerve. Ryder, from the outset, exhibited a commendable prodigality in both. He commenced his long innings with a series of supremely confident strokes to the open places on the off-side of the field. His defence never wavered, and throughout he gave the impression of not being in any sort of difficulties with the bowling. He made a series of excellent.drives all -along the grass, most attractive in their execution, most surprising in their speed, out of alj proportion in fact, to the apparent Strength employed. The majority of his runs were made in this way, and also in hitting the slightly over-tossed ball square to the on-side boundary. During the early part of his innings he added some'truly-made square-cuts to his account; but for the most part the bowling was not of the sort to lend itself to cutting or to strokes behind the wicket. All the time, however, he gathered in short runs—singles and twos —from the defensive strokes near the ivicket. His innings was further characterised by the uniformity of his scoring rate throughout, in its freedom from mistake, by its utility of the side. and its orthodoxy of style and methods. At no stage did he show any marked tendency to burry his rate of scoring except when approaching the 200, and although he established a complete mastery over the attack, he never set out to really punish it. His batting was correct to a degree, and remarkably free from error. The only real blemish was the chance already referred to, when his score Avas 145. It Avas a tremendously useful innings to his side, and' in making considerably more than half the runs while he Avas at the wickets, he raised the-' Australians’ total and prospects from mediocrity and a losing position to one of tolerable security as regards the match issue. In the matter of style and methods, his display conformed to the canons of strict batting orthodoxy. <- A tal| man, meat in build and lithe in movement, he takes an easy upstanding stance at the wickets, Avith his feet comfortably separated, holding his bat handle with both hands near the top His style is free, easy, and full of power, Avithout special polish, mannerisms, or ostentation. He is a fonvard player, not specially graceful nor yel ungainly; a typical example of Australian production, with utilitarian rather than artistic virtues. Further, a quiet deliberation characterises nil his movements, and back of it all he possesses a very even temperament, and resen r e of manner, but behind that reserve, composed largely of modest shy ness or there lurks'that undeniable quality of grit. So that wo may say, I think, in contemplation of this, the highest individual innings player for Australia for 30 years, during the last 59 tests, if there is something of the charm of inconsequence about his hfitting, it also has the equa l charm of resolution. “Bravo, Ryder!”