GREATEST EVER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 211, 20 August 1934, Page 7

GREATEST EVER

BRADMAN’S OVATION FIFTH CRICKET TEST Pon?ford Fulfils Ambitions CRITICS ON LEG THEORY (By Telerraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received 20, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. Commenting on the cricket Test, the Australian Press Association representative 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 that this spate of speed was turned on especially for the challengers’ benefit. There was never a du?l period, to which the fact that there were only eight maidens all day is eloquent testimony. “ Ponsford was missed four times before he was 116. None of them were easy chances, but two provided a reminder of how many runs Woolley

must make to justify the selectors in i ecalling him from the wilderness. Nevertheless, Ponsford played the greatcat innings of his Test career. That delightful old soldier, with his cap over one ear, expressed, after his unlucky dismissal at Leeds, his determination to get 200 at the Oval, and also to show that he was capable of playing fast bowling. He fulfilled both ambitions with the greatest credit and pluck. He suffered many bruises, but gamely stood his ground. “Bradman never played a bad stroke after his first run was obtained from ' is mis-hitting Bowes to the boundary. He made the Englishmen despair, con- - autly tantalising the field by smilingly making placements to counteract ".'ch move made to block his run-get-ting.” D. R. Jardine says:—“lt can - arcely be doubted that the partnersiiip of Ponsford and Bradman, to all intents and purposes, won the match

by tea time on the first dny. Equal credit is due to both partners.” The “Dispatch” says: —“England’s reserve team is playing owing to politicians interdicting Jardine, Larwood and Voce, making the Test a farce.” Tennyson, in the “News of the World,” says:—“Bradman is the wonder of this and all cricket ages. His ovation was the greatest ever heard at the Oval; and he deserved it.” Carr, in the “Sunday Express,” says:—“l should say Clark bumped more than Voce did at Nottingham. Some of the ducking, particularly by Ponsford, was absurd. Batsmen who duck balls little more than stump high deserve all thev get if hit \\ hy < lark was allowed to bowl ns he did after all the recent fuss about Voce is a greet puzzle. Perhaps it is legitimate as long ns it is not bowled by a Notts bowler. ’ ’ The “Observer.” in an editorial, criticises the M.C.(' for not p"“p'i:ni’g the Australian visit until the log theory quarrel had subsided or had been settled. It says that no govern-

ing body could have faced the difficulty with more feebleness. There

were never so many people who neither cared what the result of the current Test match will be nor attached any relish to the prospect of another.

Tate, fn “Reynolds News,” says:—“The time has come when the rulers of the game must arrive at a. definite decision about the leg theory. The Australians came keen to bury the past, and it is high time the past was really buried.” “Reynolds News,” in au editorial, renews its former demand to stop the Tests. BOWLERS’ TACTICS

Not Appreciated by Batsmen (Received 20, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. The Australian Press Association representative says:—“The Australians did not appreciate the tactics of the bowlers, despite the rapidity and apparent ease with which they scored. It is considered that Clark’s attack with a leg-side field, and to a lesser degree the bumpers by Bowes with a leg trap, infringed what is 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 the principle against a fast attack directed at the body with a leg-side field. As a member of the team trriil the Australian Press Association representative: ‘We’ve never contended that bodyline could not be scored against, but the physical danger and bad feeling engendered leave us as antagonistic 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, or, in plain English, intimidating them and preventing them showing their true form. If so, we need not regret that the attack was eliminated. Clark, Bowes and Allen were quite hostile enough for any game.”

Sir Stanley Jackson told the “Sunday Chronicle” that the leg theory was not dead, and the sooner England and Australia realise that they must still find a solution the better. “I firmly believe,” he said, “that if Lari--and Voce were to bowl in Australia there would be a grave risk of an outburst terminating cricket relations It would be better to discontinue p*" ’ ! nently than permit reallr bad feeling ’’ WEATHER FORECAST Probably Slight Rain (Received 20, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 19. The weather forecast for the Test is, “Cloud increasing, probably slight rain in the afternoon ” A depression is likely' to bring Tain late this afternoon. “There is no reason why we should

not get as good a score as Australia Wyatt told the “Daily Mail.”