CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1934, Page 2

CRICKET

AUSTRALIA V. WORCESTERSHIRE VISITORS IN GOOD POSITION (United Press Aesooiatisn—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 2. •A perfect ex'ample of a benign English spring day greeted the Australians 'at the opening of their tour at Worcester. The wicket appeared true and easy, and the outfield was much faster than normally at the beginning of the season.

Demonstrating the phenomenal interest England is taking i u the tour, over a hundred journalists and fifty photographers were present at the first match.

Ebcling drew the first blood of the tour, his third ball skittling Gibbons’ wicket without a run on the board. Wall’s first' four overs were all maidens. • Patnudi almost had Walters run out when lie refused the captain’s call, later Pataudi’s irresponsible running cost him his wicket, when the total was thirty-four. He was yards out of his crease.

Walters handled Grimmett and O’Reilly splendidly. Grimmett then found his length and trapped Nichol. O’Reilly obtained his first wicket when Martin played a feeble shot hack to the howler. \

Just before, lunch, "Walters, like Nichol, failed to distinguish between Grimmett’s leg-break and a straight ball, and was out leg before after batting eighty minutes. He played an impressive innings without a bad stroke. Six thousand were present after lunch, when Grimmett’s ascendancy became pronounced "Worcester’s innings ended after 170 minutes, Oldfield taking a spectacular catch to dismiss the last batsman, Quaife. Ponsford and Woodfull opened confidently. Ponsford played a series of brisk attacking shots, before be was caught in the slips. Jackson was keeping an admirable length, with; a considerable nip from'the pitch. Bradman once almost played 'him on. Woodfull was jogging along comfortably.

. After tea, B fad man opened his shoulders., slamming Perks and Brooks to the boundary. He drew level with Woodfull, who had had forty minutes’' start. Bradman reached 50 m an hours.

Worcester’s fielding was excellent, but Bradman was dealing out punishment to all the bowlers. His form improved as he went along. Woodfull, after lingering for half-an-hour in the forties, attempted a big drive and was well caught behind the bowler.

. K ippa x-survived only-four, balls. McCabe was almost bowled next ball but undeterred lie bit cheerfully.

Bradman, meanwhile, was steadily I approaching the century. He was J now sighting the ball perfectly and placing it at will His hundred came with a slashing pull from Biook made in even time. It included thirteen fours. CRITICS COMMENT ON MATCH LONDON, May 3. Mr P. F. Warner, in the ’’Daily Telegraph,” says: “Bradman soon had a complete mastery. He late-cut superbly, and his hooking was as certain as ever, while his balance was perfect. Woodfull’s bat was as broad, ■as ever. Grimmett was the howler we know, being clever, persevering, and both flighting and spinning the ball. O’Reilly made the ball turn, bearing the Nawab of Pataudi with a beautiful leg break. He seemed to bend lower than I remember him doing in Australia. He possibly obtains flighting from his occasional lowering of the body. Oldfield looked as great as ever. He stood back for the first two of Ebeling’s ovevi. • Walters played some lovely strokes, his easy, wristy style being attractive. Mr Pollock, in the “Daily Express,” says: If Bradman can bat like this, in the first match, without practice, Heaven help our bowlers! , The “Daily Mail” says: Bradman’s daring footwork, power, placing and intuitive awareness of the field have made him a batting nfarvel in the field to-day.