TEST CRICKET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 6, 5 December 1932, Page 7

TEST CRICKET

ENGLAND’S GOOD POSITION. BRIGHT BATTING ON SATURDAY. McCABE’S GREAT INNINGS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, Dec. 4. The first cricket Test was continued yesterday in delightful weather before an immense crowd. The weather was fine though cold. Australia, which had six wickets down for 290 runs when stumps were drawn yesterday, resumed batting, the innings closing for 360. England scored 252 for the loss of one wicket. . , A more exciting finish to Australia s innings would be hard to imagine. Larwood and Voce sent Grimmett, O’Reilly and Nagel back to the pavilion in 20 minutes, with the addition of only 15 runs to the overnight score. With the last man in, McCabe decided to attack the bowling. The spectators were in a continual uproar as he belted Larwood and Voce to all parts of the field. He refused to run singles except off the last ball of the over. Wall kept the wicket intact while 55 were added for the last wicket, of which McCabe made all but four.

McCabe was particularly daring after passing 150. He was dropped twice by the fieldsmen, who were completely rattled by his hurricane hitting. On one occasion both batsmen were at the same end, but Leyland’s wild return went over the wicketkeeper’s head for an overthrow. Australia’s total was made in 856 minutes. McCabe batted for 242 minutes, and collected twenty-five fours. Larwood took the bowling honours, and with the exception of McCabe had all the batsmen beaten by his great pace.

SUTCLIFFE ATTACKS BOWLING

Sutcliffe and Wyatt opened brightly for England, and raised 50 in fortytwo minutes, compared with Australia’s seventy-eight minutes. Sutcliffe was the more enterprising of the two, being particularly severe on O’Reilly, who was not bowling with his usual accuracy. When 43 Sutcliffe had a very lucky escape. He played a ball from O’Reilly down hard, and the ball ran into his wicket, but did not dislodge the bails. After eighty minutes a 100 partnership was realised. Grimmett had both batsmen guessing at times, but Wall and. Nagel were played with confidence. After batting for ninety-eight minutes Wyatt stepped in front of a topspinner from Grimmett, and for the fifth time in eight innings in Australia was out leg before. Hammond, following the example of his team mates, immediately attacked the bowling. He gained several fours with hard straight drives. At the tea adjournment the score was one for 138.

The first three overs after the adjournment were maidens, O’Reilly bowling two and Grimmett one. Hammond then livened matters by punching Grimmett to the pickets three times in one over. O’Reilly, however, was now bowling finely, sending down seven overs, including five maidens, for three singles. HAMMOND’S WONDERFUL FORM. Hammond showed he was in wonderful form by racing to 50 in fiftyseven minutes. He had then hit ten fours. Sutciilfe meanwhile was going along steadily, scoring many singles to leg, supplemented by an occasional boundary. After tea the bowlers tired, and Hammond and Sutcliffe continued the punishment. The 200 was passed in 171 minutes. A hundred for the partnership was established, and Sutcliffe reached his eighth century in Eng-land-Australia Tests in 186 minutes. He hit ten fours.

Contrary to expectations, Sutcliffe and Hammond did not force the pace in the last half-hour, but at stumps were still batting strongly, having added 140 runs, and placed England in a very favourable position. Australia fielded keenly throughout. Oldfield was brilliant, and allowed only one bye. The attendance was 58,048, two hundred short of a record for Sydney. The takings were £5763. During the afternoon dozens of pickets were torn off the fence to permit 'those on tho crowded lawns to gain a better view. Following are the scores : AUSTRALIA. —First Innings. Woodfull, c Ames, b Voce 7 Ponsford, b Larwood 32 Fingleton, c Allen, b Larwood ... 26 Ivippax, 1.b.w., b Larwood ... 8 McCabe, not out 187 Richardson, c Hammond, b Voce 49 Oldfield, c Ames, b Larwood ... 4 Grimmett, c Ames, b Voce ... ... 19‘ Nagel, b Larwood •...pLO’ O’Reilly, b Voce 4 Wall, c Allen, b Hammond ... 4 Extras ... 20 Total V ... 360 Fall of wickets. —One for 22, two for 65, three for 82, four for 87, fire for 216, six for 231, seven for 299, eight for 300, nine for 305, ten for 360. Bowling Analysis.

FIGHT FOR ASHES,

ENGLAND’S CHANCES VERY BRIGHT.

LONDON, Dec. 4. The London newspapers are full of contributions from old Test players expressing the opinion that England’s chances of regaining tho Ashes are of the brightest. McCabe, Bradman and Fingleton are paid tributes as being likely to play the most important part for Australia. Woolley and Hendren predict that the present innings will realise 600 runs. Tho- latter regrets the omission of Ironmonger who “mav be the world’s worst bat and fielder, but does make you play every run.”

BRADMAN’S HEALTH. SYDNEY, Dec. 4. The Sun publishes a statement based on a cablegram allegedly sent by Mr Warwick Armstrong to a London newspaper to the effect that the doctors’ reports render D. G. Bradman’s appearance in the second cricket Test match, or any of the series

doubtful. Although Bradman’s health is not causing immediate anxiety, a form* of anaemia is suspected which may necessitate rest from the strain of big crickeL Another suggestion is that A. Mailey, the' spin bowier, x should be impressed for the coming Tests. The Board of Control to-night announces that the medical report indicates that there is every prospect of Bradman playing in the second i SLIGHT INJURY TO GRIMMEIT. Received December 5, 10.60 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 5. Grimmett strained his right side while bowling on Saturday. He had massage treatment during the weekend, and is expected to be fit for to-day. . Light rain fell during the night, but fhojfc enough to affect the wicket. Referring to the suggestion that he should play in the Tests, A. Mailey stated: “I have no wish to play. Even if I had, I would not be eligible.”

} NOTABLE PERFORMANCES. CENTURIES AGAINST ENGLAND. In connection with McCabe’s feat in the present'match, it is interesting to note that Clem Hill compiled six centuples for South Australia against Englfih teams, beginning when a breezy boy, in his ’teens* with an astounidng 150 not out against Tom Richardson and Company, and following with 200, 124, 107, 116 and 104. Arthur Richardson has made four centuries against the Englishmen for South Australia, with 280 as the highest. V. Y. Richardson’s 134 in the latest match is his third, the others being 118 and 231. He has generally shown his finest form for the State against English bowling. But he also made a Test century m Melbourne. Following is the record of the matches played by the English team to date: Against Western Australia. —Drawn. England: First innings, 334 for eight wickets, declared. Western Australia: First innings, 135; second innings, 152 for fire wickets. Against Combined Australian Team —Drawn. England: First innings. 683 for seven wickets, declared. Combined Team : First innings, _ 159; second innings, 139 for four wickets. Against South Australia.—Won by an innings and 128 runs. England: First innings, 634 for nine wickets, declared. South Australia: First innings, 290; second innings, 216. _ Against Victoria. —Won by an innings and 83 runs. England: First innings, 4UB for nine wickets, declared. Victoria: First innings, 231; second innings, 94. Against Australian Eleven.-7-Drawn. England: First innings, 282; second innings, 60. Australian Eleven: First innings, 218; second innings, 19 for two wickets. Against New South Wales.—Won by an innings nnd 44 runs. England: First innings, 630. New South Wales: First innings, 273; second innings, 213.

Overs Mdns. Runs Wkts Larwood .. 31 5 96 5 Voce .. 29 4 110 .4 Allen ... 15 1 56 0 Hammond . .. 14 0 34 1 Verity ... 13 4 35 0 ENGLAND. —First Innings. Sutcliffe, not out . 116 Wyatt, l.b.w., b Grimmett . 38 Hammond, not out . 87 Extras . 11 Total for one wicket . 252 Fall of wicket—One for 112.