TEST DISPLAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 7 December 1936, Page 8

TEST DISPLAY

AUSTRALIA 2 FOR 151. INTERESTING POSITION. M.C.C.’S GOOD FINISH. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (By J. B. Hobbs—Copyright in all countries —Reproduction in whole 01 in part forbidden.) BRISBANE, Dec. G. The Test match between England and Australia has reached an interesting stage. Australia, with Bradman out, has two wickets down for 151 in reply to England’s total of *358. England did a good job to-day. the position at tho end of the second day was not much in Australia’s favour, and I am satisfied. I wanted them to put up a good show, and it must be agreed that they are doing so. Moreover, I noticed in Verity’s long final spell that he made an occasional ball turn, which confirms my earlier impression that there will be possibilities in the wicket for slow bowlers toward the end of the match. It has been a typical Test, with dour fighting all the day, except that the partnerships of Robins and Hardstaff and Bradman and Fingleton brought brightness and set the crowd alight, while Robins saved at least a dozen runs by eager fielding. Tho ground was packed with_ a record Brisbane crowd of 30,/<5. The weather was hot and sunny, tempered by a breeze that tho weatherwise said came from a stormy quarter. That possibility of rain suggested to Allen a definite policy of staying as long as possible and keeping Australia from eating too much into their total before the week-end.

The English tail surprised everyone by tho manner in which it played, adding 95 runs to-day. I take back what I said about them yesterday. Robins showed the way, ably supported by Hardstaff. They got off to a quick start, and both, especially Robins, repeatedly found gaps in the field, many fours resulting. In the first 30 minutes they gaily scored -Hi. After they had made 59 for the seventh wicket, Hardstaff was eaugufc when having a swing at O’Reilly outside his legs. McCabe made a good running catch. In the same over Robins, in trying to hit O’Reilly into the long field, was easily caught at cover. Allen and Verity carried on. Though both were beaten in turn by O’Reilly, Ward and Chippcrfield, they refused to throw in the sponge, and were still together at lunch time. Verity had been in 53 minutes for three runs. England’s innings closed with a much better total than I at one time thought possible. Considering the rjad start it was a grand performance. O'Reilly flighted the ball as well as ever, but was not beating the bat on this occasion. His five wickets for 10-* had one caught at the wicket on the leg side and the others were caught having a hit. When the batsmen were content to play him they were safe on this beautiful wicket. BRADMAN HANDICAPPED.

I thought Bradman persevered with Ward too long, for he was proving expensive, while Chipperfield bowded well enough to secure a more extensive trial. Bradman was handicapped by tho absence of McCormick owing to a slight attack of lumbago. When Australia batted the wind had brought clouds up and the weather | was cooler. I wonder what Bradman j is worth in sterling to the various State cricket associations? Halt the big crowd avowedly came to see him bat. To use a colloquialism, they are Bradman mad. V\ hen he was in they watched him breathlessly, expecting every shot to be a boundary. He is a good showman and was in a merry mood. , Allen howled with much life at the start of the innings. In his first over ho made one come back quickly very close to Fingleton’s stumps. In his next he howled another break back that caused Badcock to play on. Bradman’s reception was terrific. He showed his appreciation by hitting two great boundaries in the same over with a late cut and a wonderful hook. Facing Voce, Bradman was beaten and almost bowled first ball. Voce must think himself an unlucky howler to miss so closely, but he had a triumph after tea. The howlers found difficulty in keeping Fingleton and Bradman quiet. At tea 81 had been scored it. 75 minutes. Allen, proved expensive, conceding 45 runs in six overs. 1< ingleton was playing excellently, though, naturally, he was overshadowed ■ by Bradman, who made lusty strokes till tea upset him. He added only one and then tried to drive Voce, was a bit late and the ball sped almost straight to the gully, where Worthington took it knee-high. , . Alter Bradman’s dismissal play was quiet. The only mistake I saw tingleton make was in Voce’s first over after tea, when he nearly gave Verity a catch at short leg. At one time, while Bradman was in, there was a danger of England letting Australia run away, but afterward they held the batsmen tight. McCabe, in attempting to hook Voce, skied the ball over midon’s head. Barnett, fielding rather deep made an heroic effort to take the catch. If that had succeeded England could have claimed a slight advantage in the match so far. ENGLAND. First Innings. Worthington, c Oldfield, b McCormick ,6 Barnett, c Oldfield, b O’Reilly ... 69 Fagg, c Oldfield, l> McCormick ... 4 Hammond, e Robinson, b McCormick 6 Leyland, b Ward _ 126 Ames, c Chipperfield, b Ward ... 24 Hardstaff, c .McCabe, h O’Reilly ... 43 Robins, c sub, h O'Reilly 38 Allen, c McCabe, b O’Reilly 35 Verity, c fjievcrs, b O’Reilly ... 7 Voce, not out 4 Extras 8 Total 358 Fall of wickets.—One for 0, two lor 20, three for 20, four for 119, five for 162, six for 252, seven for 311, eight for 311, nine for 343. BOWLING ANALYSIS.

First Innings. Fingleton, not out 61 Badcock, b Allen . ••• ® Bradman, c Worthington, 1) Voce 38 McCabe, not out H Extras •• - ' ’lota.' for t<vu wickets lot'

Fall of wickets.—One for 13, two for 89. BOWLING ANALYSIS.

A HARD STRUGGLE. AUSTRALIA’S PROSPECTS. Received December 7, 10.20 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 7. Commenting; on the second day’s play in the Test, Mr C. G- Macartney says: —Verity is the real menace in England’s attack, and Australia has now to fight hard to retrieve the position lost through the failure of her slow blowers, to whom her faith was pinned. England’s total is beyond expectations, | but more runs could have been ac- | quired. Fear and restraint against the I slow howling have become so habitual ito the Englishmen that they prevent the employing of sturdy strokes, even to bad deliveries. The Australian attack has felt severely the absence of McCormick. Australia has made a satisfactory reply to England so far, and this position is duo in no small measure to the fine, solid innings of Eingleton. The loss of Badock and the modest contribution by Bradman, whoso runs were hardly made in true Bradman style, thrust a situation on McCabe that demanded caution. McCabe was not able to attempt a sortie on the bowling. East bowling and large doses of Verity, with all the bowlers on the spot, helped to subdue the batsmen.

0. M. R. McCormick 8 1 26 3 Sic vers 16 5 42 102 138 32 10 0 O’Reilly Ward ••• Chipperfield McCabe 40 36 ... 11 2 3 2 3 0 5 2 0 0 AUSTRALIA.

0. M. R. w. Allen ... 12 1 58 1 Voce ... 10 1 25 1 Hammond ... ... 4 0 12 0 Rollins ... L 0 4 0 Verity ... 1G 2 45 0