BOWLERS' DAY

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

BOWLERS' DAY

AUSTRALIA OUT FOR 234. M.C.C. AGAIN BATTING. SIX WICKETS TO VOCE. (United Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (By J. B. Hobbs.—Copyright in all countries.—Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) BRISBANE, Dec. 7.

As a result of the third day's play England is in a splendid position in the first cricket Test against Australia. One way in which England could have forfeited its advantage was by losing four or five wickets cheaply to-night, but this was not done.

This has been England's day. Perhaps this is the first time I have been able to say that on this tour. Unable to stand up to some good bowling by Voce, Australia's batsmen unexpectedly collapsed and were all out for 234. leaving England with a lead of 124 runs. England did not throw away the advantage by going for runs and risking the loss of several wickets. Instead the bastnven wisely forgot about the lead and played steadily. Time aids England, because the wicket will gradually wear. There were few signs of this to-day, but occasionally the slow bowlers made one turn. 1 am expecting the spinners to come into their own to-morrow ami the following day.

England played magnificently Ijeforo lunch, securing three more wickets for the addition of 51 runs. McCabe was the first to go. Soon after completing his 50 he was caught when making a hook shot just where Burnett made such a great effort to catch him on Saturday—at mid-on, very wide and deep. He was also caught in this position in the New South Wales game, so has not profited by the lessons. Robinson had scored only two when ho was well caught low down at first slip by Hammond, and Chippcrficld was then taken at the wicket, all three falling to Voce. VOCE'S BRILLIANCE.

In two spells Voce bowled six overs, with four maidens, for six runs, and three wickets. Allen opened the howling, but, after giving two fours away in his second over, gracefully retired in favour of Voce. What a good move it was! In' three overs Voce took two more wickets for two run's. Not one four was hit off him in this session. It was altogether a brilliant performance. Verity and Robins, the slow bowlers, backed him up solidly. Verity, for instance, was scored off only three times in six overs. Allen is a lucky captain, insomuch as his tactics succeeded. Hewas fortunate .-he did not take the new ball when Voce went on again just before lunch, because he might not have had Chipperfield dismissed. Fingleton played an admirable back-to-the-wall innings, adding 28 in 90 minutes before lunch, taking exactly five hours for his century, which he completed 35 minutes after the interval. It took him a long time to get the last run, this creating tense excitement. His mission was to stay there and try to give Australia, a chance to recover.

Allen persevered with the old ball after lunch. First Voce, then Robins and Verity had a turn, hoping to dislodge Sievers, whom they considered most likely to succumb to slow than fast bowling. As it happened, Fingleton was the batsman to get out. Verity deceived him completely with pace when he bowled his fast yorker. Fingleton shaped at it much too late. Ultimately Allen and Voce took the new ball and the tail was soon dismissed. McCormick had a runner and was applauded for his pluck in appearing. I had given Australia 500 in this innings so, along with other English supporters. I was delightfully surprised. In fact, England performed so well that I got quite excited. We had all beeu saying such unkind things about them, and it was indeed difficult to say nice ones. Therefore it gives me additional pleasure now to exclaim, "Well done, boys." MARVELLOUS FEAT. Voce was perhaps helped by some weak play by batsmen going tor balls on the offside, but six tor 41 against such a supposedly powerful batting side is a truly marvellous feat. In 10.6 overs to-dav l>o got five wickets foi 16. Earlier in the tour he had been unlucky, often getting one wicket when ho bowled well enough to take three or four. Verity was a perfect foil. He took only one for 52, but indirectly contributed to some of Voce's wickets. His turn should come later in the match. Though well nursed by Allen, Voce maintained his pace splendidly under a gruelling sun. While he kept a good length, his chief merit was his ability to make the ball run away. Australia was handicapped by the loss of McCormick, so McCabe was one of the opening bowlers when England batted a second time. The attack lacked sting, with nobody above medium pace. Woithiugton had scored only eight when he missed a yorker from McCabe and had the mortification to find the ball rebound from the wicketkeeper's pads. The ball just shook the hails off and he was out stumped. Burnett was completely out of touch. Several balls from O'Beilly found the ed"-e of his bat and he was almost bowled with the fifth ball of O'Reilly s first over. He was eventually caught at deep square leg off Ward when having a swing at a ball outside his le S s - ~ Details:

for 202, six for 220. seven for 229. eight for 231, m'ne for 231.

ENGLAND. First Innings 358 Second Innings. Worthington, st Oldfield, b McCabe 8 Barnett, c Iladcoek, b Ward ... 26 Fagg, not out 24 Hammond, not out 12 Extras 5

Total for 2 wickets ... ... ... 75 Fall of wickets.—One for 17, two for 50. BOWLING ANALYSIS. 0. M. 11. W. Sievers 5 1 10 McCabe 3 0 12 0 1 Ward 16 4 30 1 O’Reilly 12 0 15 0 Chipperfield ... 4 2 3 0 AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Fingleton, b Verity 100 Badcoek, b Allen 8 Bradman, e Worthington, b Voce 38 McCabe, c Barnett, b Voce 51 Robinson, c Hammond, b Voce ... 2 Chipperfield, c Ames, b Voce Sievers, b Allen 7 8 Oldfield, c Ames, b Voce 6 O’Reilly, c Lcyland, b Voce 3 Ward, c Hardstaff, b Allen 0 McCormick, not out 1 Extras 10 Total 234 Fall of wickets.—One for 13. two for S9. three lor 166, four for J «6, file

BOWLING ANALYSIS. 0. M. TL W Allen 16 2 71 3 Voce 20.6 6 41 6 Hammond 4 0 12 0 Verity 28 11 52 1 0 lloliins 17 0 48