TEST BATTLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 9, 9 December 1936, Page 9

TEST BATTLE

AUSTRALIA’S BIG TASK. A DOUR DISPLAY. ALLEN’S GOOD STAND. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (By J. B. Hobbs. —Copyright in all countries. —Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) BRISBANE, Dec. 8. In seesaw fashion the first cricket Test to-day swung Australia s vaj again ill as exciting a pre-luncli period as yesterday, when England got on top. Australia lost three wickets for 51. in 90 minutes. England also lost three wickets and scored two fewer runs. On both occasions good bowling was responsible. Bradman persisted with the slow bowlers, Oiiipperfield, Ward and O’Reilly. The only time lie put on a bowler with any pace was when he gave Sievers four overs just before lunch. Those were maidens. O Reilly and Ward bore the brunt of the attack at this period. They kept perfect length and looked deadly enough to he capable of getting a wicket with any ball. Only tour lours were bit, tho batsmen being kept in complete subjection. l<agg was the first to go. Leyland stepped into the breach as he has often done lately, holding the side together. Hammond seldom played forward, because Ward was making the ball turn. Perhaps he didn’t realise he was being driven back oil the wickets as much as he was, tor m cutting Ward he also hit on the top of the stumps. Ames was the victim of Sievers, a medium-paced bowler, with a really good ball. Never can a Test have been more dourly fought, Had it not been a Test we could not have endured the slow cricket, but realising the bitter battle being staged I think we all enjoyed it. Similar conditions obtained after lunch. When he had added fourteen, Leyland was sensationally caught off Ward. He tried to hook a shortish one over tho head of Bradman, who was fielding deep and wide at mid-on. Having sighted it, Bradman suddenly turned round, dashed off like a flash, and made the catch while running full tilt with his hands over his head and his back to the wicket. Leyland’s was a useful 33, but six for 144 was not nearly enough to please me. The crux of the match probably came during the period between lunch and tea. Thanks to a seventh-wicket stand of G 1 by Hardstatf and Allen, tilings turned England’s way again. Hardstaff took an hour to reach 10. Getting to twenty, he leit the crease, played forward, and was stumped. During this partnership Ward went off after bowling continuously for two and a-half hours. He bowled twenty overs, nine maidens, for 40 runs and three wickets When he returned he got Hardstaff in his first over. ALLEN IMPRESSES. Allen raised himself in the batting order so as to be fresher when bowling. He batted so stubbornly that it may have the opposite effect. Allen’s effort raised him in the public esteem. It was truly magnificent, and was enhanced by the fact that he came in just before lunch in a crisis with five down for 122. He was still there at tea with 41 to his credit, including six fours, but lie hit nothing except had ones.

1 said the slow bowlers would come into their own. Ward had done so, but so far O’Reilly didn’t get a wicket, an amazing circumstance. Allen scored two off O’Reilly, who beat and almost bowled him, typifying his bad hi/. in this innings. A storm was brewing with clouds and distant thunder as a ninth-wicket stand laboriously added a valuable 42. At 244 Bradman had to put on McCabo and” Sievers with the new ball. Australia was ill a quandary. Sievers in his second over got Varity legbefore. Allen was eventually caught as in the first innings when having a hit. Fingleton, running from midoff behind the bowler, made a good catch. Allen hit eight fours and scored most of his runs on the leg side. This left Australia 381 to get to win. The Australian slow howlers were great, Ward having a field day. It was only when their fingers got tired that, they lost nip. McCormick was much missed. I know 381 is a fleabite to the Australian batsmen normally, but considering the way the wicket is wearing 1 am of opinion they will find it too big a task, especially as they lost Fingleton with the first ball. The Australians appealed against the light before receiving a ball. 1 hope rain does not come to spoil tilings and that we shall see the match played out on its merits. Australia fought back grandly, but England is in a stronger position than last night. Details : ENGLAND. First innings 358 Second Innings. Worthington, st Oldfield. li McCabe 8 Barnett, c Radcock, b Ward ... 26 Fagg, st Oldfield, b Ward 27 Hammond, bit wicket, b Ward ... 25 Leyland, c Bradman, b Ward ... 33 Ames, b Sievers " Allen, c Fingleton. b Sievers ... 68 Hardstaff, st Oldfield, b Ward ... 20 Robins, c Cbipperfiekl, b Ward ... 0 Verity, lbw, b Sievers 19 Voce, not out Extras 256 Fall of wickets. —One for 17, two for 50, three for 82. four for 105, Jive for ]*'3 six for 144, seven for 205, eight for 205, nine for 247, ten for 25G. BOWLING ANALYSIS.

AUSTRALIA. First Innings 234 Second Innings. Fingleton, b Voce 0 C. L. Badeock, not out ... 0 M. M. Sievers, not out 2 Extras 1 Total for one wicket 3

0. M. R. W. Sievers ... 19.6 9 29 3 McCabe ... 6 1 14 1 O’Reilly ... 35 15 59 0 Ward '... 46 16 102 6 Cliipperfield ... ... 10 2 33 0