UPHILL STRUGGLE

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

UPHILL STRUGGLE

BATTING MIRACLE NEEDED. RAIN AT BRISBANE. POSSIBLE EFFECTS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright,) Received December 9, 10.35 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 9. Commenting on the first 'lest, the Sydney Morning Herald’s cricket writer says: Australia is faced with the task of making 331 runs in the fourth innings vo win. 4he side l suffered a crushing blow in the last ten minutes of play yesterday, when Fmgleton, alter unsuccesslullv appealing against tlie light, piayeti tile nrst nail on to the wicKet. nix appeals against the light were matte nciore stumps were drawn at 5 for 50, in the middle of an over.

At midnight light steady rain was falling, but nothing definite about the state or tlie wicket will be known until late in the morning. Mr C. U. Macartney, in the Herald, says: England looks the potential winner of tins Test and, except for the unattractive batting yesterday (Alku excepted), has outplayed Australia. I nc loss of t mgleton’s wicket did not improve matters, and while I am optimistic enough to expect something immense from Bradman and McCabe, Australia will find difficulty ill winning At one period yesterday it appeared that England’s policy of defence would he fatal, as runs were scarce and wickets were falling with disastrous regularity. Allen’s meritorious innings dispelled the danger, and at the end oi the day England was in a strong position. EFFECT OF RAIN. if the rain falls heavily Australia will he in a helpless position. England’s policy may yet prove wrong, for if only enough ram falls to hind the pitch the big task set Australia in the fourth innings may be considerably reduced. England’s policy of wearing down Australia’s howling by patience and defence was unattractive. .Such reputable run-getters as Hammond, Allies. Leylund, and liardstalf were seldom seen in quest ot runs, and their polite inaction cost them their wickets tor modest contributions. This policy was pursued throughout the day. Allen was the only one who displayed any degree of enterprise. It must he admitted that the limited bowling attack had suffered greatly front the earlier defence on a trying day. J lie absence of McCormick was a heavy blow. . , . There was a definite improvement in Ward’s work. O’Reilly did not reveal the real, venom expected of him. Severs supplied inexpensive relief and rendered valuable assistance by seeming three wickets. Australia’s fielding was good. J lie two running catches by Bradman and Fingleton will be numbered among the great teats of 'Jest cricket. Mr Arthur Mailey, in the DailyTelegraph, savs: Australia faces an extremely difficult task, Our big hope» Bradman, and in a lesser degieo Me Mr Vic Richardson, in a broadcast, said that only a miracle of batting effort could bring victory to Australia. Mr A. E. R. Gilligan, m a broadcast, expressed the opinion that tlie appeal against the light when Australia went in was justified. Oldfield has now dismissed bo batsmen in the Tests, breaking the Englishman, Lilley’s, record. TRIBUTE TO ALLEN. RESUSCITATING THE GAME. Received December 9, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, Dec. S. At a Lancashire County cricket meeting the selector, Air Higson, said:— Alien is going to resuscitate English cricket and bring hack not only the Ashes but, what is far more important, Australia’s goodwill.