England Retains The Ashes

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6804, 7 January 1929, Page 7

England Retains The Ashes

Three Wicket Victory . In Third Test

Sutcliffe Hero of Fight for Victory

Wicket Dries Well OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS BUT ONCE JOB BOWLERS. Received Sunday, 7 p.m, SYDNEY, Jan. 6. The weather was perfect for a continuance of the Test and the attendance was 15,000. The wicket was playing excellently. England’s batsmen opened confidently and the Australian bowlers had a hard task, in view of their lost opportunities yesterday. Singles followed from A’Beckett and Blackie till Sutcliffe put Blackie past point for three. Kippax made a great stop. Sutcliffe changed bats at 80. Blackie had Jardine tied up badly. Careful - batting produced only 13 runs in 25 minutes.

Grimmett relieved A’Beckett and began nicely, pitching them well up. Blackie was cut to the boundary twice in succession by Jardine, but Grimmett raised hopes when he got Jardine in his fourth maiden over. The ball came off inside the batsman’s leg—two wickets for 199. Hammond and Sutcliffe brought up 200 in 262 minutes. Hammond was batting slowly, but scored off Grimmett by late cuts. Sutcliffe secured his century in 272 minutes. He was playing a solid, fighting game; Oxenham bowled threemaidens, and was making it difficult for the batsmen. There was thus a dull period; in which it took half an hour to score 16 runs. Hammond, in a spasmodic burst, jumped well out to Oxenham and lifted him to the boundary and Ryder, who twice misfielded, was ironically cheered. The batsmen again became painfully slow just before lunch. After lunch, Oldfield missed a bye, which now totalled 28, Hammond’s late cuts were applauded and Sutcliffe made a magnificent stroke, swinging Grimmett to leg for four. /

A’Beckett took over a new ball at 250 runs, when Hammond, by a straight drive, got another four. Next, coming out to Grimmett, ho missed and was run out.

The deficit was now 75. Interest was revived whon Hendren partnered Sutcliffe and immediately went for the bowling, pulling Blackie for four and Straight driving A’Beckett to tho boundary. This was a treat, after the dull batting. A hit by Hendren to the boundary almost brought about his downfall, Bradman falling p.nd just missing a catch. His next stroke was a straight drive to tho on, full to the boundary. The spectators appreciated Hendren’s vigour, as he was going for all the bowling alike. Australia’s chances were now fast slipping away, as the batsmen seemed masters of the situation. The barrackers were giving the captain plenty of advice, but he was handling his team excellently.

Grimmett was rewarded by a leg decision against Sutcliffe, who was then 135. He had batted for 384 minutes and hjs score included nine fours—four for 318, and England required only 14 rung to win. To Sutcliffe the Honour.

Sutcliffe had made a memorable stand with Hobbs, batting through the dangerous wicket and carrying England On to a good wicket and to victory. Chapman- joined Hendren and faced Ryder. He broke the ice by an off drive for three. Hendren continued to punish tho' bowling, until Oxenham, who was trundling well, but unluckily, got him at 45. He had been at the wicket for 68 minutes. —Five for 326. At tho adjournment for tea, England required" only six runs to win. This seemed to make the position hopeless, but the crowd was endeavouring to.be optimistic. After Hendren's dismissal, singles were scored off Oxen ham and the first ball of Ryder’s over was lifted by Chapman, but was well caught by Woodfull.—Six for 328. Geary joined Tate and he straight drove Eyder, whereupon Tate went to run and Bradman, by a brilliant field, threw down the wicket. Thus, two batsmen were out in seven minutes. —Seven for 328. Duckworth joined Geary, who ended the match by driving Eyder to the boundary. It was an exciting finish to the match and of tve .nnings, which lasted for 409 minutes. At the close of play, the crowd swarmed on to the ground to inspect the wicket. Scores:— AUSTBALIA. First Innings 397 Second Innings 351 ENGLAND. First Innings 417 Second Innings. Hobbs, 1.b.w., b Blackie 4S Sutcliffe, 1.b.w., b Grimm.ett .. .. 13s Jardine, b Grimmett 33 Hammond, run out 32 Hendren, b Oxenham 45 Chapman, c Woodfull, b Eyder .. 5 Tate, run out 0 Geary, not out 4 Duckworth, not out 0 Extras 29 Total for seven wickets .. .. 332 Bowling Analysis.

“ Australian Bowlers Failed Miserably” HOBBS AND SUTCLIFFE SPLENDID WHAT WOULD IRONMONGER HAVE DONE FOR HIS SIDE? Australian Press Association. Received Sunday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 4. P. E. Warner, in the Morning Post, says the news is almost too good to bo true. , “After rain, we were told the Englishmen had an imposisblc task bur true to traditions, the opening pair batted splendidly as at the Ovai iu August 192 G. As the patch should roll out well, England ought to win by more than my prophecy, in which I forgot the possibility of rain. The greater the difficulty to be faced, the greater was the determination of Hobbs and Sutcliffe, whose partnership at Melbourne will rank above others, except that at the Oval in 1926. Hobbs is at the ago when naturally there is a falling off but the occasion brought out his greatness, while Sutcliffe as a back-to-the-wall batsman, equals his partner. Every miur.te he stayed in was momentous for England and every run worth a couide. It was superlative batting by men of long experience on a sticky wicket against bowlers, .who, owing to lack of opportunity, did not know how 3o take full advantage of the sticky wicket. Woolley, in the Daily Chronicle, says the Australians, failed -when every one was expecting them to take full advantage of the bowlers’ paradise. As a result, England turned pending defeat into an unprecedented test victory.” I know no grounds for giving such aid as Melbourne, when a baking sun follows heavy rain. The Australians’ chief tactical mistake was to aim at the leg peg, instead of well up to tho batsmen on the off stump.. We must thank tho selectors for omitting Ironmonger who would have ■ been a trial yesterday. It would be interesting to see what Rhodes and the other left-handers would have done on such i a wicket.

“The match confirms the impression formed at the Oval in 1926. The Australians are so unusued' to a really sticky wicket that ..they seem to have lost the art of using it when it is offered. Every credit is due to Hobbs and Sutcliffe. If the wicket rolls out well, England should have -won when this is read.” Lord Tennyson in the Daily Chronicle, says the names and deeds of Hobbs and Sutcliffe will live long in cricket history. “Surely the great stand at Melbourne will be accounted one of the finest partnerships, their marvellous peformancc has shown what an English team can do in a very tight, corner.”

Clem Hill, in the Daily Telegraph, says the Australian bowling failed miserably to take advantage of the conditions. No bowler kept a decent length. No blame is attached to Ryder, who did tho beat available. Maybe, he wishes he had Ironmonegr, who would make good use of the wicket. England’s performance has earned the approbation of even disappointed Australia.”

Leading Cricketers Gratified “WILL MAKE AUSTRALIA PULL HER SOCKS UP.” Sun Cable. Received Sunday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 5. The London district Institute of Journalists has cabled Chapman the heartiest congratulations and invites the team to a “welcome home’' luncheon. Mr Baldwin has cabled Chapman his hearty congratulations on the victory, after a most gallant fight, of which both sides may be proud. - In commenting on the win, Lord Harris said: “It is glorious. Our thanks aro due to Chapman and his men. Thornton declared: “It is splendid. This is out best batting and bowling side in years. Australia was unlucky in losing Ponsford and Gregory but we have beaten them fairly and squarely. Better luck next time, Australia!" Leveson Gower, says: “The victory is thoroughly deserved. England was the better side all through. Chapman captained splendidly.” Douglas says: “B'ravo! It was a sporty game. England was undoubtedly the better team but that in no way detracts from the merit of Australia’s performance. ’ ’ Strudwick says: “It is a bettor win than when England regained the Ashes at the Oval. Sandham says that Australia threw away her chances, as she had everything in her favour. The result, however, is all in favour of good cricket, for it will make Australia pull her socks up and say: 'Now wc must find somebody new.” Went Down to Better Team BUT AUSTRALIA HAS NOT FORGOTTEN HOW TO FIGHT. Australian Press Association. • Received Sunday, 7.0 <p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 6. Although the Sydney Press asserts

that Australia was unlucky to lose the last test, all tho newspapers agree the Englishmen proved superior in every department of the game. Ponsford puts it in this way: “Australia has lost the Ashes to a bettei team but one thing remains; we have not forgotten the way to fight.” “ Our Ashes ” WHILE AUSTRALIA IS THE SACKCLOTH. Received Monday, 1 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 5. “Our Ashes” was tho most pithy red poster confronting the eye this morning. Everywhere talk centred less on the obvious triumph than the prospect of England winning the next two Tests. Everybody seems to regard it as a foregone conclusion. Most of the newspapers published photographs of Darnley’s Ashes while the (Standard reproduced a snap of smiling Chapman within the frame of a horseshoe and transfers of Collins, saying to him, “England keeps the Ashes. Australia has the sackcloth.” This is how the Standard leads off the story, adding Macartney’s comment that Bradman’s despairing chase exactly typified the match for Australia.

Sutcliffe’s wife and Hammond’s sweetheart naturally had interviews likewise Sir Granville Ryrie, who wants to see young stuff, tried including Bettington. “Bravo both,” says tho Observer. England’s victory was extracted in the teeth of adversity. It was tho climax to one of tho greatest weeks of combat and vicissitude in sport anyone remembers. Its fame will be related for generations. The Australians made a splendid fight. They had their tfirn before the war; now wo have ours. Bradman and A’Beckett foreshadow what is to come. There should be a glorious struggle of youth against youth at Lords Oval in 1930, which should be witnessed by crowds never before known in cricket.

“Wo had to fight every inch of the way in this third game,” cables Maurice Tate to Reynolds News. It was touch and go from start to finish. It was tho sort of struggle in which cricketers revel, though it tires. Don’t forget to give a thought and cheer for the gallant losers.” A. C. McLaren, in the Sunday Times, says: “Australia suffers at the moment from a lack of younger and some of her bowlers are lacking experience in Test cricket. Time will alter this. Australia ■ will be hard to beat in the last two Tests.” Grade Matches in Sydney PROMISING BATSMAN IS R. NUTT, OF BALMAIN. Australian. Press Association. Received Sunday, 7.0 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 6. Playing for Cumberland against Balmain, Grady scored 106 and Waddy 96. For Waverley against Randwick, Fingleton made 92. For Peterham against Northern Districts, Graham made 92. Bowling for Manly against University, Newman took 6 for 93. For Gordon against Western Suburbs, Campbell took 5 for 40. A promising batsman is R. Nutt, of Balmain, who is playing in second grado crickot, yesterday he compiled 256 and hit 39 fours. He lias now scored three consecutive centuries. t Duration of Tests RESOLUTION SECRET IN THE MEANTIME. LONDON, Jan. 4. Tho Advisory County Cricket committee adopted a motion concerning flic duration of Test matches, but the motion is being kept secret, until the next M.C.C. committee meeting. One-Day Match at Ashburton BEALE’S XI. DEFEATS LOCAL SIDE. ' ASHBURTON, Last Night. For tho cricket match between Ashburton and Beale’s Auckland team, conditions were good, but the wicket was slow. Ashburton batted first and secured 121, K. Nicoll making 28, Drcnnan 26, Jamieson 17, J. Nicoll 15, and W. Brady 14. Butler took 5 for 29 and Langridge 1 for none. Beale’s replied with 132 for 4—Monteith not out 54, J. Bush not out 4L Johnstone captured 3 wickets for 31. It was an interesting match, Ijoth sides batting freely. The Ashburton tail was weak, but tho display by Bush and Monteith was the best witnessed here this season.

A'Bcclfott Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. .. 22 5 39 0 Hendry .. .. 23 5 33 0 Blacliie >. .. 39 31 75 1 Oxenham ..28 10 44 1 Grimmett ..42 12 98 2 Kyder .« .. 5.5 1 10 1