Woodfull’s Leadership In Second Test Satisfies M. A. Noble

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7066, 27 January 1933, Page 4

Woodfull’s Leadership In Second Test Satisfies M. A. Noble

FORMER AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN WRITES ABOUT TACTICS ON FIELD

SOOKING back over the second Test, which was largely a battle of tactics and bowling ability, I think that the Australian captain, Woodfull, did his job well, and got the most and the best from the men under him (writes M. A. Noble, one of the greatest of cricket captains in an Australian paper). Perhaps he might have given them sounder advice on how to combat the leg theory, but his handling of the bowling and fielding was, generally speaking, admirable. In Australia’s first innings, Woodfull relied on stodgy players up to the third wicket, but I think that if the men are available, it is much better to

hut I should not think that he did, because some of our batsmen tried tlic impossible—to score down what has been called “suicide alley,” the squareleg trap for players who try to lilt over Ihc heads of the inner leg cordon, while the two black crows are sitting for such shots nearer the boundary. A little word of advice from him might have checked the apparently over-mastering desire on the part of some of the young players, as well as some of the old, to have a go at dangerous short balls which rose shoulderhigh. On the other hand, for short balls which rose only hip-high, they should have been advised to get across their wicket and drive them' hard straight at the men in the inner cordon, who then might themselves become a “suicide club.” I would have told them also to leave good length deliveries just outside the leg stump severely alone. The bowler and all the fieldsmen on the leg side had that one hope uppermost—that the batsmen would try to leg-glance them.O’Brien’s Batting. ’Regarding O’Brien’s position on the hatting list, I think he would have been of more value second or third wicket down, as lie might have held one end up. and he iiad more chance of doing that when the sting had been taken out of the bowling than when shock tactics were fresh. I assume that Woodfull had a word with his bowlers before throwing them the ball as to what tactics to adopt, and, having decided oil a theory, placed the field accordingly. This is not the same as placing the men first and then telling the attacker to bowl for the field. Different tactics were needed for each individual batsman, and Woodfull showed a comprehensive knowledge of Ill's opponents in handling his attack. As examples, when Wyatt and Allen were together in a partnership which threatened to make a Ion? stand after lunch on tlic last day Woodfull placed a close infield with a fine-leg, close square-leg, and silly mid-oil,’but when Alien bad the strike the fielders were dropped back, tine and square-leg moving out, and an extra man being placed straight 'through-' at long-011; * Hammond’s dismissal also was largely due to ..Woodfull’s tactics, - -With his partners, falling,, Hammond started to open his powerful shoulders, and twice landed O’Reilly near the 011-Side of the •sight-board. O’Brien was at deep midoff, and gradually moving deeper, when Woodfull quietly moved him almost to the sight-hoard—on the off-side. Soon tile right hall came. O’Reilly sent down one which most people thought Hammond would add to tlic others on the on-side of the hoard, hut it turned a bit Hammond did not connect properly, and, with a well-judged catch O’Brien completed the tactical move. ; .

use a fast scorer in partnership with a stodgv player. While one is holding ail end up and helping to take the sting out of the opening attack, the other should try to knock the bowlers oh their length. Glance over some of the finest opening pairs .such as McLaren aiuh Hayward and Hobbs and butclilte, with the splendid blending. A successful exception, of course, was 3 1 umper and Duff, two aggressive, players, each with his own characteristics, hut of the greatest ability. Both were highly suitable for the opening task, and wc probably will never sec sucli an opening pair again, Leg-Theory Advice. A different position faced Woodfull, for he did not have the necessary enterprising halsmen suitable for opening. lie did flic next best thing in trying to get on top of the bowling by wearing down methods. Bradman, delightfully aggressive, is essentially a tirst-wickct bat, and I am not sure that it would not have been wiser to play him in liis usual place instead of following O’Brien. I do not know if Woodfull advised his batsmen, before coming in, what tactics to adopt facing the lcg-tlicory,

Throughout, the field-placing, was sound, hut I think it would have paid Woodfull to have placed a man Id stop Sutcliffe’s favourite shot—a ’ push hast point. It is tiie shot which he exploits most, and from which he collects most runs. Nothing is gained by leaving tlic field open there. It is not a dangerous siiot. and had a mail been placed there Sutcliffe would have been forced to. use other scoring strokes of which be is not so certain. I consider it a mistake to field O’Brien—a good outfielder—close to the wicket. If there is any work to be clone there, Richardson is the man. O’Reilly’s Future. Although Hammond and Allen were inclined to hit, Woodfull did not place an outfield for Ironmonger in the early stages. The.reason probably was that Woodfull wanted to entice the bojsmcn into hitting into the country, believing that, ns Ironmonger was doing a bit from thp leg-side, a mis-hit must soon '•ome and give an easy catch to Ibc in(icldcrs.- ••- :

Later, Ironmonger was given a man at long-OU. although it would have been better tactics to have placed him straightcr. as any attemnt to hit Ironmonger to Hie on would have to he against the left-hander’s natural break. • Tiic ringing of Hie howling changes was handled skilfulby except in one instance in«t before lunch on the last day. O’Reilly, had taken three wickets, but the hot sun was taking the ringer out of evefvdne, and I consider Woodfull should have soelled O’Reilly before he did, about 1 p.m. Things came off. but anything can happen at?''cricket, and everything may have depended on O'Reilly in the afternoon. ... , , I think this voung howler will develop n liking f or bowline .into the wind, as it is certain to itclo his flighting and holding hack the ball, and give even greater opportunities of dismissing lus opponents. Grimmctt was bowled "ltn discretion. Woodfull had every reason to he satisfied with his captaincy. I was.