England Still Has Fighting Chance

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 289, 7 December 1936, Page 6

England Still Has Fighting Chance

Innings Realises 358 Despite Bad Start

AUSTRALIA TWO FOR 151, BUT BRADMAN IS OUT

(By J. B. Hobbs—Copyright in all Countries—Reproduction in ' Whole or Part Forbidden.)

Received Sunday, 7 p.m. BRISBANE, Dec. C.

The first Test match has reached an

interesting stage for Australia, with Bradman out, had two down for 151 in reply to England’s total of 358. England did a good job to-day. The position'at the end of the second day was

not much in Australia’s favour and I am satisfied. I wanted them to put up a good show and it must be agreed they are doing so. Moreover, I noticed in Verity’s long final spell he made an occasional ball turn, -which confirms my earlier impression that there will be possibilities in the wicket for slow bowlers towards the end of the match. It has been a typical Test with dour fighting all day, except that the partnerships of Robins and Hardstaff, and Bradman and Fingleton, brought brightness and set the crowd alight, while Robins saved at least a dozen runs by eager fielding.

The ground was packed with a record Brisbane crowd of 30,775. The weather was hot and sunny and tempered by a breeze that the weatherwiso said came from a stormy quarter. That possibility of rain suggested to Allen the definite policy of staying as long as possible and of keeping Australia from eating too much into their total before the week-end.

The English tail surprised everyone by the manner in which they played, adding 95 to-day. I take back what I said about them yesterday. Robins showed the way- and he was ably supported by Hardstaff. They got off to a quick start, and both, especially Robins, repeatedly found gaps in the field, many fours resulting. In the first 30 minutes they' gaily scored 48. After making 59 for the seventh wicket, Hardstaff was Caught by McCabe when having a swing at one from O’Reilly outside his legs. McCabe made a good running catch. In the same over, Robins, when trying to hit O’Reilly into the long field, was easily caught at cover. Allen and Verity carried on, though both wero beaten in turn by O’Reilly, Ward and Chipperficld. They refused to throw in the sponge and were still together at lunch time, Verity having Seen in 53 minutes for threo runs.

England’s innings closed with a much better total than 1 at one time thought possible. Considering the bad start it was a grand performance. O’Reilly flighted the ball as well as o cer but he was not beating the bat on this occasion. His live wickets for 102 had one caught at the wicket on the leg side and the others were caught having a hit. When the batsmen were content to play him they were safe on this beautiful wicket. I thought Bradman persevered with Ward too Jong, for he was proving expensive, while Chipper lield bowls well enough to secure a more extensive show. Bradman was handicapped by the absence of McCormick owing to a slight attack of lumbago. When Australia batted the wind had brought clouds up and the weather was cooler. I wonder what Bradman is worth in sterling to the various State Cricket Associations. Half the crowd avowedly came to sec him bat and, to use a colloquialism, they arc Bradman mad. When he was in they watched him breathlessly, expecting every shot to bo a boundary, He is a good showman and he was in merry mood. , Alien bowled with much life at the start ol the innings. In the first over he made one come back quickly very close to Pingleton’s stumps. In tho next he bowled another break back that caused Badcock to play on. Bradman’s reception was terrific. He showed his appreciation by hitting two great boundaries in the same over with a late cut and a wonderful hook. Pacing Voce, Bradman was beaten and was almost bowled first ball. Voce must think himself an unlucky bowler to miss so closely but he had his triumiih after tea.

Tho bowlers found difficulty in keeping Fingletoa and Bradman quiet and at tea 81 runs had been scored in 75 minutes.

Allen proved expensive, conceding 45 runs in six overs.

Pingleton was playing excellently though naturally overshadowed by Bradman, who made puli strokes till tea upset him. He had added only one run when ho tried to drive Voce. He was a bit late and the ball sped almost straight to the gully whero Worthington took the ball knee high. After Bradman’s dismissal the play was quiet. The only mistake I saw Fingleton make was in Voce’s first over after tea, when he nearly gave Verity a catch at short leg. At ono time, while Bradman was in, there was a danger that England was letting Australia run away but afterwards they held the batsmen tight. McCabe, when attempting to hook Voce, skied the bail over mid-oil’s head and Barnett, fielding rather deep, made a heroic effort to take the catch. If that had succeeded England could have claimed a slight advantage in the match so far. Detailed scores: ENGLAND. First Innings. Worthington, c Oldfield, b McCormick o Barnett, c Oldfield, b O'Reilly .. 09 Fagg, c- Oldfield, b McCormick .. 4 Hammond, c Robinson, b McCor-

mick v Ley land, b Ward .. •• •• ••

Ames, c Chipperlield, b Ward .. 24 Hardstaff, e McCabe, b O’Reilly .. 43 Robins, c sub. (Brown), b O’Reilly 38 Alien, c McCabe, b O’Reilly .... 35 Verily, c Sievcrs, b O'Reilly .... 7 Voce, not out 4 Extras 8 Total 358 Fall of the wickets: Seven for 311, eight for 311, nine for 343. Bowling Analysis.

AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Fingleton, not out 04 Badcock, b Allen 8 Bradman, c Worthington, b Voce 38 McCabe, not out 37 Extras 7 Total for two wickets 151 Fall of the wickets: one for 13, two for 89. Bowling Analysis.

English Gloat Over Bradman’s

Downfall

Received Sunday, 10.20 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 0.

The constitutional crisis has again been responsible for the Test match being relegated to a back page, although there is a general gloat in the headlines over Bradman’s early dismissal.

Tho Evening News remarks: ‘‘The Englishmen are settling down into a good team and the prospects are much brighter; Now we havo lost that xo-r'lsk sense of inferiority. At present we have Australia fighting for runs. It is true they were fighting successfully at the finish but we have good reason to be satisfied with our work.” .

0. AT. Ii. Vv McCormick .. . 1 ilo 3 Sicvers 5 42 0 O’Reilly . .. 40 13 102 5 Ward 2 13S - Chipperfield .. .. . .. 1L 3 30 McCabe *> 0 10 0

0. M. K. w. Allen 1 OS 1 Vcee . 1 25 1 'Hammond .. .. 0 12 0 Kobins . 0 4 0 Verity 2 45 0