All Out For 58

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 7

All Out For 58

Australian Debacle On Sodden Wicket

ENGLAND’S EASY VICTORY IN FIRST TEST

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

Received Wednesday, 8.20 p.m. BRISBANE, Dec. 9,

England won the first Test by 322 runs, Australia collapsing on a raindamaged wicket to-day. The Australians are to bo commiserated on the fact of rain coming to spoil whatever chance they thought they had last night of winning the match or alternatively running England close. If they had had only a little rafiu during the night it would have bound the wicket up, but there was too much at 6 o’clock this morning, making the wicket sticky at the start. I must say that Australia should have got more runs than they did, but I realise that they rarely see a wet wicket hero owing to the wickets being completely covered in State matches. When as to-day the ball comes off the pitch slower than it does through the air and then kicks occasionally they look helpless. Still probably England would not have done very much better in the circumstances. It is likely that tho big score they had to get to win overawed them and caused them more or less to throw up the sponge. Allen and Voce both had remarkable figures, but England had three more bowlers in the team, Hammond, Verity and Worthington, who might had done equally well. The irony of the situation is that Verity has been nipping Ijis fingers for weeks at the thought of rain, yet when it came and produced a wicket to his liking he did not get a bowl. Tho Englishmen will be the first to sympathise with Australia and admit that fate played them a scurvy trick this morning, practically presenting the visitors with victory. Yet I honestly think we played better than Australia and had already earned it so that even if the rain had not come 'we should have won. I know that is a risky thing to say with Bradman in the side as he is liable to get one or two hundred off his own bat. But tjhe wicket after four days’ play was showing signs of wear and accidents were bound to happen. Ono or two batsmen would have been sure to get out through the bail keeping low or doing something unexpected. Allen’s first ball of the day got up rather high and Badcoek shaped as if lio expected tho second to do the same, but it came along very little above normal height. He played to wido third slip where Fagg caught it so low down that the batsman waited tho umpire’s confirmation.

Voco was overpitching the ball and there appeared nothing particularly dangerous about him. Wickets fell to the fourth and sixth balls of Allen's second over. Slevers feeling for ono just outside the off stump was caught at second slip and the great Bradman camo in. Bradman played the first ball but the second kicked and flew off the shoulder of his bat, Fagg fielding it in the same place as before.

With Bradman walking back to the pavilion went any hope of Australia’s saving the game. McCabe was tho nest to go, Alien getting his wicbeit with the second ball of the following over. McCabe was easily caught by Le’yland at deep square leg. That meant half tho side out for sixteen. Robinson scored two off the second ball of Voce’s third over, but off the next when trying to hit it to the on side ho lobbed an easy catch to Hammond. I felt sorry for Robinson and the other recruits coming in on a wicket like this in their first Test, for the dice heavily was loaded against any batsman. Oldfield scored two fours through the slips in Allen’s next over, the first off a no-ball of which there was an epidemic due to the ground being loose'. The only previous four was to lino leg off the same bowler by McCabe. Oldfield reached double figures, being the first player to do so, but in Voce’s next over he was clean bowled with a well pitched up ball. Chippcrfield hit a boundary just behind point off Allen. It was quite the best shot of the innings so far. A single brought O’Reilly to face Allen. He had a swish at one ball to miss and the next upset his stumps. A maiden by Voce to Ward followed, then Chippcrfield hit three fours in one over from Allen, the second giving him 20 and hoisting 50. Another singlo brought Ward to that end. He tried to hook a short one that got up and hit him on the face. Tho game was delayed while he received attention and when lie faced Voce again it was obvious he did not intend to be hit again. After a half-hearted attempt to play the first ball he was bowled by the second. With McCormick unable to bat Australia was out for 58. Scores:— ENGLAND. i First innings .. .. 358 Second innings . 252 AUSTRALIA. First innings .. 234Second Innings. Fingletou, b Voce (J Badcock, c Fagg, b Allen 0 Sievers, c Voce, b Allen 5 Oldfield, b Voce 10 Bradman, c Fagg, b Alien 0 McCabe, c Leyiand, b Allen .... V Robinson, e Hammond, b Voce . „ ‘3 Chipperfield, not out ........ 26 O’Reilly, b Allen ;; 0 Ward, b Voce 1 McCormick, absent .. 0 Extras 6 Total 5S Fall of the wickets: One for 0, two

for 3, three for 7, four for 7, five for 16, six for 20, seven for 35, eight for 41, nine for 58. Bowling analysis.

Can Australia Hold Ashes? Received Wednesday, II p.in. SYDNEY, Dec. 9. Mr. Neville Cardus, the London cricket writer, in an article in to-day ’s Bun from Brisbane, says: “It is now Australia's task to win three out of the remaining four Tests. Frankly I do not think they will develop the 30 per cent, technical superiority over England necessary for the performance. No doubt the wicket 1 to-day made impossible tho authentic easeful stroke play of the Australians. None tho less the batting was grotesquely at a loss to deal with the occasion’s difficulties.”

Ho Change in Australian Test Team Received Thursday, 1.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 9. It is announced from Brisbane that Australia’s team for the second Test will be unchanged but McCormick will be subjected to another medical examination.

O. M. E. W. Voce .... , 0 1G •1 Allen .. . 0 36 5