COMBINED TEAM START WELL

Northern Advocate, 24 October 1936, Page 5

COMBINED TEAM START WELL

(BY J. B. HOBBS.)

Cricket

CENTURIES TO BADCOCK AND HORROCKS

(Copyright in all countries. —Reproduction in whale or part forbidden.) (Received 10 a.m.)

PERTH, October 23.

X>ADCOCK, the young Tasmanian, who now plays for South Australia, and Horrocks, the Lancashire-born Western Australian representative, collared the English bowling this afternoon when the conditions were ideal. What everyone wants to hear about, in view of the coming tests, is Badcock, what kind of player he is, and how he scored his century.

He is short and stocky, only 22 years old, and stands very upright at the wicket. He gave a very good display and was exceptionally strong on the leg side. One so young cannot be expected to have all the shots and no faults. I did not see him play genuinely forward throughout his innings. • ;• '• -

Even to a w T ell pitched ball, Badcock never gets the left shoulder and the left leg over, and plays the ball to extra cover, In fact, on a few occasions he played the ball straight back. It was done off the right foot. He did not use the cut. Instead, he elected to pull the ball, often well in front of the wicket. He has accomplished no mean feat. He was twice missed when he was 13 and 35, in the slips, off Voce. A Cool Customer.

Horrocks defended well, and was content to play , second fiddle to Badcock for a start. Later he took the initiative and scored as fast as his partner. He did much more driving than Badcock and hit Verity for two sixes. ,

Fishlock Unlucky.

At the start of the day English wickets fell quickly. I must sympathise with Fishlock for failing to get his century. He had a nice bit of practice.

There will always be a tendency for Badcock to fail there, unless he can put that stroke right by playing forward, with his left leg well over to the ball. He approached his hundred showing no signs of nervousness. At 96 he forced Allen past cover. There was much excitement as three were run.

The last wicket stand of 70 in 45 minutes gave the crowd pleasure. Allen gave an excellent display., Copson, backed up by Allen, was particularly 'severe on Grimmett, scoring 17 off one over.

Then, to prove how cool he was, Badcock played a maiden over from Verity. Facing Allen he, made a great hook shot for four. He could not hook Verity, who held him tight, and I think he will always do so.

Early in his innings Fingleton was hit on the body by Voce. Nobody questioned the fairness of the delivery. Soon after, he was bowled by one which kept low.

Perhaps Voce looked the best of English bowlers. Although Copson, on a few occasions got the ball past the bat, it was not his lucky day. Fagg kept wicket well, though he had hurt his thumb while batting yesterday: