THINGS LOOK BLACK FOR AUSTRALIA

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1936, Page 6

THINGS LOOK BLACK FOR AUSTRALIA

M.C.C. HAVE GOOD CHANCE OF WIN

(Received 2 p.m.)

SYDNEY, Thjis Day. “Sydney Mornjing Herald!” says:

“Australia is in a bad position in the first test against Ehgland at Brisbane, and this fact made a mishap to Ejradman all the mofle disturbing. Bradman slipped when leaving the ground and wrenched an ankle. He will field today with the ankle strapped, and he is hoping the. injury will not affect the batting. England now is 199 runs to the good with eight wickets in hand. The wicket seems bound to give assistance to spin bowlers before the match is further advanced.

Voce bowled England into a winning position, when he recorded h»is greatest performance in test cricket, taking five wickets for 16 runs yesterday , and making his figures for the innings, six for 41. “Tail”. Makes Poor Showing.

“Australia’s tail-enders made a poor showing, and, as a matter of fact, the last seven batsmen aggregated only 27 runs. Fingleton, playing a lone hand after McCabe’s dismissal, reached his century after SOI minutes at the crease.”

C. G. Macartney, in the “Herald,” says: “Excellent bowling by Voce, superb fielding and sound wicketkeeping enabled England to gain its handsome lead yesterday. It was one of the slowest run-getting days of test qricket; and, while the fielding was splendid and cut down run-get-ting, the weakness of stroke play and confidence in enterprise were marked.

“It was, however, a triumphant day for England, a success thoroughly deserved. The Englishmen have a strong hold of the game, unless they endanger it by foolish strategic action or poor batting today, and unless Eflradman, upsets; calculations.

Chances Sinking Fast.

Australia’s chances are sinking fast. It is almost unbelievable that nine Australian batsmen could make only 83 runs in 176 minutes yesterday, yet that was the gruesome fact; and Fingleton made nearly half of them. From the manner in which the batsmen played, it was all they deserved.

“Not one player made any attempt to take the offensive, in an endeavour either to make runs or to destroy the position of superiority which the bowlers had gained. Australian batsmen have seldom been so harassed, and the cricket was funereal.

“Voce has seldom bowled with such hostility. He maintained fine pace and accurate length on the easy pitch. England’s fielding was grand. “Fingpeton played his pprt very creditably. His task was to hold the fort, and he held it well. The English batting in the second innings was unsound.”

Arthur Mailey, in the “Daily Telegraph,” declares: “Australia faces defeat in the first test. The explanation of Australia’s failure is that Voce bowled too well for the batsmen. Our men could not overtake Bradman’s comparative failure and Allen’s remarkably fine captaincy.”