MACARTNEY’S REVIEW

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1937, Page 6

MACARTNEY’S REVIEW

I The Cricket Test

ENGLAND IN HOPELESS POSITION j j (Received 1.30 p.ra.) j SYDNEY, This Day. | C. G. Macartney, in the “Sydney Morning Herald,” commenting on the third cricket test at Melbourne, says: “The situation is hopeless for England, and the issue of the match is only a matter of time. “Australia set out yesterday to settle the issue. The methods employed by Bradman and Fingleton from the outset were cautious, and scoring was j slow. Nevertheless, the batsmen be-j came firmly entrenched, and no | bowler showed signs of being able to | dislodge them. j

“Fingleton played his role admirably. His defence was impregnable, and he was doubly careful that no mistake on his part should jeopardise Australia’s chance of retaining the Ashes.

“Bradman for a long time was not the hectic batsman usually associated with his name when at his best, but he made no mistakes about the ultimate result. His innings was a mixture of sound defence and punishing strokes, but it was not of the adventurous type. “For the first time in the series, Australia has revealed her batting powers, and it is with satisfaction that the captain is showing the way. “The English bowling and fielding was never loose. It was rather the opposite. The fielding generally was splendid. The bowling honours went to Verity. No liberties could be taken with him, and had he been blessed by fortune he would have broken the partnership. “One admirable feature of the play was the running between the wickets. Stolen singles were delightfully judged.

“This judgment was of even greater value when the fine fielding and field placement are considered.” GENERAL COMMENTS. $ A Melbourne message last night stated that the weather was mild, and that the meteorologist expected it to continue fine for the next two days. Bradman has now made six scores over 200 in tests against England. Hammond, with three, is the only other batsman with more than one innings of 200. Bradman has made a century against England in each of his four test matches in Melbourne. Fingleton has now made five centuries in six successive test matches. He compiled a century in each of the last three tests in South Africa last season, and two in his first three against England this season. Back on His Throne. Commenting on yesterday’s play the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” cricket writer says; “Bradman stepped back on his throne. He showed he A again capable of demoralising the best bowlers.” Australia’s Ashes, Arthur Mailey, in the “Daily Telegraph.” states; “If the best team be chosen, Australia will win the fourth test, and retain the Ashes in the following test.”