Cricketers At Play Again

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1938, Page 7

Cricketers At Play Again

[British Official Wireless.] LONDON, July 13

After a week’s idleness, the Australian cricketers frisked gaily today on the sunny Edgbaston field, when they commenced the match against Warwickshire. There was seme surprise when Bradman won the toss from Cranmer, and sent in Warwickshire, for there had been little rain, and the wicket, which had been covered, played slowly.

The Australians omitted Hasseit, Badcock, Barnett and Walker. Fleet-wood-Smith was twelfth man. Barnes kept wickets for the first time on the tour.

In Waite’s second over, Croom was out to a snick to first slip. Thompson played too late to an in-swinger, and hfs middle stump was uprooted. Santall swung a ball from Waite hard to leg, and the ball struck Fingleton on the head. He retired hurt.

Santall and Dollery took the score to 48, when Santall snicked one from O’Reilly, a leg-break, and was caught at first slip. The home team had made 95 for three wickets at the luncheon adjournment.

Dollery and Ord scored brightly. O’Reilly, bowling an unreliable length, was freely hit, but after the pair had raised the 100 in 125 minutes, Dollery gave a simple catch at mid-on. Ward was belatedly called on at 137 and immediately had the batsmen in trouble; Buckingham scored a fluky 15 and P. Cranmer, former Rugby international and a celebrated big hitter, drove Ward three times for four and was stumped in the same over.

Ord, after a fine innings lasting 155 minutes and including seven boundaries, was caught at fine leg. The tai'l-enders were quickly dismissed and the innings ended after 200 minutes. Ward was easily the most impressive bowler.

“This Isn’t a Test,” Australia opened at 3.45 p.m. with McCabe and Brown to enable Fingleton to rest. McCabe scored 10 from Mayer’s first over, but, played. a ball on to his wicket in Mayer’s next over. Bradman and Brown, apparently wanting practice, batted quietly. Ironical applause and the cry, “This isn’t a test match,” was heard when Brown, after 105 minutes, reached 28. Bradman, who was in 90 minutes for 42, hit harder, but the bowling was accurate and run making was difficult. After 5.30 p.m., however, the batsmen opened out. The partnership was worth 100 in even time, and when the change bowlers, Santall and Croom, operated, Bradman scored at a fast rate and reached his century in 135 minutes. At stumps, Bradman, after batting for 150 minutes, had hit 11 fours, and Brown, in 165 minutes, had hit four fours. Details of the scores are as follows: WARWICKSHIRE. First Innings. Croom, c McCabei b Waite 2 Thompson, b McCormick 11 Santall, c sub., b O’Reilly 21 Dollery, c Fleetwood-Smith, b Waite 31 Ord, c Bradman, b O’Reilly 61 Buckingham, b Ward 15 Cranmer, st Barnes, b Ward 15 Paine, b O’Reilly 1 Wilmot, Ibw, b Ward 1 Mayer, st Barnes, b Ward 1 Hollies, not out 2 Extras 18 Total .; 179 Bowling.—McCormick took one wicket for 14 runs; Waite, two for 38; O’Reilly, three for 69; White, none for 14; Ward, four for 26. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. McCabe, b Mayer 14 Brown, not out 66 Bradman, not out 118 Extras 6 . Total (for one wicket) 282