English Batting Slumps; O’Reilly On Top; Advantage To Australia

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1938, Page 6

English Batting Slumps; O’Reilly On Top; Advantage To Australia

(Received 10 a.m. * LONDON. July 22. At the conclusion of the first day s play in the fourth CRICKET TEST MATCH BEING PLAYED AT LEEDS, AUSTRALIA WAS IN A MORE COMMANDING POSITION THAN PREVIOUSLY ATTAINED BY EITHER TEAM DURING THE SERIES. Hammond, for the third time in succession, won ihe toss, but England made poor use of the advantage. In marked contrast to their tactics in the other tests, the early English batsmen meeting O’Reilly at. his best, stonewalled with disastrous results. Hammond, alone, played an innings worthy of the occasion, his aggressive tactics meeting with great success. Later two bowlers. Wright and Verity, joined in a bright partnership, but the whole side was out for 223. With the loss of Brown’s wicket, Australia are 191 in arrears.

Changes in Teams. The weather was fine and a cool breeze was blowing when play commenced. There were 25,000 spectators. The spectators saw the stm attempting to break through a thick mist, which had wrapped the ground all night and throughout the morning, leaving a coat of dev/ on the wicket. England’s inclusion of Wright instead of Goddard suggested that. Hammond is relying on fine weather. Wickets Fall Early. McCormick opened the bowling to Edrich, who was struck on the pads three times, surviving ah appeal for leg-before. He played out the over none too comfortably.

Barnett, who partnered Edrich, opened confidently, but batted riskily. He was badly missed twice off Waite, and then by Brown at second slip off O’Reilly, whose first three overs were maidens, Fdrich. who was having a bad time, was finally bowled by O’Reilly—a beautiful ball, pitched well up. to which the batsman did not attempt any real stroke. Hardstaff, the most successful batsman against New Zealand last year, began luckily, and edged a ball from Waite, who was swinging impressively- 1 Soon afterwards a sharp return from Hasseit from rnid-on ran him out. Tedious Scoring. England reached 44 after 90 minutes, of which 10 runs were from mishits and seven from no-balls.

Barnett and Hammond defended until lunch, by which time two timorous hours' batting had produced only -02 runs. O’Reilly was greatly feared throughout the morning’s play. His figures at the adjournement were: Eleven overs, eight maidens, four runs, one wicket. Upon resuming. Hammond gloriously straight-drove a no-ball from McCormick for six, but in McCormick’s fourth over after lunch Barnett edged a ball for which flic Australian wicketkeeper (Barnett) and Fleetwood-Smith a I first-slip belli dived, Barnett taking a brilliant catch. Hammond and Paynter Again. Faynter joined Hammond and was immediately struggling for runs. Hammond off-drove O’Reilly iv/ice .in succession fur boundaries. raising the side s 100 in U 5 minutes. The batsmen were playing confidently- More runs were made in an hour after lunch than in two hours before. and the partnership was becoming threatening for Australia. O’Reilly, however, with the ball turning slxarp-

ly from the off, dismissed Hammond, who had batted 140 minutes for 76, including a six and 10 fours. O’Reilly badly beat Compton. the ball being snicked to the fence. Faynter, after scoring 28 in 90 minutes. jumped out to Fleetwood-Smith and was well stumped. Australia on Top. After a most uneasy time, Compton was bowled in the last over before tea, with the score at 171 for six wickets. Australia was thus in the strongest position of any test so far on the tour. Only one run was added after tea when O'Reilly had Price (English wicket-keeper) caught in the slips. Wright and Verity were now associated and hit with more determination than some of tire recognised batsmen. Wright, pulling Fleetwood-Smith for three fours, raised 200 after 275 minutes. The pair added 41 for the eighth wicket in half an hour, when Wright was easily caught at mid-on. In the same over. Fingleton took a superbly-judged running catch at longofi'. to dismiss Fames. England’s innings closed for 223. after 300 minutes. Witght’s First Ball Nicks Ball. Australia opened at 5.45 in a moderate light. Both Brown and Fingleton made lucky Snicks in Fames' first over. The batsmen, however. especially Brown, batted confidently against the fast attack. The score had reached 28 in, half an hour, of which Brown, had made 22. when Wright was called to the crease. The young Kentish spin bowler hit Brown’s leg bail with his first ball, which the batsman tried to pull. As only 12 minutes remained for play, Barnett came in as a stop-gap. Details of the scores are:— ENGLAND, First Innings: Edrich, b O’Reilly 12 Barnett, c Barnett, b McCormick 30 Hardstaff, run out 4 Hammond, b O’Reilly , 76 Faynter, st. Barnett, b FleetwoodSmith 28 Compton, b O’Reilly 14 Price, c McCabe, b O’Reilly ... 0 Wright, c Fingleton. n FleetwoodSmith 22

Fames, c Fingleton, b Fleetwoodsmith 2 Bowes, b O’Reilly 3 Verity, not out 25 Extras Total: 223 Fall of wickets:—-One for 29. two for 34. three for 38, four for 142, five for 171. seven for 172. eight for 213. nine for 215. Bowling Analysis:

AUSTRALIA. First Innings: Brown, b Wright 22 Fingleton, not out 9 Barnett, not out ] Total for one wicket: 32

O. M, R. W. McCormick .... 20 G 46 1 Waite 18 7 31 — O’Reilly 34 17 66 "5 Flectwood-Smith 25 7 73 3 McCabe I i