Sensational Collapses; Australia’s Ashes

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1938, Page 5

Sensational Collapses; Australia’s Ashes

Ten English Wickets Before Lunch; Visitors Struggle to Win (Received 12 p.m.l LONDON, July 25. AUSTRALIA WON THE FOURTH TEST MATCH BY FIVE WICKETS AND THREE RUNS. Sensation piled thick upon sensation cn the third day. Beginning the morning with the opening pair still together, and a lead of 30 runs, England, it appeared, had regained the advantage of winning the toss. However, four good wickets fell in an hour. It was a remarkable collapse after a steady beginning, the procession comprising the opening batsmen, Barnett and Edrich, Hardstaff and Hammond. Four were down for 73, and the fifth wicket, Compton’s, went in the next half-hour—s for 96. By lunch the side was out for 123. The innings therefore closed for the addition of only 74 runs this morning for the whole 10 wickets. On three occasions wickets fell to consecutive balls. v With only 105 to get, the task of the Australians appeared to be very simple, but it had to be remembered that on the same Leeds wicket after rain, history has told of an English side capitulating for 80. Both Brown and Fingleton were soon out, and when Bradman and McCabe followed, with half the runs still to get, the tide had turned again in favour of the home team. However, in a gloomy light, Hassett rose to the occasion and, in a race with the rain, hit out lustily for 33. When Australia was still nine behind, rain drove the players from the field, and there was a thought that Australia might be robbed on the eve of victory. It was not to be, and afte r a short break, the game resumed, and a boundary hit brought finality for the first time to a Test match in the 1938 series. The Fifth Test at the Oval will be played to a finish, but whatever the result, Australia will retain the Ashes.

4» " McCabe got smartly off the mark with ’ five, including four from an overthrow. Bradman and McCabe Soon Fall. Bradman drove Verity for three, and McCabe hooked a ball to the boundary, the over yielding 14. Wright came on at 48. Bradman cut his third ball to Verity low in the slips. The total was then three for 50. In Wright’s second over McCabe pulled a long chop straight into the hands of forward short-leg—four for 61. ’ Grim Battle in Gloom. Thunder was threatening and the light was bad when Badcock partnered Hassett. The latter batted daringly, despite quick bowling changes. Fearing rain, Hassett hit out and was caught in the covers, when he skied a ball in attempting a big drive. Fourteen runs were wanted to win when Barnett came in, and though rain was now falling, play was continued. Barnett scored a boundary and the total was 96 for five wickets when rain stopped play at 10 minutes to 4 o’clock. The light was better when the game was resumed at 4.5, with only nine runs required for victory. Barnett scored a single from Bowes. In Fames’ next over he square-cut him for two successive fours, and Australia had won. Details of the scores are as follows: AUSTRALIA. First innings '. 242 Fall of wickets. —One for 28, two for 87, three for 128, four for 136, five for 145, six for 195, seven for 232, eight for 240, nine for 240, ten for 242. Bowling Analyses:

Gates Closed Early. When stumps were drawn on Saturday, England in its first innings had scored 49 without loss, the not-out batsliien being Edrich (25) and Barnett (20). Light rain began to fall at 10 o’clock last night. The gates were closed at 11.30. The weather was cloudy and warm. A light overnight shower could have had little effect on the Wicket, but in view of the forecast that it would crumble, attention was focussed on McCormick’s first over. Barnett began rather confidently. Edfich was nervous but there was no indication so far that the wicket was behaving abnormally. Barnett weakly lifted the last ball of McCormick’s third over just out of reach of a fieldsman. i Barnett Out: Edrich Lucky. In McCormick’s fourth over Barnett tried to hook a short ball and skied a catch to fine leg, which Barnett ran and accepted. The batsman’s display was vastly superior to that of the first innings. Edrich was lucky. He / played a ball from McCormick in the same over which rolled to the base of the stumps, but did not disturb the bails. Hardstuff was unhappy in his first over from O’Reilly. Fleetwood-Smith was called on when the score stood at 62. The batsmen floundered against Fleetwood-Smith, and only three runs were added in 45 minutes. In his seventh over O’Reilly again measured his run up to the wi'cket with great deliberation and clean bowled Hardstaff, who was hopelessly beaten. Spin Bowlers In Clover. The bowlers now appeared to be' getting something from the wicket. Hammond was out to the next ball, which he tried to turn gently to leg but was beaten by the spin, Brown at short leg, taking a splendid catch low down with hi's right hand. Thus three wickets had fallen in 40 minutes fori the addition of 24 runs. Edrich was out in Fleetwood-Smith’s next cuter, being splendidly stumped by Barnett. Edrich had batted for j 110 minutes, but was in poor form. I Paynter survived a confident leg before appeal off O’Reilly. A couple of fours came from Compton, and then there were omens of the wicket crumbling. Several Out to Miss Hits. Compton, in trying to hock a ball from O’Reilly, hit the ball with the handle of his bat and Barnett took a swift catch on the leg side. Paynter and Price did their best to ; master the spin bowling. Paynter coolly judged every hitable ball, ’but O’Reilly looked menacing. Price was out after a stay of 20 minutes. Verity came in 20 minutes before lunch and stayed a couple of overs, but then was bowled. Off the next ball Wright was caught at second slip, the ball spinning from his bat. Fames managed to prevent Fleetwood-Smith’s hat trick, but it was left to O’Reilly to uproot his middle stump. Bowes, who had an uproarious welcome, was out leg before to the first ball from O’Reilly. Australian Wickets Fall. The sum came out warmly when Australia opened its second innings after lunch, requiring 105 runs for victory. Fingleton and Brown began in grim » fashion, but, with 17 on the scoreboard, Brown was out. Eighty-eight runs wore needed when Bradman came in. Ho was ten minutes before opening his score with n single. Then he survived an appeal by Bowes for leg-before. Verity was brought on at 32. and in his first over he dismissed Fingleton. whom he had beaten with the previous ball.

1 Second Innings: Brown, Ibw., b Fames 9 Fingleton, Ibw., b Verity 9 Bradman, c Verity, b Wright 16 j McCabe, c Barnett, b Wright 15 Badcock, not out 5 Hassett, c Edrich, b Wright 33 Barnett, not out 15 Extras 5 Total for five wickets 107 ENGLAND. First innings 223 Fall of wickets.—One for 29, two for 34, three for 88, four for 142, five for 171, six for 171, seven for 172, eight for 213, nine for 215. I . Second Innings. Edrich, std. Barnett, b FleetwoodSmith 28 Barnett, c Barnett, b McCormick 29 Hardstaff, b O’Reilly 11l Hammond, c Brown, b O’Reilly .. 0 Paynter, not out 21 Compton, c Barnett, b O'Reilly . . 15 Price, Ibw., b Fleetwood-Smith . . 6 Verity, b Fleetwood-Smith 0 Wright, c Waite, b FleetwoodSmith 0 Fames, b O’Reilly 7 Bowes, Ibw., b O’Reilly 0 Extras 6 Total: 123 Fall of wickets.—One for 60, two for 73, three for 73, four for 73, five for 9G, six for 116, seven for 116, eight for 116, nine for 123, ten for 123.

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0. M. R. W. Fames .... 26 3 77 4 Bowes .... 35.4 6 79 3 Wright .... 15 ' 4 38 2 Verity .... 19 6 30 1 Edrich .... 3 — 13 —

Bowling Analj ses: O. M. R. W. O'Reilly 21 8 56 5 Fleetwood-Smith 1G 4 34 4 McCormick .... 11 4 13 1 Waite 2 — 9 —