COMMENTS ON THE GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20604, 1 July 1930, Page 11

COMMENTS ON THE GAME.

GREAT INTEREST ROUSED.

PRAISE FOR AUSTRALIANS.

bowling well mastered.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Juno SO, 5.5 p.m.K LONDON, Juno CO. The astonishing success of the Australians in the tost match on Saturday as increased the interest in the match, t midnight there was a queue outside Lord's ground for the continuation of tha game to-day.

Tho batting of Woodfull, Ponsford and Bradman was reminiscent of the corresponding match in 1926, when four batsmen made centuries. Woodfull set a splendid example of reliability and endurance on a big occasion. Bradman showed fine appreciation of tho situation and thoroughly demoralised tho bowling aid quickly changed the Australian position from an up-hill fight to a bold and threatening challenge. Chapman and his men had a heartbreaking day. All the bowlers suffered alike, but none looked loss like securing a wicket than G. 0. Allen Tho official figures gavo tha attendance as 31,000 when tho gates wero closed Hie newspaper critics agree that Bradman s display was dazzling. They regret England's loss of Lanvood, who, they say, would havo made a world of difference. England's Fielding Attacked. The Daily Herald prints an attack by Mailey on England's fielding. Ho says tho bowlers' hearts were nearly broken. I hero were many boundaries which should have been stopped for one. In fairness to Chapman he adds that England had possibly tho worst collection of fieldsmen who ever represented her in a test match.

Mr. P. F. Warner, writing in tho Morning Post, says: "No one anticipated such a largo Australian score, for, strong as is their batting, the pitch on Friday showed a certain viciousness at times. On Saturday, however, it played perfectly. None of tho bowlers was able to make the ball jump. Our attack was mastered by batting of the finest possible description. " The crowd applauded rapturously their glorious achievement. All cricketing England salutes Woodfull, Bradman and Ponsford for batting which will never bo forgotten. After tea Bradman was in wonderful form. Ho made any bull of any length Iso cared for. I think he is the quickest batsman ou his feet I have ever seen. " The ovation given to Woodfull when he returned to the pavilion was even greater than that given to Duleepsinhji on the previous day. He paid back doubly for his error in missing Duleepsinhji. Chapman won golden opinions for his captaincy in difficult circumstances, but it struck mo that ha did not use his bowlers at different ends as he might have done." Batting Too Good for Bowling. Colonel Trevor, in the Daily Telegraph, says: "Australia's batting strength camo as a revelation. Nevertheless the Australians muiit yet show that their batting tail is not too long or too weak. The England batsmen havo shown that they have nothing to fear from tho Australian bowling. At tho worst, they should tie able to draw."

Colonel Trevor says he declines to anathemise tho bowling. The batting was just far too good for the bowling. That was the ioug and tho short of it. Mr. M. D. Lyon, writing in tho Daily Telegraph, says the most serious aspect is not tho eight remaining wickets, but the fact that Bradn«in is not out. Bradman may easily make another 150. A draw or a defeat seems the only possible result. Could the .selectors have chosen better bowlers 1 Personally, he says ho advocated Freeman, but it is extremely doubtful whether he could have turned the ball on Saturday.