GAME ABANDONED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21347, 23 November 1932, Page 11

GAME ABANDONED

RAIN STOPS PLAY

MELBOURNE CRICKET

TWO AUSTRALIANS OUT

BRADMAN MAKES 13

LARWOOD TAKES WICKETS

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 22. 5.55 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Nov. 22

Rain to-day prevented the conclusion of the cricket match between England and an Australian eleven at Melbourne.

When stumps were drawn yesterday the visitors had made 282 runs in their first innings and bad all been dismissed for 60 in their second. Australia had scored 218 in their first innings and required only 125 to win.

When the Australians began their second innings to-day the wicket was inclined to play tricks after yesterday's rain. Larwood and Allen opened the bowling and both kept a good pace. Woodfull was caught behind the wicket in Larwood's second over. Larwood was making the ball fly menacingly.

Bradman commenced in a business-like manner, but after batting 17 minutes and hitting one boundary he made a halfhearted stroke at a ball which took his off stump. Larwood certainly had the upper hand of both Bradman and Woodfull.

Immediately Bradman was dismissed a heavy downpour of rain fell and at 12.30 p.m. the wicket was saturated and play was suspended. At 2.30 p.m. the captains inspected the wicket and decided to make another inspection an hour later. When they did so they decided to abandon the match. Details of the scores are :

ENGLAND First Innings . . . < . . . . » » . 282 Second Innings .. 60 AUSTRALIA First Innings k . 218 Second Innings Woodfull, c Duckworth, b Larwood 0 O'Brien, not out . • 5 Bradman, b Larwood *.• . * • « .. 13 Rigg, not out .b. * 0 Extra . . . . *.• .. . . .« .4 1 Total for two wickets . . .. . . 19 Bowling.—Larwood, four overs, one maiden, five runs, two wickets; Allen, threo overs, one maiden, 13 runs, no wickets.

The English cricketers have now played five matches in Australia. They have won two and two have been drawn and one abandoned. Details are :

Against Western Australia. Drawn. (England 334 for eight wickets declared and 152 for five; Western Australia 135). Against a combined Australian team at Perth.—Drawn. (England 583 for seven wickets declared; Australia 159 and 139 for four). Against South Australia. —Won. (England 634 for nine wickets declared; South Australia 290 and 216.

Against Victoria.—Won. (England 408 for nine wickets declared; Victoria, 521 and 94).

Against an Australian eleven, at Melbourne.—Abandonee!. (England 282 and 60; Australia 218 and 19 for two wickets). The next match will be a four days' fixture against New South Wales at Sydney, commencing on Friday.

ENGLAND'S COLLAPSE

COMMENT IN LONDON

AUSTRALIA'S TEST TEAM

(Received November 22, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 21

"Amazing Marylebone Rout," and "Bowling Unknown Routs Marylebone" were the phrases on posters greeting Londoners hurrying to business this morning. The Evening Standard describes the collapse of the English team in Melbourne as incredible, and quotes Nagel's modest explanation: "Cricket is a curious game; the wind helped me to swing the ball. That is the only reason for my success." The Standard says: "The shrewd Australian selectors, as usual, have chosen by the book. Nagel's inclusion in the team for the first test match, after one devastating performance, is something of a gamble.

"Recent matches have shown that Australia is not rich in batsmen who are seen to advantage when the ball is turning. Nevertheless, England will face an impressive batting phalanx, though the tail is vulnerable.

"Maybe, when the time comes, Nagel's triumph on Monday may prove a blessing in disguise for England. There is no excuse for pessimism. Australia is formidable, but in no way invincible." Jack Hobbs, commenting on Nagel's performance in the Star, makes no excuse for England's batting collapse. Ho says Nagel's performance was easily the best he had seen on an Australian dry wicket.

The Daily Mail says there aro eight batsmen among the 13 players from whom the Australian team for the first test match aro to be chosen who are capable of making centuries, and six recognised bowlers, all with different styles. The Australians are gambling very slightly over their first team.