BATTING FAILURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21359, 7 December 1932, Page 11

BATTING FAILURE

FIRST TEST MATCH ENGLISH VICTORY CERTAIN AUSTRALIANS COLLAPSE PATAUDf PASSES CENTURY LARWOOITS FINE AVERAGE By Telepiii pli—Press Associat inn—Copy light (Received L/cecinbcr C>, 8 p.m.) SYDNI'.Y, Dec. fi The first test match is a certain victory for England, which has just failed to win by an innings. After gaining a lead of 164 runs on the first innings it disposed of nine Australian batsmen for a similar number of runs The scores, therefore, are level at present, and it is only a .question of how many runs Australia's last wicket will set the visitors to make. Australia did very well indeed to dismiss the last five English batsmen before lunch to-day for the addition of only forty-live runs. The game was continued in fine, warm weather with the wicket showing very slight signs of wear. Pataudi and Allen added thirty-nine before Allen played one back to O'Reilly. Previously both Allen and Pataudi should have been out in a similar manner, O'Reilly failing to hold two very difficult chances. Six For Last Four Wickets Following Allen's dismissal, Pataudi cut Nagcl to the fence, reaching his century in 302 minutes. He had hit six fours and had given a very (lour display. Ames gave McCabo at silly point the simplest of catches and, without addition to tho total, Larwood stepped in front of a straight one. This was a real purple patch by O'Reilly, as this morning he had bowled ten overs, seven maidens, for ten runs and three wickets. Pataudi played over a ball from Nagcl, which kept low and the innings closed after 609 minutes. The last four wickets fell for six runs.

O'Reilly bowled to-day with excellent judgment and flighted the ball well. Ho maintained an accurate length. Early Disaster For Australia Australia's hopes received a severe setback in the second innings. With only two on the board Ponsford stepped forward across his wicket, leaving it unprotected, but the ball did not swing away to leg as Ponsford expected, taking the middle stump. Fingleton came in and scored two fours. He then saw Woodfull hit over a half-volley to have his stumps shattered. The .Australian captain was at the wickets twenty-five minutes without scoring.

Larwood had taken one wicket for no runs off four overs. There was another thrill when McCabe lifted Voce over the leg fence for six. Jardine immediately went to field on tho boundary in that position, but, by steady scoring forward of the wicket, McCabe and Fingleton carried the total past fifty in sixty-eight minutes. An Unexpected Stand McCabe was uncomfortable facing Hammond, who was nipping sharply off tho pitch and, after two leg-before appeals had been negatived, Hammond was successful with his third. Richardson was out to the first ball he received, being caught in the slips. Haujnioud had taken two wickets for six. ; Australia was still sixty-four behind. | Kippax was completely beaten by LarI wood's pace. 01 clfield fell n vietini to I the. leg trap and Fingleton, after a 1 fighting innings, also lifted one to leg. Wall and Nagel made an unexpected stand and Nagel and O'Reilly carried the total to 164, depriving England of an innings victory. When the total was 163 Nagel ran yards I down the crease and, missed, but Ames I failed to take the ball and missed an easy chance of stumping. Larwood Five For 23 ■ It was again very evident, to day that (he Aust.raFans do not relish Larwood and Voce bowling to the leg field. Larwood ' finished with five wickets for 28. Details of the, scores are:— A USTRA LI A.—First Innings W. M. Woodfull, c Ames, b Voce . . 7 W. 11. Ponsford, 1) Larwood . . . . 32 J. H. I'ingleton, c Allen, b Larwood 26 A. F. Kippax, lbw, b Larwood .... 8 S. J. McC'abe, not out 187 V. \ . Richardson, c Hammond, b Voce 40 W. A. Oldfield, c Ames, b Larwood . . 4 (V. Grinunutt, c Ames, b Voce .. *l9 L. E. Nagel, b Larwood 0 W. J. O'Reilly, b Voce 4 T. M. Wall, c Allen, b Hammond . . 4 Extras 20 Total . . . . 360 Fall of Wickets.—One for 22, two for 65, three, for 82, four for 87, five for 216, six for 231, seven for 299, eight for 300, nine for 305, ten for 360. Rowling Overs Maidens Runs Wkts. Larwood . . 31 5 96 5 Voce .... 29 4 110 4 Allen . . . . 15 1 65 0 Hammond ..14 0 34 ] Verity .... 13 4 35 0 Second Innings W. M. Woodfull, b Larwood «• . . . 0 W. 11. Ponsford, b Voce 2 J. H. Fingleton, c Voce, b Larwood 40 S. McCabe, lbw, b Hammond . . 32 V. V. Richardson, c Voce, b Hammond 0 A. F. Jvppax, b Larwood . , . . . . 19 W. A. Oldfield, c Leyfand, b Larwood 1 V. Grimmettj c Allen, b Larwood 5 L. E. Nagel, not out 21 T. M. Wall, c Ames, b Allen . . . . 20 W. ,T. O'Reilly, not out 7 Extras . . 17 Total for nine wickets . 164

ENGLAND.—First Innings TT. Sutcliffe, Ibw, b Wall 194 [ R. E. S. Wvatt, Ibw, b Orimmclt . . 38 W. I!. Hammond, c Grimmett, b Nagcl 112 Nawab of Pataudi, b Nagcl . . . . 102 M. Ley land, c Oklfield, b Wall . . 0 1). R. Jardine, c Oldficld, b McCabo 27 H. Verily, Ibw, b Wall 2 G. 0. Allen, c and b O'Reilly . . . . 19 L. G. Ames, c McCabo, b O'Reilly . , 0 If. Lnrwood, Ibw, b O'Hcilly . . . . 0 W. Voce, not out, 0 Extras . . . . . . „ . . . 30 Total 524 I 1 all of Wickets.—One for 112, two for 300, throe for 423, four for 423, five for 470, six for 479. seven for 518, eight for 522, nine for 522, ten for 524. Howling Overs Maidens Runs Wkt.s. Wall .... 38 4 104 3 .... 44 9 110 2 O'Reilly . . 67 32 117 3 Grimmett . . 64 21 118 1 McOabe . . 15 2 42 1 Kippax none for 3. AUSTRALIAN FAILURES WHAT MATCH HAS PROVED LEG THEORY IN ATTACK J lie first test mateh has proved that England has (lie superior all-round combination as the teams arc at present constituted. England has shown both batting and bowling superiority, and a problem faces the selectors of the Australian team. The apparent difference in batting strength as revealed by the play is not such a disturbing element from an Australian point of view, but what gives food for serious thought is how Australia's batsmen arc going to overcome the legtheory attack that has been worked out so cleverly by the English bowlers. Bradmaii may be able to take his place in the team for the second test, which commences at the end of the month, but tho question is, will this hitherto great record-breaker fare any better than his colleagues have done on this occasion? A great deal of Australia's future success would appear to depend upon its opening batsmen, Woodfull and Ponsford. Provided this pair is able to withstand the shock attack until the edge is worn off it. then runs aplenty may be expected from such batsmen as Bradman, McCahe, Fingleton, Kippax and Richardson.

Woodfull has failed badly in this match, while Ponsford baited confidently in the first innings only. The same may be said of Richardson, whereas Kippax performed below expectations in both innings. McCabe was the batting hero, and he has lived up to the high praise which has been bestowed upon him during the past two or three seasons. Fingleton's very fair double certainly gives hope for something better to follow. The presence of Bradman would, of course, have a wonderful moral effect upon the whole team. Grimmett's taking of but one wicket for over IGO runs gives rise to the question as to whether or not he is getting beyond the task of standing up to the hard strain of test cricket. lie certainly kept Sutcliffe and Pataudi quiet on Monday, but, taken on the whole, the googly bowler was not the success anticipated.

| KING'S KEEN INTEREST PROGRESS REPORTS RECEIVED PRESS COMMENT ON GAME (Received December fi. 5.3 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 5 King Geoi-ge is taking the keenest interest in the test match in Sydney. The full score is telephoned to Buckingham Palace and Sandringham daily, immediately it is available. The Daily Telegraph says that already it, is clear that the Australian selectors blundered in omitting Ironmonger, who still is the best left-handed bowler in the world and in the event of rain invaluable. It is obvious that the attack depending on Xagel, OT'eilly and McCabe is too monotonous. On his bowling merits Oxenham should be included in the Brisbane test. Australia's batting tail must be shortened in the absence of Bradman as to carry five batting " passengers " is fatal.

The evening papers are much more subdued with the disappearance of the prospect of England scoring 1000 runs. They remark that England's grit has slackened. Critics regret the batsmen's lack of enterprise in view of the possibility of rain, and condemn the " pottering" that took place, particularly on the part of Sutcliffe when ho should have gone after runs. They lament the paucity of runs in a batsman's paradise.

The batting at the end of the day is described as " frightful."

BRADMAN'S HEALTH SATISFACTORY BLOOD TEST DOCTORS ADVISE A RESPITE SYDNEY, Dec. 6 1 lie secretary of the New South Wales Cricket Association stated officially to day that a blood test, which Don Bradnum has undergone, proved entirely satisfactory. This test was arranged by officials of the Hoard of Control following reports that Rradman is suffering from some form of anaemia. Tho' doctors have advised Rradman to rest for two or three weeks. Whether he will be fit for (he second test match at Melbourne, on December 30, will not be known until he has been further examined after bis rest. Most of the Australian critics this morning said they thought Australia still had a chance of winning the first lest, and that England lost a great opportunity of making a big score yesterday.