RECORD CROWD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22616, 2 January 1937, Page 10

RECORD CROWD

VITAL MATCH STARTS FEEBLE BATTING DISPLAY HONOURS TO ENGLAND (Bv J. B. Hohfos —Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole* or in part forbidden.) (.Received January 1, 10.20 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 1 There was a world's record attendance of 78,630 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to-day for the opening of the vital third cricket test. The takings amounted to £712(5 6s Od. Australia batted first, Bradman having at. last won the toss. At the moment it seems likely that rain will interfere with the match, so I must assume that Australia has benefited by winning the toss. Australia failed to take full advantage of this, for undoubtedly it should have scored many more runs on this wicket, lo tell the truth, it was a feeble display, in spite of the fact that England bowled well and gave nothing away. Our field was again excellently placed. The batsmen were slow us measured by the clock, but all who appreciated the good fight could not fail to be interested. It must bo many years sinco Australia had such a "tail" as in this scries. Evidence of this was shown when McCabe, with Oldfield as his partner, U'fused to take runs with only si\" wickets down. McCabe is still there with 63 and has played well. He had to tight very hard indeed because thero was only one period for 10 minutes when the batsmen were allowed to get out of hand. Injury to Hammond One hundred and eighty-one for six wickets is a bad score, but, with McCabe in, it is possible Australia may add a good many more yet. If tho wicket is wet to-morrow England may not gain a big first innings' lead after all. However, on the day's play, England took all the honours. Hammond strained a ligament in his knee. He is sure to feel it for a few days, but docs not think it will affect his batting. Tho third test has been tho solo topic of conversation all over Australia throughout Christmas and since. Motoring 50 miles out of Melbourne | it was all I heard. Ono saw tho Australians taking anxious looks at the sky, expressing hopes for fine weather. They made no secret of the belief that, if given a wet wicket, Australia's defeat was a foregone conclusion. It was no wonder then" that sunshine this morning tempted holiday-makers to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and that before play opened saw the largest crowd ever gathered for a cricket match. , , , ~ 1 am amazed that Australia should have taken the field without a fast bowler owing to McCormick being unfit. There is no question that on paper its batting was considerably strengthened by changes. Bowlers Make Ball Lilt Allen lost the toss after confiding in me that he was quite content to do so. Although the wicket had been covered it was Dot dry and fast, so nobody knew how it might play. At the start tho wicket was slow and easypaced, but tho fast bowlers made the ball get up high. Off one of tbese Brown got out in attempting to book a ball outside his off stump and was caught by Ames. It was not a good S With the score between 29 and 33 a double bowling change was made, Sims and Verity coming on. I thought Hammond would be first change as hj» might have got more life out of tho ■wicket than the slower bowlers. However, in Verity's case the move worked wonders. The first ball was his faster one. Bradman. played it to leg with a straight bat and gave Bobms at short leg, just behind the umpire, a very easy catch. Bradman played the shot as if the whole leg side was open. Although scoring off most of the balls he received, the way lie played to-day convinced me that he is not yet in his old form and is not seen at his best unless the ball comes along fast. Prior to this Bradman might easily have been run out. He and Fingleton changed their minds half-a-dozen times about attempting a second run. With Bradman well down the wicket liarnett, after having fumbled, returned wide. Bradman's judgment of runs was faulty more than orice. In the last over before lunch Bigg went for a sharp second run. He would have been run out if Bobins had hit the stumps instead of just missing. Interesting Session It was an interesting session of cricket. Some people thought that' England might have done better, but I consider it was good work to get the two out for <33. Bobins, going on just h fore lunch, made the first ball turn prodigiously. Verity straightened one '/r two, but did not turn much. Fingleton had acted strictly on defence. It was a good performance to stay in until lunch. Bigg shaped well as a batsman should I whei is at the top of his form. The lunch score intervals was fatal to him for in Alien's second over ho was caught by Verity in the same position as that Robins caught Bradman. It was not such an easy affair. Verity flung himself to full length like a goalkeeper and held tho ball with his right hajid inches off the ground. Fingleton was playing so well that it was surprising lie jjot out in t«hc puerile way he did after adding more runs to his score. Ho looked a picture of dejection as he returned to the pavilion. Robins sent down a vctry short leg-break. Fingleton lay back to hit it hard through the covers, but tihe ball came along much slower than lie expected, Sims taking the simplest of catches at cover-point. Darling, the left-hander, raised hopes by brilliantly square-cutting Bobins. Shortly afterwards he mishit a ball. I did not think he would do it again, but he did. Ho was completely deceived by the pace of Verity's cunningly-flighted slower ball. Profitable Period The afternoon period was more profitable to England than that before lunch. Three wickets were captured aaid only throe more runs were scored in 15 minutes longer. The intervals were lucky allies to England for only the third ball after the tea adjournment saw Sievers stumped off Robins when he walked out and played across a leg-' bren k. McCabe had been going along quietly and snundlv and was finite comfortable. He reached his 50 and then introduced a hectic five minutes. He spooned up a ball from Allen that fell safe and clear of the bowler. Robins, at extra cover, threw underhand with all three stumps for a target and missed, while McCabe was out of his ground. The next ball McCabe cut Sims just above Robins' head at cover. In the same over he liit two more fours. Oldfield came into the picture with three fours in a row. This was the only time tho crowd had been able to work up real enthusiasm.