THE FOURTH TEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22643, 3 February 1937, Page 12

THE FOURTH TEST

The eyes of a very large proportion of the British people are focussed on Adelaide at present. Questions of greater weight but smaller interest are thrust into the background while the fortunes of the fourth test match are in the balance. The game itself is in a very interesting position, which means, of course, that the result of the whole test series is similarly in issue. After what was generally considered an unfortunate beginning, Australia has fought back until the team is setting England a formidable task. With four wickets down for 341 runs in the second innings, Australia is now 299 ahead. Three hundred runs do not make an impossible deficit for the English batsmen, but they may face a much more formidable task when their own second innings opens. Australia has not a batting side of uniform quality, but with Bradman and Gregory still unconquered, with several players capable of making runs yet to bat, the total may be carried a good deal further. In addition, the luck of the toss went to Australia this time, so that England will have to go in pursuit of the necessary runs on a wicket well worn by three previous innings. As commentators have not been slow to point out, Australia has bowlers capable of taking full advantage of these conditions. Consequently the chances of the issue remaining to be fought out in the fifth match look very different now from what they did at the week-end. Once again it has been shown how largely Australia's fortunes are in the hands of one player, Bradman. Out of the 341 runs made so far in the second innings, he has been l'esponsible for 174, or seven more than his three team-mates combined. It is another remarkable performance by a remarkable player.