EVE OF THE TEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22295, 22 June 1934, Page 9

EVE OF THE TEST

, BBADMAN FIT AGAIN GRIMMETT'S ANKLE INJURED (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, June 20. : Ponsford is suffering from a severe Influenza cold. He has been in bed since Monday. If sufficiently strong he will practise to-morrow, when a decision whether-he is fit for the test will be given; but his participation is at present doubtful. Bradman has left the nursing home. , His fitness • for the test is assured. Grimmett is suffering from an injury to. his ankle, received when fielding at* Nottingham. /The effects of the injury were not apparent until the match ■ against v the- Gentlemen, but he will be able to play in the test. AUSTRALIAN .AVERAGES. Following' are the . averages of the Australian'cricketers to date: — -••],;: 'BATTING.

AUSTRALIA'S COMPLAINT ■ ','' UP ALL NIGHT. (From Oct Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 14. Australia to-day provides a splendid example of a nation with practically only "one topic of conversation—cricket. The interest in this great sport has never been greater than it is just now. In following the fortunes'of the teams engaged in the first test all other things were forgotten. Arguments and discussions on qricket occur at every street corner, in every office, in every factory. It lis a case of cricket, cricket, cricket, wherever one may go, and so varying are the aspects of this national pastime that the opportunity for controversy is by no means lacking. " During the first test J many a- man, and many a woman, too, for that matter, went ta work with tired eyes, the result of an all-night vigil. For this they have to thank the remarkable organisation which'has permitted a/ball-td-ball broad r cast from the time play commences until stumps are drawn"each day. Throughout the national network of: stations this splendid broadcast is given, and it is estimated that there are more than a million listeners every night. Thousands of pounds are'involved in this wonderful service which has been so well arranged. Messages are flashed through to Australia by means of the beam arid the cables, and. the description is "compiled by rioted cricket authorities. ! These synthetic descriptions are most; realistic, and listeners are assured that they, are accurate in every detail. , In addition to all this listeners have had; the privilege of listening to direct broadcasts from the Trent Bridge ground, by liieans of wireless telephone. Great cricket writers in England have given their views of the progress of.the game. These, very thorough/: services'- must be credited with giving Australians a oue- . track: mind, but more important than that, they are" an indication'of the remarkable progress of the science of comlriuiiication in recent years. Thousands of iniles of land line are.used in Australia.; every night to ensure that the broadcast should reach every part of the Common wealth. In a Victorian district one of the "B" class stations announced that its revenue was not sufficient to enable it to take the broadcast, and as an example of cricket enthusiasm 500 residents volunteered to contribute 5s each to meet the expenses. The offer was accepted. People outback no longer have to wait three weeks or a month before they know the winner of a test match. By the aid of that modern marvel—wireless—they know the fate of each ball almost as quickly as the people who are watching the game from the stands in Ihigland. No doubt they are wondering how many years will elapse before they haye;'the added benefit of television. Tor the .advantage of those who intend listening-in to the broadcast it may be stated that the hours of commencing play in the tests are 11.30 a.m. on the ' first day arid on subsequent days 11 a.m. "The luncheon adjournment will be taken from 1.30 p.m. to 2.15 p.m., and stumpy are drawn at 6.30 p.m. The corresponding, times in ..New Zealand are:—Com- . menceroent of play, first day 10 p.m., second day'9.3o p.m.; luncheon, midnight to 0.45 a.m.; stumps, 5 a.m.

In. N.C . H.S. Tl. At. : i. 15 3 240 1136 94.6 Ponsfbrd .. 12 2 281* 857 85.7 Chipperfield 12 2 175 600 60 Bradman .. 12 — 206 694 57.8 Brown "' .. 14 1 113 681 52.3 Darling- -.. 16 1 100 613 40.8 Barnett .. 10 4 61* 238 39.6 Woodfull .. 12 1 172* 374 34 Oldfield ■'--.. 7 2 67 168 33.6 Kippax .. 10 1 89 267 296 O'Reilly .. 9 4 25* 126 25.2 Bromley. «-. 9 — 56 197 21.8 Grimmett . 10 2 26* 157 19.6 Wall 5 2 24 48 16 Ebeling, ■-. i 9 -i- . 37 102 11.3 Fleetwood- • Smith ... 5 2 8 16 ■ 5.3 BOWLING. Runs. Wkts. Av. O'Reilly ... 893 62 14.4 Fleetwood-Smith 665 35 16.1 Grimmett 998 59 16.8 Ebeling :. • 426 22 19.3 waii .: 536 20 26.8 Chipperfield 254 6 42.3 Dafling .. 148 3 49.3 M'Cabe .. 310 8 51.6 Bromley .. 146 1 — Kippax .. 5 — ' —