DOUBLE CENTURY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23106, 4 February 1937, Page 9

DOUBLE CENTURY

GREAT INNINGS BY BRADMAN AUSTRALIA'S SECOND TOTAL 433 ENGLAND THREE FOR 148 By J. B. Hobbs (Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or in part forbidden.) ADELAIDE, Feb. 3. (Received Feb. 4, at 1 a.m.) The weather is humid and there is a possibility of rain to-night or tomorrow. England is in a desperate position, as Australia piled up runs with monotonous regularity in the morning session. It seemed early that the wicket was going to play tricks, but except for a shooter from Fames the wicket was perfect. All eyes were on Bradman, who was within reach of his double century. The English attack was collared at the outset. The batsmen took no risks, and Bradman and Gregory' seemed set for a long partnership, when a call came from Gregory for a third run and brought it to an end. Barnett raced from long-on and with a 30-yard shot broke the wicket with Gregory a yard out. The fifth wicket put on 135 in 175 minutes. Gregory reached his half century in that time and hit one four. It was a great knock, and he established himself in the Australian team for the fifth test and for the 1938 tour of England. The crowd cheered every stroke as Bradman neared his double century. From 199 he jumped to 202, and was opening out to score briskly when he was caught and bowled by Hammond at 212. Just previously he hit Hammond for successive fours. Bradman was batting for 437 minutes, and hit 12 fours. He established another record—the highest test score at Adelaide Oval in tests against England, the previous best being Ryder's 201 in 1925. This was Bradman's seventh double century, in tests against England, his twentyseventh in first-class cricket, and the third occasion on which he has scored a double century in successive tests. He did so on the last two tours of England. The crowd was frantic with excitement when Bradman reached his double century, and clapped and cheered, play being held up for a couple of minutes. Chipperfield batted brilliantly again, going for the pace bowlers with determination. He out-scored Bradman. The pair put on 50 in 45 minutes.

Australia was in a strong position at lunch, holding a lead of 380, with four wickets in hand. It is certain, unless a miracle happens, that the fifth test at Melbourne will decide the holders of the "Ashes." After lunch.four wickets fell for 11 runs. Hammond was the star bowler, taking five wickets for 57, including three of the last four wickets.

England is set 392 to score in a fourth innings to win. The task is difficult, and the position was not improved when Fleetwood-Smith and O'Reilly, helped by the wicket, had all the batsfrien in trouble. Barnett was dropped early by Fingleton off M'Cormick. Many balls were played with the edge of the bat. For the first hour Fleetwood-Smith bowled like a demon, and took two wickets for 13. Hardstaff was dropped by M'Cormick off O'Reilly. Allen sent Hardstaff in first wicket down, in place of Hammond. Hardstaff was dropped again at 26. Brilliant footwork enabled Hammond and Hardstaff to handle the spin bowlers confidently. The attendance was 23,500, and the takings £1957. The aggregate takings for the first five days are £16.764—a record for the ground. Following are the scores:— AUSTRALIA First innings 288 Second Innings Fingleton, lbw, b Hammond .. 12 Brown, c Ames, b Voce 32 Bradman, c and b Hammond .. 212 IJ'Cabe, c Wyatt, b Robins .... 55 Rigg, c Hammond, b Fames .. 7 Gregory, run out 50 Chipperfield, c Ames, b Hammond 31 Oldfield, c Ames, Hammond .. 1 O'Reilly, c Hammond, b Fames 1 M'Cormick, b Hammond I Fleetwood-Smith, not out .... 4 Extras 27 Total 433 Fall of Wickets.—Five for 372, six for 422, seven for 426, eight for 427. nine for 429. Bowling Analysis

ENGLAND First innings 330 Second Innings Verity, b Fleetwood-Smith .... 17 Barnett, c Chipperfield, b Fleet- , wood-Smith 21 Hardstaff, b O'Reilly 43 Hammond, not out 39 Leyland, not out 17 Extras 11 Total for three wickets 148 Fall of Wickets.—-One for 45, two for 50, three for 120. Bowling Analysis

THE FOURTH DAY'S PLAY "BRADMAN GOING STRONG" LONDON, Feb. 2. "Lion Tamer Bradman," also "Bradman Going Strong" are placards recording England's present obsession. The tendency appears to assume that England's hope of recapturing the ashes now centres in Melbourne. ENGLAND DISHEARTENED LONDON, Feb. 2. Bradman's name is one of the features on the streamer headlines with which all evening papers lead their front pages. For example, the Star has, " Bradman Winning the Fourth Test." ' Mr Carson, in the Evening News, says: "England is most disheartened. Towards the close, of course, the tourists had to contend with Australia in form, which to a great extent means Bradman making runs. I ;:m afraid a win for us is now far distant. Gregory played great

cricket. He is not related to the other Gregorys, but some day he may be the best of all." "HATS OFF TO BRADMAN" ADELAIDE, Feb. 3. J. B. Hobbs says:— Unlike England, which, after a good opening day, threw away its advantage, Australia followed its success on the third day with another good day. Never losing a grip on the match which the bowlers won on Monday, the batsmen played the sort of innings the situation demanded. They took no risks, yet seemed to miss no opportunity of scoring, so that at the close England was in an extremely perilous position. I am satisfied that the deciding match of this rubber will be played in Melbourne. Hats off to Bradman. He played a great game and enhanced his already wonderful reputation. It was a different Bradman from the dashing Don we have so often seen. He did not take the slightest risk. The hook which has proved his downfall in the past and is characteristic of him was eliminated. It seemed that Bradman had made up his mind to score a century, or, perhaps, a double century, and nothing was going to out him off. Bradman and M'Cabe played the best cricket of the match—bright batting against bowlers who tried hard. M'Cabe was scratchy for the first few overs, but afterwards played beautifully. Gregory was unlucky in having to face the new ball, but he did not inspire great confidence at any time. He was slow, and simply made it his mission to stay there and play second fiddle to his captain. In that role he was successful in helping in another useful partnership. Although the Englishmen did not gain any medals, they won the hearts of all by the plucky way they stuck to their task. Brown was dismissed rather luckily through a magnificent catch by Ames, but then a long stand developed between Bradman and M'Cabe. This, I think, ended England's chance of snatching the ashes in Adelaide.

Verity had a good spell of bowling before lunch, but could not get anything out of the wicket. I did not agree with Allen's policy of not bowling Robins in the one and a-half hours' play before lunch. I know Allen wanted to keep the batsmen as quiet as possible, but I think spin bowling was the only type likely to succeed on the Adelaide wicket.

I do not expect England to score more than 250 runs in the fourth innings, if the Australians bowl as well as they did on Monday.

0. M. R. W. Fames .. . . 24 2 89 2 Hammond .. 15.2 1 57 5 Allen .. . . 14 1 61 — Voce .. . . 20 2 86 1 Verity .. . . 37 17 54 — Robins .. . . 6 — 38 1 Barnett .. . . 5 1 15 — Leyland .. . . 2 — 6 —

O. M. R. W. M'Cormick . . 9 — 33 — M'Cabe .. . . 3 — 9 — O'Reilly .. . . 15 5 35 1 FleetwoodSmith .. . . 17 1 60 2