AUSTRALIA WINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 9

AUSTRALIA WINS

THE FOURTH TEST MATCH A MARGIN OF 148 RUNS ENGLAND’S SECOND TOTAL 243 (United Press Association) Electric Telegraph Copyright) ADELAIDE, Feb. 4. (Received Feb. 5, at 0.5 a.m.) England’s hopes of snatching a vic- ■ tory faded rapidly by a spell of inspired bowling by Fleetwood-Smith. England pinned their faith on Hammond and Leyland, who resumed in perfect weather. There was a dramatic moment in the game when Hammond played forward to a wrong ’un from Fleetwood-Smith, missed with the bat, and the ball took the off stump. The crowd made enough noise for three times their number as the English crack walked away from the wicket., Hammond is Australia’s public enemy number one, and his dismissal was like the sun shining through a cloudbank. Wyatt and Leyland played quietly and 150 came up in 179 minutes, but Fleetwood-Smith set Australia definitely towards victory when he dismissed Leyland and Ames with successive balls. Allen stayed with Wyatt until the luncheon adjournment, both having good luck in surviving while Fleetwood-Smith was proving a menace. Bowling into the breeze, • O’Reilly was also keeping the batsmen quiet. Bradman had used only the two bowlers, but so well did they perform that England was facing an almost impossible task with six wickets down for 221. They still naeded 171 to win. A batting collapse came immediately, four wickets falling for an insignificant addition. Australia won by 148 runs, leaving the rubber to be decided by the fifth test at Melbourne. England made a game fight in the second innings, but could not cope with the dexterity of the spin bowlers. Except for the new ball period after lunch, Fleetwood-Smith and O’Reilly bowled practically unchanged throughout the day’s session. Following are the scores:— AUSTRALIA First innings .. .. 288 Second innings 433 ENGLAND First innings 330 Second Innings Verity, b Fleetwood-Smith .... 17 Barnett, c Chipperfield, ta Fleet-wood-Smith 21 Hardstaff, b O’Reilly .. ... 43 Hammond, b Fleetwood-Smith 39 Leyland, c Chipperfield, b Fleet- .. wood-Smith 32 Wyatt, c Oldfield, b M’Cabe .. 50 Ames, Ibw, b Fleetwood-Smith 0 Allen, c Gregory, b M’Cormick 9 Robins, b M’Cormick 4 Voce, b Fleetwood-Smith .... 1 Fames, not out • Extras 20 Total 243 Bowling Analysis O. M. R. w. M’Cormick .. 13 1 43 2 M’Cabe v. .. 5' FleetwoodSmith .. ..33 1 110 6 O’Reilly .. 26 8 55 1 M’Cormick bowled six no-balls. Fall of Wickets.—One for 45, two for 50, three for 120, four for 149, five for 190, six for 190, seven for 225, eight for 231, nine for 235. The innings lasted 294 minutes. Australia won by 148 runs.

THE FIFTH DAY'S PLAY

C. G. MACARTNEY’S COMMENTS

ADELAIDE, Feb. 3. Commenting on Wednesday’s play, C. G, Macartney says:— While Australia holds the advantage, England is making a determined fight. Its task is particularly hard, as the wicket is assisting the spin bowlers. Bradman’s big score will go down in cricket history as one of the finest ever registered for his side. He was many times tempted to play vigorously Verity’s leg-side stuff, but apparently was able to curb his desire for the sake of what might happen after he went. Also he was able to steer Gregory through his baptism, demonstrating that the atmosphere of test cricket should contain no terrors for a new player. That Bradman is a menace to England has been clearly proved in the two successive tests, and that his restraint was necessary is abundantly borne out by the feeble efforts of Australia. Chipperfield, too, has been a very valuable man. The honours to-day went to Hammond, who caught and bowled Bradman and then proceeded to clean up Australia’s tail. He is a great object, lesson for young cricketers. . Barnett, Robins, and Hardstaff were outstanding fieldsmen. Verity did much valuable stock bowling. Fames was easily the most impressive of the speed attack. Sluggishness in the field caused Fingleton, M'Cormick and O’Reilly to miss chances.

Australia is certainly not in such a good position that it can afford to give away runs. The position now is not nearly so rosy, and consequently to-morrow’s play is likely to have its exciting moments.

J. B. HOBBS’S COMMENTS

GREAT TRIBUTE TO BRADMAN ADELAIDE, Feb. 4. Commenting on the fifth day of the test, J. B. Hobbs says: “ Cricket was at its best, and England did better than I expected. I anticipated more runs from Australia, and 1 feared England might lose more wickets. It might have been done, too, if the Australians had held their catches, for Barnett was missed once and Hardstaff twice. I think England’s only hope rests with Hammond and Leyland. I expected that the bowlers would get more nip out of the wicket than they did. Bradman’s was a remarkable innings by an astounding cricketer, and it doubtless decided the issue. There has never been such a prolific run-getter, and we may never again she.his like. He passes from record to record until there seems nothing more for him to beat. His innings in this match enhanced his greatness. It proved that he can play a fighting game with his back to the wall. In the past he has scored hundreds of runs with his own trade-marked hook stroke, but once or twice this season he got out with it, so he eliminated it. The fact that he mads his seventh double century in tests against England makes one realise his genius. It looked absolutely impossible to dismiss him.

It must have been heart-breaking to bowl against the broad-bladed Don, but the bowlers gave no clue of their secret feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. This feeling must have been shared by the fieldsmen, but they, too, stuck to their task manfully. Ames’s work compared favourably with Oldfield’s, and that is high praise. Gregory to-day played with more confidence and more strokes. With this experience the 20-year-old Gregory should go straight ahead, and with Badcock, of whom I hold a still higher opinion, he ought to keep a place in Australian elevens for many years. Chipperfield’s was a bright effort, full of strokes timed so well as to get amazing power. Hammond in finishing with the wonderful figures of five wickets for 57 was helped by two great catches by Ames. Verity kept dropping them on the spot without looking like getting wickets. LONDON PRESS COMMENT LONDON, Feb. 3. The Star has a streamer, “ A Hard Fight, but England Has a Chance.” This sums up the view of the London evening papers of the test. Mr Carson says: “ The fact that Australia is almost entirely dependent on O’Reilly, FleetwoodSmith and M'Cormick is in our favour. I consider Bradman’s innings far better than any other he has played against England. It was less sensational than some, but it contained far more true cricket strokes.”

REMAINING MATCHES The matches yet to be played by the Englishmen are as follows: — February 6 to B.—v. Geelong, at Geelong. _ February 10 and 11.—v. County, at Canberra. February 13 to 17.—v. New South Wales, at Sydney. s February 19 to 23.—v. Victoria, at Melbourne. . . February 26.— Fifth test match, at Melbourne. March 5 and 6.—v. Country, at Benalla.