CRICKET TESTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23110, 9 February 1937, Page 9

CRICKET TESTS

ABSENCE OF TIME LIMIT A DOUBTFUL ADVANTAGE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 8. (Received Feb 8., at -5.30 p.m.) Mr W. B. Franklin, a former Cambridge Blue and captain of Buckinghamshire, in a letter to The Times, declares: ‘Many cricketers are increasingly concerned at the continuance of timeless tests, with the doubtful advantage of attracting large attendances, by which cricket is hopelessly and deliberately being commercialised. The disadvantages include the disappearance of the essence of the game, namely, making more runs than your opponents in a given time. Moreover, the art of making a subtle and successful declaration and the excitement of making runs against the clock are disappearing: it is not even possible 1l make a meritorious draw. Surely English cricketers can take a stand against turning cricket into a business proposition before it is overlate to rescue future matches from creeping paralysis.”

M.C.C. TEAM AT GEELONG GEELONG, Feb. 8. (Received Feb. 9, at 0.15 a.m.) Although they lost wickets rapidly, the English batsmen were hitting out at Geelong, and treated the spectators to a fine display The match ended in a draw, but England might have won. Robins had a spell of excellent bowling and paved the way for a poor score. England acceded to the request to bat again. Verity and Worthington were uninspiring. Verity was practising in view of the possibility of being one of the opening batsmen in the test. Following their dismissal, the others hit out, and Ames and Leyland contributed 50 in 24 minutes. _ Robins danced yards from the wicket to attack the bowling. Ames showed his disdain of the fairly accurate attack and penetrated the field with powerful grace. Leyland shed his usual doggedness, and Sims revelled in a display of hitting. Wyatt, in attempting to follow the example of Robins, hit the ball up and lost an opportunity to secure practice. Robins, using the breeze, tied up the local men with leg breaks and an occasional “ wrong-un,” nonplussing the batsmen. With the end in sight, the English bowlers became charitable and gave runs with longhoppers and full-tosses, allowing the last pair to figure in an entertaining partnership. Following are the scores:— ENGLAND First innings 232 Second Innings Worthington, b Schofield .... 69 Verity, run out 26 Howard, Ibw, b Schofield .... 4 Wyatt, c Hassett, by Doyle .... 6 Robins, run out ’. • • 20 Leyland, st Hurley, b Weddell 53 Ames, c Hassett, b Doyle .... 36 Hardstaff, c Collins, b Doyle .. 2 Sims, c Anderson, b Metherell .. 33 Duckworth, c Mair, b Hassett .. 15 Fames, not out 12 Extras 5 Total 251 Bowling Analysis.—Collins, none for 19; Mair, none for 33; Doyle, three for 59; Schofield, two for 46; Brown, none for 16; Weddell, one for 29; Metherell, one for 27; Anderson, none for eight; Hassett, one for seven: Ross, none for two. GEELONG First Innings Brown, st. Duckworth, b Sims 13 Anderson, b Robins 28 Hassett, Ibw, b Robins 2U Metherell, b Robins 21 Ross, b Robins ‘ Weddell, b Robins • • ■ “ Doyle, c Worthington, b Leyland b Collins, b Ames D Schofield, b Leyland J Hurley, c and b Sims 1» Mair, not out .. Extras .. * 5 Total 161 Bowling Analysis.—Fames none for 24; Wyatt, none for 20; Sims, two for 15; Leyland, two for 33; Robins, five for 36; Ames, one for 14; Hardstaff, none for 14, STATE TEAM FOR SATURDAY SYDNEY, Feb. 8. (Received Feb. 8, at 11.30 p.m.) The New South Wales team to meet England in the match starting on Saturday is as follows;—M'Cabe (captain), Oldfield, O’Reilly. Chipperfield, Fingleton, Robinson, White, Hynes, Jackson, Lush, Beattie, with Barnes twelfth man.