Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE l5, 1938 AN HISTORIC TEST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19657, 15 June 1938, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1938 AN HISTORIC TEST

The cricket test match which was concluded at Nottingham yesterday will live in memory as one of the most classic struggles in the long history of a sporting series which evokes unparalleled interest. The match was conspicuous not only for the run of the play itself—although that was enough to rouse enthusiasm to concert pitch—but also because, to some extent, it marked a turning point in the spirit of the gamee. Although a draw is an unsatisfactory conclusion to a test match, there will be few who will begrudge the Australians full credit for the remarkable manner in which they fought back at a time when their prospects were anything but encouraging. The experience provides further argument for those who oppose the four-day time limit, for it has been shown that it is almost impossible to secure a victory under such conditions when the weather and the state of v the wicket make for tall scoring. On the other hand, it should not be overlooked that-had it not been for the time limit play in all probability would have taken a different course and the match would, have been devoid of some, at least ,of its most spectacular features. As it was, the rules and conditions brought out all the best qualities of the game and resulted in an exhibition of cricket at its best.

The,first point that will impress most followers of the game was the fact that th<* English team succeeded in overcoming a weakness that has been apparent for some years. The excessive caution of the past was conspicuous by its absence, and in its stead there was an element of aggression tiie value of which was proved by results.' Record after record, so dear to the heart of the cricket enthusiast, went by the board and England was able to declare its first innings closed with tiie wonderful score of Gf)B for eight wickets. Surely enterprise was never more clearly vindicated, and the enterprise was not restricted to the batsmen themselves but had been previously manifested in the selection of the team. The tend-

ency to cling to seasoned veteians was forgotten and several mcmbeis of the team were appearing in theii first test —and not without a large measure of success, for the match was largely a triumph for youth. When Hammond, making his debut as captain of an English eleven, declared the innings closed his followers knew that they had made the game secure

against defeat, and then came the task of endeavouring to capitalise the initial advantage.

In a game such as this it is impossible not to take notice of individual performances. England’s opening batsmen, with a line blend of aggression and steadiness, gave their side a wonderful start, each scoring a century. The quick loss of three wickets, far from disheartening the others, seemed to stimulate them to greater effort and another fine fifthwicket partnership resulted. Of the four century makers, Compton and Hutton were appearing in their first test and amply justified their selection. Barnett played an important part in attacking the bowlers from the outset, while no praise is too high for the magnificent double century by Paynter. The Australians went to the wickets faced with a formidable task, and their opening was anything but auspicious. Indeed, the performance •of the side as a whole would have been far from impressive had it not been for tiic exceptional display of McCabe, whose innings was probably one of the finest in any test match. It is not too much to say that McCabe, almost lone-handed, saved his side from defeat, for without his effort a superhuman feat would have been required in the second innings. Even ns it was, the Australians had to alter their tactics in order to secure a draw.

When the Australians batted for a second time they reaped the full benefit of McCabe’s stand. The English bowlers had been attacked for hours on end and, consequently, the opening batsmen did not have to face the same venom in the bowling as would have been the case had the first innings concluded earlier. By the end of the third day’s play, the deficit of 247 had been reduced to 145 and there were still nine wickets in hand. On paper, the odds were still in favour of the Englishmen, whose bowlers started the last day refreshed and with strong hopes, on a wearing pitch, of securing some early wickets. On this occasion Brown and Bradman proved their worth. The former is invariably cautious, but the Australian captain was revealed in a new light. Their task now was not so much to get runs as to play for time and this objective was achieved in a wonderful manner. Bradman, whose reputation largely rests on his facility for quick run getting, adopted new tactics and was content to score at the rate of about 25 runs an hour. Thus the game was saved for Australia, not only by time, but equally by the stubborn determination of the batsmen. This match will not be without lessons for either side, but the predominating effect of it will be to raise the standard of cricket and to intensify the interest in the matches that have yet to be played.