SECOND TEST

Southland Times, Issue 20670, 17 December 1928, Page 5

SECOND TEST

CAUTIOUS BATTING AUSTRALIA DISMISSED FOR 253 ENGLAND TWO FOR 113 HOBBS’S BIRTHDAY PRESENT (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, December 15. The weather was warm and the wicket excellent for the resumption of the second test match, Continuing Australia’s first innings Ironmonger played stubbornly for three overs, scoring a single. He was then taken lefthand by Duckworth. The innings, which lasted live hours, closed at 253. Oldfield batted 102 minutes. He hit three fours and gave a brilliant, gritty display. England opened with Hobbs and Sutclitle to the bowling of Nothhng and Grimmett. The batsmen took no risKS, generally just tapping balls back and occasionally stealing singles. Grimmett beat each batsman with bails slower than usual, but failed to hit the wicket. ( Ironmonger and Blackie were tried, but the batsmen were together till lunch, when the score was: Sutcliffe 11, Hobbs 25, none for 36. On resuming Hobbs added a single, then Sutcliffe snicked Ironmonger to Hendry, who took a catch in the slips. The Yorkshire man played a chanceless innings, though it was not bright cricket. The light had'now become duller and a storm was indicated when Hammond came in. He had scored 12 and Hobbs 36 when, in bad light and a drizzle, play was adjourned at 2.50 p.m. Thousands now left the packed hill, those remaining covering themselves with newspapers. Though conditions continued to be bad the crowd yelled for a re-start, sections indulging in counting out as in boxing. Some onlookers scaled the fence, but were removed by the police or officials. During the lull M. A. Noble, on behalf of the citizens, presented Hobbs with a boomerang and cheque for £46 in honour of his 46th birthday. Accompanied by Noble, he walked round the ground, receiving a great ovation. A small boy jumped the fence, Hobbs autographing his bat amid cheers. After two inspections by the umpires play was resumed following two hours’s stoppage. Hobbs soon went. He reached forward to a ball from Grimmett, just touched it and was splendidly caught by Oldfield. He was batting 105 minutes and hit two fours. He did not show any enterprise, but was thoroughly sound except on a few occasions when facing Grimmett. Neither Hammond nor Jardine were very comfortable against the slow bowler, but both were together till 5.55 when, after two appeals regarding the light, stumps were drawn. All the Australian bowlers showed good form, with Grimmett, whose wicket cost 52 runs, the most troublesome. The fielding was sound, Richardson and Hendry being brilliant. Oldfield kept wickets magnificently. The attendance was 58,464 and the takings £6,200, both records for one day in any test. During the day the following cable was received from the King’s private secretary; “I am requested by the Queen to thank you all for the message of sympathy and good wishes for the King’s recovery. His Majesty will much appreciate this kind thought of him and, when sufficiently recovered, he will certainly inquire all about the matches.” Following are the scores: AUSTRALIA. —First Innings.— V. Y. Richardson, b Larwood 27 W. M. Woodfull, 1.b.w., b Geary .... 68 A. F. Kippax, b Geary 9 W. H. Ponsford, retired hurt 5 H. L. Hendry, b Geary 37 J. Ryder, b Geary 25 O. Nothling, b Larwood 8 W. A. Oldfield, not out 41 C. Grimmett, run out 9 D. Blackie, b Geary 8 H. Ironmonger, c Duckworth, b Larwood 1 Extras 15 Total 253 Fall of wickets: One for 51; two for 65; three for 152; four for 153; five for 171; six for 192; seven for 222; eight for 251; nine for 253. Bowling analysis: Larwood took three wickets for 77 runs, Tate none for 29, Geary five for 35, White none for 79, Hammond none for 18. ENGLAND. —First Innings. — J. B. Hobbs, c Oldfield, b Grimmett 40 H. Sutcliffe, c Hendry, b Ironmonger 11 W. R. Hammond, not out 33 D. R. Jardine, not out 23 Extras 6 Total for two wickets 113 Fall of wickets: One for 37; two for 65.—• Australian Press Association. ENGLISH PRESS OPINIONS. LUCK AGAINST AUSTRALIA. LOSS OF PONSFORD REGRETTED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, December 15. Next to the King’s illness the test match is given prominence in the Press. Due regard is given to the unlucky Ponsford. P. F. Warner heads his article in the Morning Post with Gordon’s verse: “No game ever yet was worth a rap,” stating that he came across the lines before the test opened little dreaming that an accident would put Australia without her “scoring machine.” He states: “The Goddess of chance seems at the moment to be working against Australia. Believing, as many do, that this is one of the best teams ever sent to Australia, we would feign meet our opponents at their full strength. The first day’s play put England in a strong position if rain does not fall.” Continuing, Warner says that many hard things have been said about the “barracker" but as a matter of fact he is a keen impartial judge of the game. If occasionally over demonstrative, this is due to an excess of zeal. He does not think he would like it on English grounds, but in Rome we must accept Roman customs. In any case the barracker loves cricket. His applause is nowise confined to his own side. So far it looks as if many people will have to revise their opinion of the English bowling. “Luck,” says the Hon. L. H. Tennyson in the Daily Chronicle, “is still against Australia. The loss of Ponsford one of the most brilliant bats in the world, is irreparable.” He thoroughly agrees with Warwick Armstrong that Australia is facing certain defeat by sticking to veterans. “The Australian selectors should have taken their courage in both hands and chosen some youngsters as Bradman and a’Beckett. Four selectors are an unfortunate number as it is highly probable that they are unable to agree on the claims of certain youngsters and have been forced to compromise.” He pays a glowing tribute to Woodfull and says that to bat on unperturbed when his colleagues’ wickets are falling is the hardest thing to do in cricket. He declares that responsibility has revealed great gifts in Chapman, who is recognized on all sides as rapidly becoming one of England’s finest captains. F. E. Woolley in the Daily Chronicle, eays that the injury to Ponsford is the most severe handicap to Australia. It is not putting his ability too high to say that he might have preformed as Hendren did at Brisbane. Chapman’s manner of using the bowling had much to do with the low scoring. fiq doubt the Australians

suffered from over-anxiety. They should have played their natural game. Provided the weather holds he anticipates that England will secure a lead of 200 in the first innings, even though the Australians added 50 per cent, to their total. Clem Hill, cabling to the Daily Telegraph, says that the Australians have shown no real fight thus far. Larwood seems to have got some of the players frightened. He regarded Australia’s chances as good when Ryder won the toss, but though everything favoured them the batsmen failed miserably. Well as Geary bowled he believes Larwood and White were mainly responsible for Australia’s failure. The Daily Express in an editorial deplores the casualties, because England wants to meet Australia at her best. A. C. Maclaren in the Sunday Tinies in an article entitled “Test play at its worst,” “Men who bat like juniors,” says that the Australian selectors should have kept the same policy. Including average bowlers and batsmen is suicidal. “I estimate that Macartney would stand out in this weak eleven. The Brisbane test destroyed Australian confidence. Woodfull alone can possess confidence. One is justified in expressing astonishment that Macartney and Andrews are put aside for second raters.” Maclaren denounces Tate’s bowling failure: “It is time it was realized that Tate is in his 34th year and apart from that his performances leave much to be desired. I reckon Tate is far likelier to play earlier batsmen in than out.” He expresses the opinion that Bettington is Australia’s best bowler. Referring to the Kippax incident after the umpire said not out Maclaren says —“Our men had no right to say one more word. Kippax should have continued his innings.” “Has the decline set in?” asks the Evening Standard commenting on comparative failures of Hobbs and Sutcliffe. It recalls that during the last tour a century from either was a commonplace. They are now comparatively easy victims. It adds: “Perhaps we expect too much from Hobbs.” It is significant, however, that the same paper commenting on Hobbs’s presentation heads the paragraph, “But Jack has a boomerang.” Leicestershire, which does not often provide test cricketers, is overjoyed at Geary’s success. The County Club has cabled Geary congratulations.—Australian Press Association. SHEFFIELD SHIELD QUEENSLAND v. VICTORIA. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Melbourne, December 15. In the Sheffield Shield match Victoria in the first innings scored 259 and Queensland 97 (O’Connor 44). Ebeling took seven for 33, including the hat trick and four wickets in one over, and a’Beckett three for 39.—Australian Press Aasociaticm