Real Test at Last

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 9

Real Test at Last

ENGLISHMEN MAKE 417 Australia Batting Again TWO WICKETS LOST FOR US WITH England dismissed for only 'JO more than the Australians made in their first innings, and Australia at the wickets again with two wickets down for 118. the third cricket test is at an interesting stage. 'W'oodfull and Ivippax are again holding'the fort for the Australians. (United I*.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright;

MELBOURNE, Wednesday. The weather was perfect when the test match between England and Australia was resumed this morning. England, in reply to the Australians’ first innings score of 397, had made 313 for four wickets yesterday. The not-out men. Jardine and Hammond, opened the batting slowly. Jardine was cautious of Grimmett, who was bowling well. He bowled six overs for four runs. The partnership reached 100 runs in 120 minutes. Hammond showed a brilliant patch and drove Grimmett twice for four. Hammond received a wonderful ovation when, by glancing Blackie for a single, lie brought his total up to 200 for 38'* minutes’ play. Richardson cleverly stopped a drive by Hammond, who tried the other side of the wicket with his next drive from ii ball by Blackie. A’Beckett, at left mid-on, threw himself down and took an exceptional catch at arm s length, six inches from the ground. BLACKIE BOWLS WELL Hammond had batted for 398 minutes. Blackie’s average then stood at three wickets lor 70 runs. Larwood ; was uncomfortable when facing Blackie, and had been at the wickets only eight minutes when Blackie tool: a right-hand catch. His average was now four for 70. The score was six for 304. Geary joined Jardine five minutes prior to luncheon. On resuming Jardine pulled Grimmett for four and brought up his 50 in 178 minutes. Grimmett, who was bowling well, had first reward when Geary went leg before wicket. Seven wickets were down for 381. Duckworth batted poorly, but was lively between the wickets. A’Beckett made a wonderful attempt at a catch from Jardine, who leg-glanced Blackie for four. The batsman then drove a hot catch which Blackie accepted. Jardine had scored a patient 02. Blackie was in great form, his average then reading five wickets for 81. Tafp put liveliness into the game, and hit out at all the bowling. He rapidly reached, double figures. Duckworth scored a three, but Blackie, with a beautiful ball, clean-bowled him. His average was six for 81. White, the last man in, snicked his first ball from Blackie for two. The Australian total was equalled and 2.52 p.m. Tate was enterprising and humorous. He scored the 400th run. Tat-* had scored a bright 21 when he was caught in the outfield in playing a. short-pitched ball from Grimmett. The innings had lasted for 504 minutes*. AUSTRALIA OPENS Australia opened the second innings with Woodfull and Richardson at 3.35 p.m. Woodfull glanced the first ball from Larwood for a single. Richardson did the same for a three, smartly run. Tate bowled a maiden over. The second ball from Larwood in his second over got Richardson’s middle stump. He played it over the top. One wicket for seven, for nine minuten’ play. Hendry joined Woodfull and played confidently. Tate was in good form, and bowled three maidens. Woodfull secured the first four from Larwood, whom he hit to leg. The placing of the English field was excellent for Tate. There were two men in the outfield. and the rest 20 yards from the wicket. Woodfull appeared to be set and was driving forcefully. Geary and White were put on as a change after 45 minutes. Woodfull, stepping out, cut White to the boundary. He wan* now monopolising the scoring, and 55 runs came up for an hour's play Woodfull’s score was 38. Hendry took an hour to make 12. He came out to play a slow ball from White and was stumped by Duckworth. The score was two for 60. Woodfull slowed up. Ho had scored 50 in 80 minutes. TATE SHINES IN FIELD Tate was doing grand work in the field. Chapman persisted with Geary and White, who steadied the scoring. The batsmen took no risks. Kippax swung a short ball from White to square leg for four, but missed badly a similar ball. Next Woodfull slowed up facing Tate. Duckworth loudly appealed against Kippax off Geary, and the crowd started heckling him again. Geary gave Woodfull a fright at 57, but the next ball brought 100 runs in 126 minutes. Hendry made the best stroke of the day to extra fine leg off Geary for four. Larwood hit Woodfull on the knee, but the batsman recovered quickly. Kippax was going well with Woodfull, and the batting brightened up again toward the end of the day. The attendance was 28,300, and the gate receipts £2,200. Hammond has made a batting record by scoring two successive double centuries in test matches The following are the details of the scores:— AUSTRALIA

First Innings 397 Second Innings WOODFT7LT ,, not out 64 RICHARDSON, b Larwood 5 HENDRY, st Duckworth, b White 12 KIPP AX, not out 3 4 Extras Two wickets for 21S ENGLAND First Innings HOBBS, c Oldfield, b A'Beckctt .. .. 20 SUTCLIFFE, b Blackie 58 HAMMOND, c A’Bec-kett. b Blackie 200 CHAPMAN, b Blackie 24 HENDREN, c A’Beckett, b Hendry .. I■' JARDINE. c and b Blackie 62 LARWOOD, c and b Blackie .. -■ 0 GEARY. Ibw, b Grimmett 1 DUCKWORTH, c and b Blackie .... 5 TATE, c Kippnx, b Grimmett .... 21 WHITE, not out S Extra I Total 417 The bowling analysis was as follows: Overs. M. R. Wkts. Blackie 4 1 13 94 6 A’ Beckett .... 27 7 92 1 Grimmett .... 55 14 114 2 Oxenham .... 35 11 67 0 Ryder 4 0 It 0 Hendry 28 3 35 1

A DESPERATE FIGHT CRITICS WEIGH CHANCES I HIGH PRAISE FOR HAMMOND (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 11.49 a.m. LONDON, Wed. • The Australians have a chance <*>£ , victory; they are fighting and will ; continue to fight desperately.” says Mr. P. F. Warner in the ' Morning j Post”

He admits that the English batting was disappointing. For the first time on the tour it definitely disclosed a tail. The Australian bowling was the best yet. Blackie, who is old to begin playing in the tests, has proved Australia's best bowler. He is always extraordinarily fit and able to keep on, however trying the temperature. “Like Trumble, he deceives batsmen even when they are thoroughly set by the flight of the ball. There should be a continuation of the large crowds to see extremely interesting cricket, in which every ball is fraught with possibilities.” BEST SINCE HOBBS Of Hammond, Mr. Warner Says that obviously he is the best young batsman since Hobbs. As an all-round player he may be compared with anyone, for he is a glorious fieldsman amt a good medium-paced bowler. But he cannot be expected to make huge scores and run about the field, and bend down in the slips and take wickets in the Australian heat. Hammond is the greatest cricketer Gloucestershire has had since Dr. W. G. Grace, not forgetting G. L. Jessop and C. L. Townsend. Before the end of his career he may rival even Grace's deeds.

WOOLLEYS PRAISE F. E. Woolley, in the “Daily Chronicle,” says he always has hail the highest opinion of Hammond’s cricketing abilities, as batsman, bowler and fieldsman. But he had often wondered whether he was concenti’ating sufficiently to do justice to himself. Apparently he did so both at Sydney and at Melbourne. Woolley thinks Hammond’s score at Melbourne was- a most valuable effort, seeing that England was faced by a more substantial total and sterner bowling. He does not agree with the suggestion that Sutcliffe failed because Hobbs did. He thinks Sutcliffe is simply out of form. IN AUSTRALIA’S FAVOUR

Clem Hill regards the odds as in Australia’s favour. "Hammond is the nearest approach to the greatest batsman that ever lived —Trumpet*,” he says. "I take off my hat to him, for he belongs to the ranks of the greatest batsmen of all time.” When he improves on the leg side he will be the greatest batsman at present playing. lie may eclipse Sutcliffe’s test record of 734 in one season in Australia. ‘‘Blackie is the only dangerous bowler. Australia’s fielding is not up to the standard expected. After Richardson’s first grievous failure, Ryder should have gone in himself. Mr. Hill still thinks that Tate is the one bowler Australia has to fear. Harwood has nothing like his previous pa.ce. evergreen BLACKIE Hol'd Tennyson describes England s innings as a one-man show, even remembering Sutcliffe and Jardine. Surely Rhodes is the only other veteran in the world comparable with the evergreen Blackie. . He comments on the excellence of the wicket-keepers . Surely five byes between them is another world’s record. . He will be greatly surprised if the indomitable Woodfull does not make a heavy score. Hord Tennyson thinks that while it may be necessary to make one or two alterations, the Australian team will be substantially the same in the fourth and fifth tests.

STAPLES HOME AGAIN NOT RECOVERED YET (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Wednesday. S. J. Staples, who had to give up the tour of Australia with the Englishmen because of ill health, has arrived at Plymouth. He is not yet completely recovered. He has been running daily and has participated in deck sports, but it is still doubtful whether he will be fit for county cricket this summer.

SHEFFIELD SHIELD GAME N.S.W. SCORES 457 MATCH WITH QUEENSLAND Reed. 9.5 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. In Sheffield Shield cricket. New South Wales in its first innings made 457. Bowling. Thompson took three wickets for 21: Brew, three for 114. Queensland, in its second strike, made 228 for five. (Thompson, not out 76; McCombe, 56.)