Test Cricket Records Of Bradman And Hammond

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1934, Page 11

Test Cricket Records Of Bradman And Hammond

AVERAGE SCORES SHOWN BY GRAPHS

I A FTER this year’s series of cricket Tests between England and Australia, in England, the “Manchester Guardian” published summaries, illustrated with. graphs, of the records, in Test cricket only, of several of the more prominent players. Those relating to D.'G. Bradman and W. R. Hammond ate reprinted here. It should be noted distinctly that the sta-tistics-mentioned, and the graphs, refer only;to the player’s performances in Test: cricket between England and Australia not in all international matches. D. G. Bradman, if he never plays another; innings in Test cricket will always remain the most extraordinary batsman cricket has ever known or is likely.-to'knew for a long.time to come. He began.in 1928-9, when just over 20 years old. For an Australia struggling desperately'to avoid defeat in all five matches by Chapman’s team, Bradman was second in the averages with 66.85. This'could hardly have been better; yet Bradman’s batting was severely criticised. All this was forgotten in 1930. Neither- Hobbs nor Sutcliffe nor Woodfull, prolific scorer, as each has been, has ever reached 200. Bradman passed this figure' three times, exceeding 300 in the record score at Leeds. In 1932-3 in Australia came a decided drop. His average, 56.57, was indeed the highest of all who played regularly, both English and Australian. His, line is steady. When, in the, 1934 season he failed in five .consecutive innings' there were murmurs that 1930 was a freak never to be. repeated. How he took hold of himself, scdred 304, went into hospital, came out and scored 244 and 77 is still lining history. Except that he has not made' two centuries in a Test he now holds all records that it is possible for him to hold. It is noticeable, however, that . his . record ih 'England is far

_ His centuries have been nine—six in England, three in Australia. t W. R. Hammond has had the most - chequered Test career of the great r batsmen of this period. Like Sutcliffe, i he began Test cricket in Australia, bei ing then in his 26th year. He had 1 already given evidence of great powers; but he surpassed all expectation. He s scsored two double centuries in succes- - sion and four centuries in five inY nings, beihg run out once for 32. His s total was 905, which was the record , until Bradman beat it in 1930 with 974. ) His average was 113.2 an innings. This » is the only season’s performance which = can be placed side by side with Bradi man’s figures of 1930 and 1934. Hami. mond has never since done justice t in Tests to his rare powers of batsman- - ship. In 1930 in England his average I. dropped to 34, with only one century, - 113. In Australia in 1932-3 he was ceri, tainly a success, but aggregate and 1 average were each less than half what 0 they had been on his previous trip. His 3 failures this year have been the most s surprising and grievous shock the Engt lish elevens have suffered. But he is - only 31, is still a magnificent batsman . and the most likely of all English play1 ers to put up performances at all com2 parable to Bradman’s. The disparity r between his figures at home and abroad f is immense. His figures are:

The graph shows the average score of the batsmen in each Test match. The numbers from one to five in each series of Tests indicate in which Test the corresponding score was made. A dotted line on any graph means that a . player was not playing in one or more Tests during the period.

t superior to that in Australia. His 3 figures are: Inn. N.O H.S. Agg. Av’ge r In Australia . 16 2 123 864 61.76 - In England . 15 - 334 1732 115.46 1 e Totals 31 2 334 2596 89.51

In Australia . In England . Inn. N.O. H.S. Agg. Av’ge . 18 2 251 . 17 - 113 1345 468 84.06 27.52 Totals . 35 2 251 1813 54.93 His centuries have been seven—six in Australia and one in England.