English Batsmen Brilliant In Compiling Big Score.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 6

English Batsmen Brilliant In Compiling Big Score.

BOWLING OF AUSTRALIAN TEAM WAS COLLARED BY HAMMOND AND HENDREN

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, December 17. ihe wicket on the resumption of the second test match was slower than on Saturday. The bowlers were able to turn the ball, but without any pace off the pitch. Play was recommenced in warm weather. Hammond was far more aggressive than earlier in his innings, his cover drives off Grimmett and Ironmonger being magnificent. Jardine provided a great contrast, making runs very carefully. After the pair had added S 3. Hammond drove a ball back slightly away from the bowler, Blackie, who dashed across, picked up cleanly, and threw down the wicket before Jardine had completed his run. The Surrey man was an hour and a half making 28. Blackie's bright work in this incident surprised the English pair. They had been taking risks when balls went to Blackie and Ironmonger, who are generally clumsy fieldsmen. Hendren and Hammond were brilliant. entirely collaring the bowling, which was positively without sting. Both batsmen drove with terrific force. Whilst this pair were together Richardson was in great form at cover. Hammond reached his hundred after 195 minutes. With the total at 293 Hendren made # a very poor shot, turning Blackie into Richardson’s hands at short leg. He played a dashing innings of just over two hours, and hit eight fours. The

partnership produced 145, six runs Jess than the English fourth wicket record, by Fry and Jackson, in England in 1905. but considerably lower than the Australians’ t>est, 221, by Syd Gregory and Harry Trott, at Kennington Oval in 1896. Chapman hit two great sixes off Blackie, one to long-on and the other straight. Hammond weakened slightly. giving a possible chance, when 133, to Ironmonger off Blackie, but the fieldsman did not move promptly. At 149 he hit one back to Ryder, who just failed to hold it. He fell just as he touched the ball. At the tea adjournment the score was four for 327. For a while both batsmen were quiet. Then Chapman tried another big hit off Blackie. The ball went high over the head of Ryder at deep mid-on. He turned, ran about fifteen yards with the sun in his eyes, and took a sensational catch with his arms outstretched. The crowd cheered the feat for some seconds. Play slackened with the coming of Larwood. Blackie was now* bowling splendidly, turning the ball well from the off. Hammond became more subdued. He was evidently tired. He, however, moved slowly towards his second century. Kippax. who rarely bowls in club or first-class cricket, was the seventh bowler tried, but the batsmen did not hurry. Hammond reached 200 to the accompaniment of prolonged cheering. The Australian captain and the other Australian players rushed up and shook Hammond s hand most cordially. Soon afterwards stumps were drawn. Hammond's 201 took 395 minutes. He hit twenty-two fours. It was a fine knock. He made beautiful shots past point, but the main stroke was through the covers and the mid-off. He equalfed Syd Gregory’s score in Sydney tests,

which was the highest for Australia at j the Sydney ground, and Ryder s, made at Adelaide against the last team. Records still intact are Murdoch s 211 at Kennington Oval, R. E. Foster’s 287 at the Sydney Cricket ground. The bowling was so weak to-day that it is not improbable that he will break these records to-morrow.

The bowling was not up to test standard. Probably there will be many changes for the next game. Grimmett’s one victim cost 123. runs, Ironmonger’s 88 and Blackie s two wickets 104. The fielding was good. Richardson’s was perfect. The attendance was 32,000, and the receipts £3247. Apropos of Hobbs's birthday present, Hobbs stated to-day that he was deeply touched by the wonderful spirit behind the gift. He was receiving telegrams of congratulations and goodwill from all over Australia and as - far afield as New Zealand, for which he was deeply grateful. Scores. — AUSTRALIA. First Innings. V. V. Richardson, b Larwood .... 27 W. M. Woodfull, Ibw b Geary .... 68 A. F. Kippax, b Geary 9 \V. 11. Ponsford, retired hurt .... 5 H. L. Hendry, b Geary 37 J. S. Ryder. Ibw b Geary 25 O. E. Nothling, b Larwood 8 W. A. Oldfield, not out 41 C. V. Grimmett, run out 9 D. D. J. Blackie, b Geary 8 H. Ironmonger, c Duckworth b Larwood :. 1 Extras 15 Total 253 Bowling analysis.—Larwood, three for 77; Tate, none for 29; ; Geary, five tor 35; White, one for 79; Hammond, none for 18. 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 258. ENGLAND. First Innings. J. B. Hobbs, c Oldfield b Grimmett 40 H. Sutcliffe, c Hendry b Ironmonger 11 W. R. Hammond, not out 201 D. R. Jardine. run out 2S E. Hendren, c Richardson b Blackie 74 A. P. F. Chapman, c Ryder b Blackie 20 H. Larwood, not out 37 Extras 9 Total for five wickets .... 420 Fall of Wickets—One for 37, two for 65. three for 148. four for 293. five for 341.—Australian Press Association. KIPPAX INCIDENT. LONDON, December 17. The “ Daily News ” says - : “It was particularly unfortunate that the Kippax episode occurred when Australia had already been so unlucky. There seems to be no doubt that Kippax was out, but it is equally clear, as Gilligan points out. that the English players were wrong in the manner in which they got him declared out when he had beer, given not out by the bowler’s umpire. A decision, however obviously unjust, ought to be accepted. In calling for a revision, the Englishmen gained a point, but lost something far more valuable—the spontaneous goodwill of their opponents and the specta-, tors. In calling for the umpire’s report, the Board of Control took an unusual step. We hope that neither their actions nor those of the English side, occasioned as they were by the excitement of the moment, will be repeated.” —Australian Press Association. 1 I j 1