Australian Batsmen Give Greatly Improved Display.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18642, 20 December 1928, Page 5

Australian Batsmen Give Greatly Improved Display.

WOODFULL AND HENDRY SHOW THAT GOOD ENGLISH BOWLING CAN BE MASTERED

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Tele g ra p h. —Co py right.) SYDNEY, December 19. Commencing on an excellent wicket, in pleasant weather, Hendry and Woodfull soon got ’on top of the bowling, despite frequent changes of Larwood, Tate, Geary and White. They were rarely at fault. Once Hendry narrowly escaped being--stumped off Tate. Then he glanced and drove to the on and off in beautiful fashion. It is about the best innings he...has played on the Sydney Cricket Ground. Woodfull was not quite so dazzling, but he was very sound, with splendid off drives. Ilendrv reached liis first century in test cricket in 202 minute?, and sor afterwards Woodfull also had tb' ,-c figures, taking 289 minutes. The next ball Hendry tried to play Tate to the on. but it struck his on pad, and he was out leg before. He had played a.great knock for 233 minutes.- lie hit seven fours.

The pair added 215, and had Macartney and Woodfull’s second wicket record of 235 in sight when they were separated. They showed that the Australians still possess the fighting spirit when their backs are against the wall. Kippax and Woodfull added another nineteen when the Victorian played Tate back slightly to the off. The Victorian ran through, but Kippax did not start. Woodfull turned when in the middle of the pitch, but Tate’s throw to Duckworth easily beat him. It was an inglorious ending to a fine, sound, flawless innings, lasting 258 minutes, in which he hit six fours. ITe always got well behind the ball and drove with power. It looked as though Australia had expended. her fighting qualities, for Kippax soon went, leg before. A ball from Tate came through fast and low, and the batsman tried to turn it to the on but missed. Ryder and Nothling made another fine stand. The captain, was particularly aggressive. Moving out to the bowling, he drove with tremendous power, causing Chapman' to place three fieldsmen on the boundary. Ryder lifted Hammond over the fence at long on. He ran to fifty in thirty-six minutes. Nothling, who is generally a hardhitting batsman, was content to keep his end up whilst his comrade fiercely smacked the bowling. Ryder is at his best when going for runs. 11 is off strokes were powerful and well placed. Larwood left the held, suffering from chafed toes. His bowling had not terrorised the Australians to-day.

Ryder quietened as the light faded. Four appeals were made regarding the light, stumps being drawn at 5.52, Ryder and Nothling being together. Though the Australians have to make forty-four runs to save an innings defeat, their great fight has delighted everyone. They gave the best Australian display of the test series

and showed that the English bowling, though good, can .be .mastered. Had Woodfull not been unluckily run out the Australians possessed a great chance of giving the Englishmen a good number to get in the second innings. Tate took all three wickets which went to the bowlers’ credit for ninety, but none of them were very dangerous except at intervals. The attendance was 14,000 and the gate receipts £I2OO. Scores:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. V. Y'. Richardson, b Larwood 27 W. M. Woodfull, lbw b Geary .... 68 A. F. Kippax, b Geary 9 W. 11. Ponsford, retired hurt 5 H. L. Hendry, b Geary 37 J. S. Ryder; lbw b Geary 25 O. E. Nothling, b Larwood 8 W. A. Oldfield, not out 41 C. V. Griminett, run out 9 D. D. Jf. 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 for 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, Second Innings. V, Y. Richardson,, c Hendren b Tate 0 W. M. Woodfull, run out 11l H. L. Hendry, lbw b Tate .... 112 A. F. Kippax. lbw b Tate 10 J. S. Ryder, not out 77 O. E. Nothling, not out 20 Extras 9 Total for four wickets .. 339 Fall of wickets—One for 0. two for 215, three for 234, four for 246. ENGLAND, First Innings. J. B. Hobbs, c Oldfield b Grimmett 40 FI. Sutcliffe, c Hendry b Ironmonger 11 W. R. Ilammond, b Ironmonger .. 251 D. R. Jardine, run out 28 E. Hendren, c Richardson b Blackie 74 A. P. F. Chapman, c Ryder b Blackie 20 H. Larwood, c Ryder b Grimmett 43 G. Geary, lbw b Blackie 66 M. W. Tate, lbw b Blackie .... 25 G. Duckworth, not out 39 J. C. White, stpd Oldfield b Hendry 29 Extras 10 Total , 636 Fall of Wickets.—One for 37, two for 65, three for 148, tour for 293, five for 341, six for 432, seven or 496, eight for 523, nine for 592, ten for 636. Bowling analysis.—Nothling, none for 60; Hendry, one for 62; Grimmett, two for 191; Ironmonger, two for 142; Blackie, four for 148, Ryder, none for 22; Kippax, none for 11.—Australian Press Association.

SPORTING CHARACTER OF AUSTRALIANS IS PRAISED BY CRITIC. LONDON, December 18. ' In the midst of justified rejoicings at England’s record innings, Australia’s ill-luck finds a prominent place in the Press. P. F. Warner says: “There will be certain changes in the third test team. Bradman and a’Beckett are strong candidates, and Kelleway will probably be fit.” Lord Tennyson says: “It is a wonderful tribute to the sporting character of the Australians that they should flock to witness England’s triumph, and accord the batsmen a deserved ovation. We are all grateful to the Australians for their impartial enthusiasm. Every lover of cricket, in view of their hard luck, would like to see the Australians make a big score in the second innings.” Lord Tennyson is greatly eulogistic of Blackie, who bowled like a hero, and put up an amazing performance for one of his age. Clem Hill is whole-hearted in praise of the batsmen, and adds: “It was made obvious that the bowlers, even when fresh, were not dangerous, and when they were tired, whatever sting they might have had disappeared.— Australian Press Association.

SHEFFIELD SHIELD. MELBOURNE, December 19. In the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, Queensland in the second innings made 456 (O’Connor 160, M’Combe 60, Thompson 115). The last six wickets added only eighty runs. Ebeling took three for 118, a’Beckett three for 123, and Ellis two for 44. Victoria won by fifty runs.—Australian Press Association. Victoria made 259 and 344 for seven declared. Queensland in the first innings made 97.