BRADMAN’S FEAT

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 23 July 1934, Page 1

BRADMAN’S FEAT

Returns to Form— Not Out 271.

AUSTRALIA’S BIG SCORE CAN ENGLAND SAVE GAME? ASKS D. R. JARDINE. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received Julv 23, 10 am.) LONDON, July 22. Australia’s great performance yesterday in the fourth Test —494 for four - —and the remarkable partnership of Bradman and Ponsford realising 452 runs, have caused the English critics to praise wholeheartedly the performance of this pair. The broadcasting announcer at Leeds, summer it up when he said that although it had been a Bad day for England it had been a glorious day for cricket. England are 294 runs behind and with Australia expected to force matters on Monday, the most England can now hope to do in the opinion of Jardine, is to prevent a defeat. Commenting on the Test the Australian Press Association says that history repeated itself at Headingley. Bradman again made the description of the match a task for a

statistician. Pons- 1 ford and Bradman, respectively past and present recordbreakers, combined to place Australia in a position suggesting that only the rain which foiled Australia in 1930 can save England from paying the penalty for her batting collapse, which was followed by a display of

innocuous bowling. Ponsford Unlucky.

It was a peculiarly unfortunate end to a great innings that in leaning back in forcing Verity to the on boundary Ponsford should have just dislodged a bail. To date Bradman’s two innings at Leeds have yielded 605. It is a tribute to Ames that only one bye was allowed and also a tribute to the solidity of the batsmen who allowed so few balls to get past the wickets. The newspapers whole-heartedly praise the performances of Bradman and Ponsford. The “Observer” says: “Bradman gave every indication that he was intent on beating his 1930 record of 334, and it seems possible that he will do so.” D. R. Jardine says: “ England’s chances of winning are now nonexistent. The question is can the game be saved? It does net look a promising proposition unless the weather intervenes. The blunder of entering the field w’ith only one fast bowler should have been patent to the selectors after Nottingham.” Quick Scoring Wanted. The Australian Press Association says that Bradman was far more “ human ” than when, in splendid isolation, he celebrated his corresponding Leeds success in 1930. He dined last night with a large party of team mates and friends and indulged in the rare luxury of a sip of champagne and a cigarette. Bradman is anxious to beat his old individual record, but as the occasion obviously demands quick scoring tomorrow, even at the risk of the loss of all the remaining wickets in order to force a victory, it may confidently be stated thfit he will put the side before records. Mr Warner in the “ Daily Telegraph ” says: “ Bradman’s forcing back play, off-driving and hooking have never been surpassed by Trumper, Macartney, Ranji, Hobbs or Hammond.” The newspapers agree that Saturday was a great day for Australia. The “Sunday Chronicle” says: “ England’s Test humiliation is complete.” It adds: “ Bradman is the enigma of Test cricket and Ponsford Australia’s soundest batsman.” Lord Tennyson in the “ News of the World” says: “Bradman’s and Ponsford’s batting, compared with England’s, was as as champagne to water.” J. B. Hobbs praises Bradman for playing safe. Putting aside the personal accomplishment. Hobbs says he gave absolutely nothing away. “ Too many of his innings recently have been merely slinging the bat. There was nothing of this to-day.” THE PLAY. Fine weather, a lively crowd of 35,000 and brilliant sunshine relieved the drabness of the Ileadingly ground on the resumption of the test match at Leeds, an achievement to which Bradman quickly added an inimitable share, straight-driving and on-driving to the boundary the remaining two balls of Bowes’s deadly over uncompleted from the previous evening. Bradman revealed delightfully crisp and sure form. He played the good nes carefully and was merciless with loose stuff. He powerfully hooked Mitchell to the boundary. Ponsford was quieter, but was a model of soundness. The wicket was slightly faster, but was still gcod and true. Bowes disturbed Ponsford with bumpers, but Bradman banged one furiously for four. The accuracy of Verity produced seven consecutive maidens, though the batsmen did *iot appear to be troubled. Hammond also induced sobriety after Bradman’s early rapid scoring. The partnership made 50 in sixty-five minutes, in spite of adding only 5 runs in the last ten overs It was a most un-Bradmanlike performance to play maiden after maiden on the perfect wicket. He and Pcnsford seemed intent on breaking the

E 1! Si !*j @ !*! E HI [U IS [*] ® H] !H @ @ S |¥] S bowlers' hearts by attrition. Nevertheless, Ponsford cutting and glancing Verity to the boundary produced 100 in 120 minutes. Ponsford’s 50 came scon after, glancing Verity to the fence. This seemed to be the signal for the flow of runs to open again, Bradman twice in succession driving Hammond to the fence. Bradman reached fits in 90 minutes, and then overhaiuled'*’Pcinsf'iird, inspite of the latter’s 45 minutes’ start. The partnership realised 100 runs in 100 minutes. ''' The batting hitherto had been good and patient rather than’attractive and the bowling was little beyond accurate. The batsmen’s early restraint was fully understood by the crowd. Ponsford Dropped. Ponsford, when 70, was- dropped by Mitchell in the covers when the batsman tried to hit a bumper from Bowes. It was the first chance in the innings. At lunch the partnership had added 129 runs in 145 minutes. England’s total was passed in 220 minutes. Brilliant fielding, in which Wyatt and \ erity were conspicuous, imposed a steadying effect. Bradman’s 100 occupied 185 minutes and Ponsford’s 250 minutes. The partnership realised 200 runs in 210 minutes. This incited neither batsmen to recklessness, but the runs came steadily. The fielding was still more inspired than th e bowling, the weakness of which was confessed when Leyland was called on at 255. Ponsford twice slammed him to the boundary, temporarily overtaking Bradman. Bradman, off-driving Hopwood for four, broke his own and Jackson’s test record for a fourth wicket stand of 243 in 1930. Bradman then loosened the rein on himself. He square-cut Mitchell to the boundary, making the total of 300 in 295 minutes. He then tackled Bowes, reaching his 150 in 255 minutes. While Ponsford plodded, Bradman began to treat the bowlers, whose accuracy was faltering, with disdain. F ortv thousand spectators were present after tea, a Leeds record. Ponsford, who had already achieved the highest test innings of his career, continued strongly. He reached 150 in 335 jninutes, and the partnership 300 in 275 minutes. Record Smashed. After smashing the record highest partnership in test historv (Hobbs and Rhodes, at Melbourne, 323. in 1912), Bradman reached 200 in 295 minutes. _ Ponsford, at 153. was missed off Verity. Wyatt at silly-point narrowly failed to achieve what would have been a brilliant catch. j . In spite of the excellence of the field- | ing, runs came with absurd ease, withi out loss of soundenss, even the usuallv accurate Verity cracking under the strain. The total of 400 was raised in 200 ! minutes, 71 having been added in forty- | five minutes after tea. | Ponsford at 178 was again dropped j off Verity, Wyatt at silly-point failing i to hold a hard-hit stroke. Ponsford Out. V hen the partnership had realised 38S. Ponsford on-drove Verity hard to the boundary, but touched the wicket with his heel when making the stroke, and just dislodged the bail. He had batted for* 375 minutes. 11 is was a great display. He gave three difficult chances and hit twenty-one fours. t M’Cabe opened by twice glancing Verity to the fence. Bradman continued scoring steadily without relaxation of his vigilance. When the weary bowlers, as occasionally happened, sent down a good ball, he showed that he was still fresh. Pulling Verity for a splendid six. the first of the match, and hooking llop- | wood to the fence, Bradman reached j 250 in 355 minutes. J M'Cabe did not attempt to do too much, allowing Bradman to make the

best use of the bowling, which was in the last stages of weariness. Off the next over from Hopwood Bradman scored 15, including a powerful swinging six. At the end of the day’s play Bradman had hit two sixes and thirty-nine fours. lie had batted for 370 minutes. Four policemen protected him from admirers as he ran to the dressingroom . The innings thus far had lasted 415 minutes.