CAN ENGLAND?

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 24 July 1934, Page 1

CAN ENGLAND?

Critical Position in Fourth Test.

VISITORS BOWL WELL.

WALTERS, KEETON, WYATT AND HAMMOND OUT.

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received July 24. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 23. Requiring 196 to catch Australia s first innings total, and with four good wickets gone, England are in a critical position in the fourth Test at Leeds. Australia made 584 in their first innings and England in their second innings have lost four for 188. Walters, Keeton, Hammond and Wyatt are out; Hendren and Leyland are in with 42 and 22 apiece. Ames, Verity, Mitchell, Hop wood and Bowes have still to bat. To add to England’s troubles Australia’s bowlers are bowling exceptionally well, Grimmett’s breaks being prodigious. In Australia’s first innings the main feature was Bradman’s score of 304. Bradman and M’Cabe added 90 runs in 60 minutes, and M’Cabe has now made 1000 runs in Test cricket. The morning opened fine and clear. There had been no rain during the week-end.

Twenty-five thousand spectators were present when the game was resumed in ideal weather with a cool breeze. The wicket apparently was still perfect. Bowes and Hammond opened the bowling. Bradman began quietly, but soon became aggressive in accordance with the side’s requirements. Five hundred runs appeared on the board in 425 minutes. Bradman Dropped. Bradman, when 280, was badly dropped by Verity in the guily off unlucky Bowes. In the next over M’Cabe, who had not been too comfortable against Bowes, played over a shooter and his wickets were spreadeagled. Bradman and Darling continued to score at the rate of a run a minute, in spite of good fielding, the pair aiming at boundary shots and hitting powerfully. Bradman was accorded an ovation when he reached 300, but four runs later, when he attempted a defensive stroke, Bowes obtained his well-deserv-ed reward. The ball took the middle stump. Bradman had batted for 420 minutes. He gave only one definite chance and hit two sixers, 43 fours, one three and 15 twos. Bowes worried Darling and eventually shattered his stumps, the batsman being completely beaten. Chipperfield continued cautiously but was out with the first forcing stroke he made. He was brilliantly caught by Wyatt at silly point from a strong drive. Grimmett Run Out. Grimmett was unexpectedly and undesirably cautious against Verity. O’Reilly was anxious to have a go at Verity, but was unable to get away fram Bowes. Grimmett was then run out through carelessness cn the part of O’Reilly. O'Reilly soon gratified his desire to face Verity and drove him for a sixer, but Wall was out in the Yorkshireman’s next over. The innings occupied 515 minutes. Bowes stuck heroically to his task and bowled unchanged for one and three-quarter hours to-day. He was always dangerous. Only ninety runs were added, the zestful bowling prohibiting spectacular scoring. England’s Second Innings. Walters and Keeton opened England’s second innings half an hour before lunch. Wall was decidedly faster than on Friday. Grimmett came on at fourteen, replacing M'Cabe after two overs, and in the slow third over Keeton was beaten by a leg-break. At lunch Grimmett had taken one for 28. Thirty thousand people were present after the adjournment. Hammond was slow to get going, while O’Reilly’s pace from the pitch troubled Walters. Nevertheless two fours from one of O’Reilly’s overs to Walters brought 50 up in 50 minutes. Hammond three times hit Grimmett to the fence. He then played a ball to mid-on. but started to run too late. A good return to Grimmett beat him home. Walters was confident against Grimmett, but O’Reilly’s slow-flighted ball brought his attractive innings to an end. He was lured out to a beautiful delivery and clean bowled. Three for SG. The first change after lunch was made at 3.30, Wall displacing O’Reilly. Wyatt was in for twenty minutes before he scored. The first hundred took 115 minutes. Ilendren and Wyatt were now comfortable Grimmett’s Fine Effort. Grimmett bowled for one and a half hours unchanged. Then he was relieved by Chipperfield, who was slow to find a length, both batsmen collecting a four. Thereafter to the tea adjournment, the batting was dull.