MODERATE START.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20510, 11 January 1935, Page 13

MODERATE START.

C. L. Badcock in Inter-State Cricket. C. L. ("Jack”) Badcock cannot be said to have failed in his first season with the South Australian Shield team. He has merely not batted up to expectations, states a Melbourne writer. Including his two impressive innings in the Woodfull-Ponsford match, Badcock’s scores and manner of dismissal in big cricket this season are:— Melbourne—c Oldfield, b Grimmot. ... fit Melbourne—c Chipperfleld. b Darling . S 7 Sydney—c Oldfield, b Chilvers 5 Sydney—e Oldfield, b Chilvers 17 Brisbane—b Wyeth 33 Brisbane—b Wyeth 0 Adelaide—st Oldfield, b Chilvers .... 15 Adelaide —c Chipperlield. b Chilvers . . 12 Eight innings for a total of 235 runsaveraga 29.37. His chief weakness is clearly revealed. He has yet to master e-low leg-break bowling. In every innings but one he has fallen to this type of bowling, and not once to a front-of-wicket stroke! The Chilvers-Oldfield combination has had a hoodoo on him. Chipperfleld twice snapped him up in the slip**. Badcock, who is of short, nuggety build, also needs more vim in his drives. With his youth and phlegmatic temperament, however, Badcock can be expected gradually to remedy his weaknesses. It may take time, but he is only 20, and with concentration and proper advice, should be a very capable batsman for the next Tests against England in 1936. A trip with the Test team to South Africa next season would improve him greatly, -because older players would be constantly giving him valuable hints. Grimmett could help him along the right lines in the meantime, as 1m probably is doing.