CRITICS' COMMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 150, 27 June 1934, Page 7

CRITICS' COMMENTS

FAILURE OF AUSTRALIA IGNORANCE OF CONDITIONS BRAD2 \N’S FOOLISH STROKE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received June 26, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, June 26. Commenting on the Test the Australian Press Association says: “England, with the weather in their favour, were on top from the start on the third day. Everything went awry for Australia. The wicket ideally suited Verity, the Australians never having had to bat on anything worse than slightly worn wickets. They received in this Test a shocking reminder of their comparative ignorance of a pitch on which normally moderate spin bowling becomes venomous. Nevertheless, Australia’s failure to save following-on was really deplorable, for the wicket was scarcely as bad as the batting represented it to be. Those seven runs would have made a world of difference. Bradman went out with such a foolish stroke in the second innings that everyone asked what was the matter with him. The weather and tho toss played for England this time, but unless the balance of fortune again tips sharply, the visitors’ prospects of winning the ‘Ashes’ are still good under level conditions.” J. B. Hobbs expresses the opinion that England was fortunate that Verity found the wicket to his liking. Without the rain Australia would have made a big The Daily Sketch says: “The cricket gods sent Verity the pitch of which the spin bowler dreams.” Neville Cardus, in the Manchester Guardian, says: “England is not a great side, when Verity is not bowling. Chipperfield must give his team mates lessons on how to bat on a bad wicket. ” Jardine and Warner both hold that the winning of the toss meant winning the match. Jardine adds: “The Leyland benefit is to be played this week against Notts. One may be quite sure, to quote a Yorkshireman’s words, that ‘There will be no walking off the field or nonsense of that sort up North’.”

Wyatt Delighted I am naturally delighted to be captain of England on the occasion of the first victory at Lord’s since 1896,” says Wyatt. “ Rain undoubtedly helped. 1 am thankful we had a bowler able to take advantage of the conditions to such a marvellous extent. I cannot fully express my gratitude to Verity.” Woodfull says: “I congratulate England most heartily and sincerely on the fine victory. They saw the chance and seized it. Tho rain and the state of the wicket were all in the day’s work. Tr. might just as easily have come to us.” Verity, interviewed, says: “I am proud to have helped the team to win, but could not W ]> thinking of my old skipper Jarline. How delighted he would have been to have led England to suyh a victory.’’ A Piquant Situation The Daily Mail points out that about £6OOO, including entertainment tax, was taken for the fourth day of the Test. ‘‘No money' can be returned. Must Marylebone pjiy entertainment tax when there was no entertainment, or will they and the. Australians benefit? It is a piquant situation.” MERRITT IN LANCASHIRE LONDON, June 25. In Lancashire League cricket, the New Zealander Merritt made 7 runs and took three wickets.