CRICKET INCIDENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 122, 26 May 1938, Page 7

CRICKET INCIDENT

BRADMAN BARRACKED AUSTRALIANS PLAY FOR DRAW THE BOWLERS NURSED [By Telesraph—Pres. Association—Conrnrttl LONDON, May 24. The unusual procedure of a side well placed for a win electing instead to play for a draw was seen to-day, when the Australia v. Surrey cricket match was finished at the Oval. Australia, who had made 528 in the | first innings, instead of requiring Surj rey to follow-on after making 271 m | its first innings, batted again, making 232 for. two wickets, declared (Badj cock 95, Barnett 120 not out). Surj rey's second knock produced 104 tor cne wicket, Fishlock monopolising the scoring with 93. The match was drawn. Bradman's not insisting on the fol-low-on was due to his desire to rest the bowlers, chiefly O'Reilly, in view of the serious doubts of the fitness ot McCormick and Fleetwood-Smith and the heavy programme ahead. He also wishes to give Badcock practice as an opening batsman. Fleetwood-Smith's knee, which was strained at Worcester, is causing some concern. When Surrey's first innings closeu, Australia was 257 runs ahead and four and three-quarter hours remained for play. It was suggested at first that Bradman's decision was dictated by a desire to improve the chance of Hassett and himself to obtain 1000 runs in May or give batting practice to those in need of it. The weather was fine and the wicket good for the final day. Surrey's overnight score was 269 for eight wickets, Watts 21 and Brooks 15, being the not-out batsmen. The first over from O'Reilly, in which he bowled Watts and Gover with successive balls, ended the innings. Badcock and Barnett, opened Australia's second innings at 11.50 a.m. | The Surrey fieldsmen looked bored. Barnett and Badcock scored 121 gift runs before lunch, and, after ths adjournment, took all runs freely offered by the change bowlers. The batsmen were ironically applauded for their caution in approaching their hundreds. Barnett reached his in 125 minutes. He certainly is never likely to find one easier to make. Play drooled meaninglessly on until Badcock, after much unwarrantable potterihg, was caught in the slips. Bradman stifled criticism regarding his personal ambitions by not batting.. The innings was declared closed at 4 p.m. Barnett batted for 170 minutes with eighteen 4's, Bradman was hooted from the cheaper seats on leading Australia out to field. Gregory, in trying to hook a short fast ball from Waite, was struck on the head and retired. Mshlock hit furiously, making 93 of the 104 runs. Just when he seemed to be likely to reach the century, he was splendidly caught, in the outfield. He hit two 6's and twelve 4's. Details:— Australia First Innings . 528 Second Innings Badcock, c Watts, b Gregory 95 Barnett, not out 120 Chipperfield, c Brooks, b Gregory 6 White, not out 5 Extras 6 Total lor two wickets, decld. 232 Bowling.— Gover took no wickets for 20 runs; Berry, none for 12; Watts none for 47; Garland-Wells, none for 62; Brown, none for 23; Holmes, none for 23; Squires, none for 29; Gregory, two for 10. First Innings Gregory, c Hassett, b O'Reilly 60 bishlock, st. Barnett, b O'Reilly Squires, b O'Reilly 7 Barling, lbw, b Ward 67 Holmes, c Brown, b O'Reilly .10 Garland-Wells, c Brown, b O'Reilly 2 Brown, b O'Reilly lb Berry, st. Barnett, h Ward 31 Watts, b O'Reilly 22 Brooks, not out 16 Gover. b O'Reilly o Extras 17 Total 27: Bowling,—Waite took no wickets for 34 runs; O'Reilly, eight for 104; Ward, two tor 96; White, none for 20. Second Innings Gregory, retired hurt 5 Fishlock, c White, b Chipperfield 93 Squires, not out a Extras 2 Total, one wicket for 10a Bowling —Waite took no wickets for 4 runs; White, none for 16; Ward, none for 50; O P-eifly, none for 12, Chipperfield, one for 20.