ENGLAND'S FADING HOPES ONCE AGAIN RESTED ON COMPTON

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 June 1948, Page 5

ENGLAND'S FADING HOPES ONCE AGAIN RESTED ON COMPTON

Bradman's Delayed Declaration A Compliment To England

(Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (By Walter Hammond, former England captain) Received 8 p.m. LONDON. June 29 Once again England’s diminished hopes rest upon Compton. Faced with a task of securing 596 runs to win in nearly nine hours, or playing out time, England’s batting again broke .lown.

Hutton, who was wearing his Yorkshire cap for luck, helped, 'with Washbrook, to give England their best start of the. series, but lie never settled down and was eaught off a bail outside the off stump which eoukl well have been left alone.

Edrich, who followed him, never lookel happy and was beaten by one of Tcshack’s spinners, to be caught by Johnson. Washbrook, who appeared to be batting more confidently, was obviously unsettled by a confident appeal off a previous hall and was caught' at the wicket. As usual. Compton . subdued ms natural style and playsd a dour defensive game for the last hour. He treated every ball with great care, ably assisted by Dollery, who outwitted all Bradman’ attempts to disturb him

It is a pity England did not deserve the compliment paid by Bradman in delaying his declaration. I was surprised Bradman decided to bat on alter the inspection the two captains made of the wicket at 12.30 n.m. The Australians then had a lead of 484 and a chance of getting England out on a damp wicket BradTuan apparently thinks there is still some batting ability in the England

side, even if it is, at the moment, dormant. Despite the fact that few of the onlookers could see England getting 550 to win. Bradman Apparently decided there was just a chance of England’s batting finding form and getting runs in the ten hours’ play still left. He would not risk a hundred-to-one chance of defeat, even though rain was plainly about to upset England’s chances. When I went down to the dressing room just after Miller’s dismissal I noticed the test match rules being consulted. Apparent Iv Bradman wanted to know the latest time he could declare, and still have a tea I interval. It turned out as I expected for, when Lindwall was stumped with the score at 460, Bradman called in the players. Australia had set England 596 to win, with nine hours left to play. It looked as though England’s task would be to concentrate upon saving the gt-me rather than trying to win. At that stage rain had not affected the wicket to the extent I expected. Although wet, it still appeared to be easv paced and the ball was not flying as much as I anticipated How ever, the pitch was still definitely in favour of the bowlers end England, with 489 runs Io get and three wickets down, have a tremendous task ahead of them tomorrow.