AUSTRALIA’S ASHES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 4 March 1937, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S ASHES

AN INNINGS VICTORY

IN FIFTH CRICKET TEST.

Press Association Electric Telecranh—Copyright

MELBOURNE, Wednesday,

Australia Avon the fifth cricket Test, Avliicli ended to-day, by an innings and 200 runs, and retained the “Ashes.” At stumps yesterday England’s score in the second innings Avas 165 for eight Avickets, Verity being not out Avith 2, and Voco Avith 1. The end to-day Avas short and sharp, Voce and Fames being dismissed Avithout any addition to the score.

A croAvd of 10,000 Avitnessed the closing scenes.

Only tAvo balls Avere boAvled, Voce and Fames .both being caught off big hits off FleetAVOod-Smith.

The match over, stumps, bails and the ball Avere claimed as souvenirs. Bradman and Allen Avere invited to broadcast. Bradman, avlio received an ovation, said he Avas delighted Australia had retained the Ashes, and thanked his team mates for their loyal support. He paid a tribute to Allen’s captainship and the Avonderful sportsmanship of the English team, from Avhorn he had not received a Avord of complaint. Bad Aveather during four of the Tests brought misfortune on tAvo occasions to each side, but all the games Avere fought in the best spirit and in accordance Aviih the best cricket traditions. Allen, Avho Avas also Avarmly applauded, said: “I make no bones about it, I am a very disappointed man. Undoubtedly the best side Avon. We also encountered Bradman in his best form Avit lt the bat and his infernal coin.” Allen concluded by saying that this was probablv his last cricket match on the Melbourne'ground. The attendance at the final Test Avas 224,388, and the takings £22,267. The attendances for the five Tests totalled 933,294, and the takings a record, £91,912. For Australia, Bradman heads the batting averages for the five Tests Avith 90; McCabe, 55; Gregory, 51; Fingleton, 44; Chipperfield, 38; and Badeock, 32. For England, Hammond’s average is 58; Ley land, 55; Barnett, 43; Hardstaff, 28; and Wyatt, 25. Sievers, Nash, O ’Reilly and Fleet-Avood-Smith head the boAvling aA’erages in that order for Australia, and Voce, Fames, Hammond, Allen and Verity in il.at order for England. The scores are as folloAv: — AUSTRALIA.

ENGLISH COMMENT.

LONDON, Wednesday

The “Daily Telegraph,” in a leader, says: “Australia’s triumph Avas so decisive as to make excuses of no avail. Allen has shoAvn himself a brave captain. Noav avc look forward to the next series, trusting fate AA'ill be kinder.” “Faced Avith a total Avhich, if the positions Avere reversed, AA-ould have stiffened the backs of the Australians, our players set about their task as if the match Avere already lost,” says the “Daily Mail” in a, leader. “Evidence of a little dourness and determination Avould have been a great encouragement for the future.”

The “Ncavs Chronicle,” in a leader, say's: “One lesson of the tour is the importance of Avinning the toss, Avhicli in a timeless test is evidently of great psychological A'alue.” ‘ ‘ Sheer apathy helped to lose us the Ashes,” Avrites H. A. 11. Carson in the “Evening NeAA's.” “England has not put the same spirit into the game as the Australians. I estimate that in an average innings of 300 Australia Avould gain 50 runs by getting full value for every stroke, and that England Avould lose as many through apathy'.”

HOBBS’ LAMENT.

(Received Thursday, 10.0 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, This Day.

Hobbs, in a special rcvieAA', say's: —• “England failed to regain the Ashes because the side Avas not quite good enough. Bradman is more than one man in a team. The Ashes Avere lost and Avon on the third day of the fourth test match, for, if the English batsmen that Monday had pushed home the advantage the boAvlcrs had gained, England could still haA'e alloAved Bradman to get his 270 and pulled off the match.

“The English batsmen never struck form. There is no first Avickct pair to give the side a good start. Sutcliffe AA'as sadly missed, and passengers Avere. carried in every test. “Another cause of the defeat A\ r as

the absence of a tip-top spin bowler. I cannot see England ever doing really well in Australia until they find one. It was our batting that failed. We had to rely too much on about three men. The toss decided the issue in every game. I wish something could be done to nullify its effect.

"Australia, however, had won the

final test before the rain came, yet in a way Australia was lucky to get away with the Ashes. Their side was short of bowling until the last test, while rain won them the third test when England was two up. "The umpires gave complete satisfaction, but perhaps the happiest feature of the tests was the excellent behaviour of the crowds. Barracking was almost eliminated.”

BARNETT FOR OPERATION.

MELBOURNE, Wednesday.

The English batsman Barnett will go into hospital to-morrow for an operation to his knee, a chipped bone having caused him inconvenience. He will bo unable to play in New Zealand, and will rejoin the team on the homeward journey.

604 ENGLAND. First Innings 239 Second Innings. 0. J. Barnett, Ibw, b O’Reilly 41 T. S. Worthington, c Bradman, b McCormick •, 6 J. Hardstaff, b Nash 1 W. R. Hammond, c Bradman, b O’Reilly < 56 M. Loyland, c McCormick, b Fleet-wood-Smith. 28 R. E. S. Wyatt, run out 9 L. E. G. Ames, c McCabe, b MeCormick 11 G. 0. Allen, c Nash, b O’Reilly .... 7 II. Verity, not out W. Voce, c Badcoek, b Fleetwood1 K. Fames, c Nash, b Fleetwood0 3 165 Fall of wickets: One for 9, 2 for ■ io, 3 for 70, 4 for 321, 5 for ,142, 6 for 142, 7 for 153, 8 for 162, 9 for 162, 10 for 162. Bowling Analysis: 0.* M. R. W. E. L. McCormick .... 9 0 33 O L. Nash 7 1 34 1 W. J. O’Reilly 19 6 58 3 S. J. McCabe 1 0 1 0 L. O’B. FleetwoodSmitli 13 3-36 3