TEST CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18047, 16 June 1930, Page 7

TEST CRICKET.

ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA.

• / HOME TEAM OUT FOR 270,

VISITORS 140 FOR EIGHT WICKETS

United Press Assr~—Eiec. Tel. Copyright.

LONDON, June 14. In the first test match between the Australian cricketers and England the scores at the end of play to-day wei (3. England, first innings, 270; Australia, 140 for eight wickets. Incessant rain last night and early this morning delayed play until 2.10 p.m. to-day. England made a stubborn fastwicket stand, in which Robins, who is being played for his bowling, was the principal figure. He carried his for 50, after attacking the bowling In the most amazing manner. , The Australians started their Innings as sensationally as did England. Tate got Woodfull, Ponsford and Bradman very cheaply, and Australia’s chance of winning was suddenly changed to the prospect of defeat. Kippax and Richardson were the only men to make a fair showing on the tricky wicket. The ground presented a sorry sight in the morning. There were mud patches round the wicket, and the outfield w’as sodden. Notices w'ere posted reading: “Play uncertain. Enter at your own risk. No money returned. Heavy overnight rain, with a deluge at 3 a.rfi.” The captains inspected the wicket on tw'o occasions, on the last of which they disagreed. Play eventually began in 1 bright sunshine, with a light breeze. There were about 18,000 spectators'. * , Fairfax used a new’ hall, which kicked sharply on the lively .wicket. Tyldesley skied one into Fairfax s hands. Robins continued to hat daringly, shaping like an opening batsman. He and Duckw'orth ran several smart singles. Robins relished, Wall’s shortpitched balls, from which he scored freely. He reached 50 by spirited hatting. Duckworth was out next ball, ana the innings ended at 2.40 p.m. Robins hit five fours. Australia was left with an awkward deficit on a wicket likely to prove troublesome. The innings had occupied 265 minutes. Woodfull ordered the groundsmen to use only a light hand roller between the innings. The strength of the sun and the wind increased, and Woodfull and Ponsford came out with the sky almost cloudless. Tate spread sawdust in order to get a foothold. Woolley, Hammond, Sutcliffe and Chapman fielded In the slips. . Ponsford again showed his vulnerability on the leg side when a beautiful ball in Tate’s third over swung in and took his lqg stump. Position Full of Difficulty. Fairfax came in instead of Bradman, and faced a position full of difficulty, but the men stonewalled to such effect that the total was only six after 35 minutes. Then the second w’icket fell, Woodfull cutting a ball which Chapman splendidly caught at backward point, showing fine anticipation. Tyldesley w'orried Fairfax, w’ho tw'ice mishit, and Bradman had made only seven when Woolley, at first slip, fielding close to the wicket, failed to hold a catch 1 off Tyldesley. But in the next .over a bll from Tate swung across the wicket and hit the top of Bradman’s stumps. Thus three good batsmen were out in less than an hour. Fairfax maintained a solid defence, hitting Tyldesley three times to the boundary. Kippax batted delightfully from the outset, and hit Tyldesley for two successive boundaries. The pair brought up 50 for 85 minutes’ play, and were still together at tea time. Robins got Fairfax shortly after tea, Hobbs jumping to take the catch at cover point. McCabe opened auspiciously, driving the first ball for four, hut was out to the next hall in Robins’ over, Hammond taking a running catch from the shoulder. A Lucky Escape. - Richardson had a lucky escape early in his innings, Woolley missing a hard, low, left-handed catch off Larwood, whose bowling increased in pace. Richardson punished Robins, scoring three fours in one over, and 100 went up after 135 minutes of play. The pair had added 44 when Richardson was badly beaten, playing right over the ball. He had hit seven fours and batted for 35 minutes. Oldfield defended stoutly. Kippax reached 51 in 115 minutes. Duckworth, with a triumphant yell, heralded Oldfield’s departure, taking, a good catch at the wicket, giving Robins his third victim. After Grimmett had made a stubborn stand for 40 minutes, Robins coaxed him to try to hit, and dismissed his fellow googly bowler for a duck. Hornibrook survived the two remaining halls of the day.' It is almost miraculous how a batsman of Hobbs’ age—-he is 4 B—played with such perfect confidence throughout. His timing was beautiful, even when the light was at its worst. The d,im light in the first part of the day was partly responsible for the downfall of England's best batsmen in such a sensational fashion. Grimmett, who was deadly, scarcely ever used a high-tossed hall, hut bowling with his left shoulder well down maintained probably the lowest trajectory every seen in a test cricket match. The Observer says: “It was believed that the Australians would find the wicket difficult, but such a staggering start was beyond all contemplation. Fairfax’s score of 14 in 80 minutes threw Kippax’s free bitting into praiseworthy relief, hut the Australians are a side that is stiffened, not softened, by adversity, and will fight to the last man now beyond doubt. “ Our visitors are on their test match mettle, and the rubber will be finely contested.” Details of the scores are as follows : ENGLAND. —First Innings. Hobbs, e Richardson, b McCabe 78 Sutcliffe, o Hornibrook, b Fairfax 29 Hammond, lbw, b Grimmett 8 Woolley, st Oldfield, b Grimmett 0 Ilendren, b Grimmett 5 Chapman, p Ponsford, b ' Hornibrook . 02 Larwood, b Grimmett l g Robins, not out 00 Tate, b Grimmett Tyldesley, e Fairfax, b Wall .... 1 Duckworth, lbw, b Fairfax .... a Extras 12 Total 270 BOWLING ANALYSIS.

i (Continued in next column.)

Fall of wickets. —One for 53, two for G 3, three for G 3, four for 71, five for 153, six for 188, seven for 218, eight for 241, nine for 242, ten for 270. AUSTRALIA. —First Innings. Woodfull, c Chapman, b Ta,te ... 2 Ponsforcl, b Tate 8 Fairfax, o Hobbs, b Robins 14 Bradman, b Tate 8 Kippax, not out G 0 McCabe, c Hammond, b Robins 4 Rihardson, b Tyldesley 37 Oldfield, c Duckworth, b Robins 4 Grimmett, st Duckworth, b Robins 0 Hornibrook, not out 0 Extras 8 Total for eight wickets . 140 R. W. V. Robin's, who has done so well in his first test match, played lor his school, llighgate, and for Cambridge University. In 1928 ho and Blundell; of New Zealand, were the chief'Cambridge bowlers, lie plays for Middlesex, and last year baited very well, and also took 125 wickets for an average of 20.20 runs. lie had a good leg break.

Wall Overs. 17 Aldus. Runs. 4 47 Wlvts. i Fairfax . . 21.4 5 • y 1 Grimmelt . 112 0 11)7 6 Hornibrook 12 3 40 1 McCabe . . 7 3 23 1 Fairfax bowled one no ball.