CRICKET Australia In Danger In Worcester Match

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 23

CRICKET Australia In Danger In Worcester Match

(N.Z. Prest Assn.—Copyright) WORCESTER, May 2. The Australian team will today try to avoid one of the greatest early dangers ever to face an Australian touring side. No Australian side has even been defeated by Worcestershire, but today the county is only | 154 runs away from that’ feat and it has all its second innings’ wickets intact R. Benaud. the Australian captain, has fibrositis in his right arm and is unlikely to bowl.

He said yesterday that the fibrositis, which he first felt on Saturday, was so painful that he could not raise his arm above his shoulder. This morning he said: “I took some tablets last night to ease the pain and to get some sleep because I had very little the night before. “I intend to have some heat treatment before the match starts this morning and immediately it finishes I will catch the first train to London to consult a specialist Asked if he would bowl during Worcestershire’s second innings today Benaud replied: “I don’t see how I can but you never know what can happen if the incentive is there.” Worcestershire’s dismissal of the tourists for 141 yesterday set a new low Australian total against Worcester. All Day To Bat

Worcestershire have all day to get the runs. But they must bat on a pitch which is turning and also behaving unevenly as several balls which kept low today showed. It was J. Flavell who split open the Australian batting today. He took the first three wickets Simpson CO). McDonald <l2), and O’Neill (27). He bowled Simpson and

McDonald wijh fine balls and had caught by Graveney ab first slip when he edged one while attempting to repeat a square cut which had given him a boundary a moment earlier. O’Neill's 27 was a gay innings made in 22 minutes with three 4's and with some fine driving and cutting. Coldwell’s Bowling

Later batsmen fell to the medium pacer. L. Coldwell, who bowled his in-swingers into the wind and bowled them so well that he hit the middle stump three times. Coldwell bowled in short spells of not more than eight overs because of a doctor's order after he had a, knee operation a few weeks ago to remove a piece of gristle. In his last spell, of 6.3 overs, he took five for 10. Chilling Wind

The bitterly cold wind which gusted across the ground and the rain which followed it and interrupted play for an hour chilled players and spectators alike The players all wore heavy sweaters and the crowd of 7600 was huddled in overcoats.

The brunt of the bowling today will probably fall on K. Mackay. The spinner, I. Quick, may also be called upon to do some work, although Australia has not many runs in hand and if Quick is expensive it will be impossible to persevere with him. There is tremendous excitement in Worcester because the county supporters think they have victory within their grasp.

They have good batsmen in the experienced G. Dews, D. Kenyon, the captain, and T Graveney, who made a good score yesterday. However, steady rain in Worcester early in the night may affect both the ground and also the prospects of play.

Scores:— WORCESTERSHIRE First Innings D. Kenyon, c Booth, b Gaunt •. .. 2 M. Horton, b Benaud .. 14 R. Headley, b Quick 41 T. Graveney. c Grout, b Gaunt .. 36 D. Richardson, lbw. b Benaud ..17 G. Dewes, st Grout, b Quick I R. Booth, b Mackay . 12 N. Gifford, not out . 5 D, Pearson, c Grout b Mackay .. ~ 0 L. Coldwell, c O’Neill, b Mackay .. 11 J. Flavell, b Mackay .. 7 Extras 9 Total .. .. 153 Fall of wickets: one for 2i two for 44. three for 65. four for 92, five for 93, six for 132, seven for 132. eight for 132, nine for 152, ten for 155.

Second Innings D. Kenyon, not out .. 3 H. Norton, not out .. 6 Extras .. 1 Total for no wkts. 10,

AUSTRALIA First innings .. 177 Second Innings R. Simpson, b Flavell .. 0 C. McDonald, b Flavell .. 12 N. Harvey, b Gifford .. 37 N. O'Neill, c Graveney, b Flavell .. .. 27 B. Booth, b Gifford .. 7 K. Mackay, c Gifford, b Coldwell .. .. ..12 R. Benaud, b Coldwell .. 17 W. Grout, b Coldwell .. 17 F. Misson, b Coldwell .. 10 I. Quick, not out .. 2 R. Gaunt, b Coldwell .. 0 Total .. ..141 Fall of wickets: one for 11, two for 16. three for 48. four for 82, five for 87, six for 111, seven for 114, eight for 134, nine for 141, ten lor 141

Bowling O. M. R. W Gaunt .. 17 3 55 2 MifiSon o 4 10 0 Benaud .. 17 10 19 2 Quick .. 12 4 33 2 Simpson Mackay .. 6 .. 12.1 3 8 10 14 0 4

Bowling O. M. R. W. Gaunt .. 3 2 2 0 Mackay .. 2 0 3 0 Mission .. 1 0 4 0

Bowling o. M. R. W. Havel! .. 19 3 62 3 Co) dwell .. 19.3 5 45 5 Pearson .. 4 1 7 0 Horton .. 10 6 9 0 Gifford .. 11 3 18 2