GREAT INNINGS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30983, 12 February 1966, Page 3

GREAT INNINGS

[From W. J. O’REILLY, N.Z.P.A.special correspondent.] MELBOURNE. England's number four batsman with the two-eyed stance, Ken Barrington, turned on one of the finest test innings I have ever seen in setting his team on a match-winning course after a dreadfully bad start.

It needed an extraordinary effort to recover from the morale-shattering blow dealt by the tragic loss of Barber’s wicket, sacrificed in what could be called criminally careless circumstances.

Understandably rattled by the inglorious part he had played in the Barber incident, Boycott stayed just long enough to see Edrich bogged down and strokeless. With two highly important wickets gone for 41, Barrington faced a threefold responsibility. RESTORE CALM

Most importantly he had to restore calm—there was far too little of that important commodity—and having done that there was the important job of getting on with runscoring so that England could take full value from the luck of the toss. But before he could succeed in either it was necessary to lift his partner Edrich out of the batting doldrums. Barrington’s methods were simple. Whenever the ball was pitched to half-volley length he belted it unmercifully, taking full care to steer it towards the gaps in the field which Simpson kept consistently deep throughout his innings. When the bowler pitched short Barrington hammered hard on the onside with superlative driving and the occasional hook. HELPED EDRICH

So quickly did his punishing tactics disarrange the field that it enabled Edrich to regain his confidence and eventually find his timing. Young Stackpole, regarded as a reliable length bowler, wilted under Barrington’s pressure and had to be taken out of the attack, so determined was Barrington. It was then the turn of Veivers and w'e had the ununusual sight of two fieldsmen patrolling the legside fence even when the Queenslanders’

figures were four overs for 12 runs.

1 was filled with admiration for the courageously calculating manner in which Barrington achieved his purposes. Lt was entirely fitting to see him reach his century with a might on-drive over the fence. Edrich deserves full marks for the dedicated way in which he concentrated ball by ball through a trying period when his chances of survival looked hopeless. PLAYED PART That feathering shot outside the off stump was working overtime for him early. That he was able to lift his game and play the highly important part he did is something for which he will be quick to give Barrington full praise. Walters not only took bowling honours by collecting three quick wickets at a time that had become desperately critical for Australia’s peace of mind, but his successes, unexpected as they must have been, were just reward. He was easily the outstanding member of an atttack which collected few laurels. The young all-rounder dipped the ball in across the batsmen’s legs at a nagging length and was content to rely on that alone.

Walters has become a basic fixture in Australia’s team but I hope his bowling does not become a fundamental

feature of the attack. It would be a dreadful thing to sacrifice his batting capacities by bowling him into the ground.

The pitch was as disinterested in this test as the sightboards. The ball came off so slowly that Hawke on more than one occasion bounced it twice before reaching through to Grout. The spinners had a discourging day. Not one got the ball to turn. Veivers bowled with patient accuracy but it was easy to follow him safely off the pitch. The legspinners were given very little work once Barrington took charge. With Cowdrey there batting in fine form, and with the support that Parks, Titmus and Knight are capable of giving him, England has good reason to be happy with a day which began so badly for the side. It will be deeply disappointed if it does not give Australia 450 runs to chase.

England, therefore, is in a highly satisfactory position. 1 believe it will already be regretting the omisson of Allen. This unusual Melbourne wicket is sure to make up before this interesting match is over.

I feel certain the spinners will be glad when it does. The signs are already that batsmen will be facing difficulties on Tuesday and Wednesday.