AUSTRALIA'S UNLUCKY START

Chronicle (Levin), 16 December 1946, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S UNLUCKY START

Press Assn

By Telegraph

Copyright

Received Sunday, t p.m. SYDXLY, Dec. 15. Having dismissed England on a good wieket for the small total of 255 in the first inuings of the second Test, Australia 's hopes of eopsolidating her f'av oiirable positiou were foiled by a lierce thunderstorm which struck the ground just at'ter the Australian innings opeq edfj TJie Australian 's defensive -plav on a bad wieket, hovvever, was very good and only one wieket was lost. T'he ground was packed when tlu terriiic downpgur burst oa the lucklesipeople in the uncovered sections, The oflicial attendance was 43,995. The game was resumed in extremely humid, overcast weather with the storm threatening, Bradman, who is sufffring a strainecl leg, did not take the field today. England 's tailenders offered unex pected opposition, the last two wickets adding 50 runs. Bedser and Wright, the last wieket pair, scored freely from lusty pulls. England 's inntngs closed after 332 minutes, Ikin batted 174 minutes and liis score ixicluded tliree t'.ours. The Australian flelding was verv alert while Tailon's work behind the wieket was brilliant. The light had deteriorated markedly and there were rolls of thunder and litful lightning as tlie Australian innings opened. Bofore a ball was liowled an appeal was niade against the light but it was dis: allowed. Three more appeals were inade bet'ore the conclusiou of the second over and the fourth was successful. Tlie players let't the Jield at 12.55 p.m. after the Australian innings had been in progress ten minutes and during which seven runs were scored. A quarter of an hour later the storm broke in all its fury, Eirst came a fierce wind followed by torrential rain and luiil. Thousamls of spectators in ihe unsheltered parts of the ground were drenched where they stood or sat. Others tried to enter the reserved and members' sections of the ground. Fomc mcceeded but most were deterred by tlie police. Within 15 minutes the ground was tiooded with the wieket awasli. Tlie storm eased after lialf an ttour but a steady drizy.le continued n nti I 2.35 p.m. The captains made the lirst insjH'ction at 3 p.m. and a second at 3.30 p.m. when it was decided to play at 4 p.ni. JMeanwliile the ground stalf worked valiantly with an absorheut roller, bags and grass clippings to dry tlie waterlogged areas near ihe

Bedser and Edrich, who had opened the bowiing, continued the attack, makiiig' copious use of sawdust on tlie approaclies to the wieket and follow tlirough. -The wieket was very sol't and the batsmen gave it attention with their bats after eacli deJiverv. Edrich made a number of balls rise very sliarplv but the batsmeu played only those balls which lliey were i'oreed to play or which were loose. After 4N minutes' defensive play Alorris turned his back uu a. baRA'rpni Edfich. Lt.hit liim high on the back of the legs and went into the stumps. Johnson wtis sent in in Bradman 's tisinil positiou and with his advent aji[icais were made agsiinst the light avery over uiitij tlie sixth such ttppeal was successful. ihe plavers lel'l the field at 4.55 p.m. Barnes had defended most stoiitlv. He pierced the field on numeryus ocrasious but the dead outiield cut down tlie value of his strokes. Heavy rain wtis f'alling again when stumps were drawn at 5.30. ENGLAND. Eirst Innings. Ilulton, c Tallon, ti Johnson .. .. 39 Washbrook, b Ereer 1 Edrich, lbw, li MeCool 71 Fompton, c Tallon, b XlcCool .... 5 Hanunond, c Tallon, b McCool .. 1 Ikin, c Ilassott, b Johnsfin ....... 00 Vardley, c Tallon, b Johnson .... 25 Smith, lliw, b Johnson 4 Evans, b Johnson 5 Bedser, b Johnson 14 Wright, not out 15 Extras 15. Total .. .. .. .. '.. .\ 255 Bowiing: .Millei' 0 for 24, Ereer 1 for 25, Toshaek 0 for 0, Tribe 0 for 70, Johnson 0 for 25, AIcGool 3 for 73. AUSTRALIA. Eirst Innings. Barnes, not out 21 Morris, b Edrich 5 Johnsop, not out o Extra 1 Total, for one wieket 27 Bowiing: Bedser 0 for .17, Edrich 1 for 9.