BATTLE OF TACTICS

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1947, Page 5

BATTLE OF TACTICS

Press Assn.

* England Suffers Slump In Ratting

. i POOR POSITION IN TEST

By Telegraph

-Comiriaht

Received Wednesday, 9.30 p.m. ADELAIDE, Feb. 5. England suffered a batting slump when the fifth day of the fourth test match began at the Adelaide Oval today. Washbrook went to a catch behind by Tallon off Lindwall from the sixth ball of the day. . • \ Tactics played a big' part in f orcidg the Englishmen to talce risks in order to score. Bradman set a widely placed field to his • accurate bowlers, making boundary shots rare. Hutton was bowled by an off-spinner from Johnson before lunch . but had reached 1033 runs in first class crickei for the season, being the first Englishman to do so. Bradman kept Toshaclc and Johnson operating from lunch to tea. They were turning the ball on the wicket which was now threatening to become a big factor in the ganie. The tactics forced Edrich out of the firing line. He tried to batter the bowlers off their length to force a change in the field placings but he was beaten by Toshaek's fliglit and skied the ball to long on. Bradman ran round from midon to take a well judged catch. When Hammond went to a smart catch by Lindwall, in trying to force Toshack to fine leg, England was iu a bad position. Ilardstaff was always in trouble to the spinners. Ikin never looked like getting started. . Coinpton held the fort for England but was -unable to force the scoring rate. He reached his 1000 runs in first class games during the afternoon. England scored only 30 runs in tlie hour before the tea adjournment when England had a credit balance of 198 runs. Toshack and Johnson bowled throughout before the tea session, each bowling fifteen overs. At tea Toshack had taken 4 for 62 off 24 overs. Johnson had 1 for 33 off 22 overs. Play from tea developed into a battle of tactics. The Englishmen fought stubbornly to- be still batting - at stumps, to allow Hammond to have the choice of the roller to be put on the wicket for the start of play on the last day tomorrow. Runs became a secondary consideration with Compton and Yardley playing to keep their wickets intact. With only the tail enders to follovv Yardley, the Englishmen could not expect many runs. Yardley and Bedser went quickly and then Compton set out deliberately to keep Evans away from the bowling. Bradman set the field on the boundary to cut off fours in an attempt to keep Compton to singles and to give the bowlers a chance at Evans. Lindwall brought about the end of the Yardley-Compton partnership. t. Miller got Bedser 's wicket but n either he nor Lindwall could make an impression on Compton who reached 50 after batting for 185 minutes — one of the slowest fifties for the series. His half century included four fours. Toshack was thrown into the attack in place of Lindwall with eight minutes play before stumps. The batsinen played out time. Compton 's was not a good hand to watch but it was of great value' to England from the tactical point of view. Scores: — ENGLAND First Innings 460 Second Innings. Washbrook, c Tallon, b Lindwall . . 39 Hutton, b Johnson 76 Edrich, c Bradman, b Toshack . . 46 Hammond, c Lindwall, b Toshack 22 Compton, not out '52 Hardstaff, b Toshack 9 Ikin, lbw, b Toshack 1 Yardley, e Tallon, b Lindwall .... 18 Bedser, c Tallon, b Miller 3 Evans, not out 0 Extras 8 Total for 8 wickets 274 Bowling: Lindwall 2 for 47, Miller 1 for 29, Toshack 4 for 69, Dooland 0 for 36, McCool 0 for 34, Johnson 1 for 51. AUSTRALIA First innings .. 487