THE SECOND TEST

Evening Star, Issue 20051, 17 December 1928, Page 9

THE SECOND TEST

Press Assooiatien—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, December 16. .The weather was warm and the wicket ' *XceUent when Oldfield and Ironmonger resumed Australia’s first innings in the test. Ironmonger, played stubbornly for three, overs, scoring a single. He was then taken left hand by Duckworth. The innings lasted five hours. Oldfield batted for 102 minutes. Ho hit three 4’s, and gave a brilliant, gritty display. ENGLAND'S FIRST STRIKE England opened with Hobbs and Sutcliff© to the bowling of Nothling and Grimmett. The batsmen took no risks, generally just tapping the balls back and occasionally stealing singles. Grimmott boat each batsman with balls slower than usual, but failed to hit the wicket. Ironmonger and Blackio were tried, but the batsmen were together till lunch, when the score was:—Sutcliffe 11, Hobbs 25. SUTCLIFFE CAUGHT On resuming Hobbs added a single; then Sutdiffo snicked Ironmonger to Hendry, who took a catch in the slips. The Yorksliireman played a chanceless innings, though it was not bright v cricket. Tho light had now become duller, and a storm was indicated when Hammond carao in. He had scored 12 and Hobbs 50,' when in a bad light and drizzle play was adjourned at-2.50 p.m. RAIH TEMPORARILY STOPS PLAY Thousands had' now left the packed lull, those remaining covering ' themselves with newspapers. Though the conditions continued bad, the crowd yelled for a restart, sections indulging in counting out as in boxing. Some onlookers scaled the fence, but were removed by the police or officials. PRESENTATION TO HOBBS During a luM M. A. Noble, on behalf of tho citizens, presented Hobbs with a . boomerang and a' cheque for £46 in honour of his forty-sixth birthday. Accompanied by Noble, he walked round the ground, receiving a great ovation. A small boy jumped the fence, and Hobbs autographed his bat amid cheers. After two inspections by tho umpires "play was resumed, following a stoppage for two hours. Hobbs soon went. THE VETERAN’S SOUND INNINGS' He reached forward to a ball from Grimmett, just touched it, and was splendidly caught by Oldfield. He was batting 105 minutes, and hit two 4’s. Ho did not show any enterprise, but was thoroughly sound, except on a few occasions when facing Grimmett, Neither Hammond nor Jardinc was very comfortable against tho slow bowler, but both were together till 5.55, when alter two appeals regarding the light stumps were drawn. GRIMMETT TROUBLESOME All the Australian bowlers showed good oform, with Grimmett, whoso wicket cost 52 runs, the most troublesome. The fielding was sound, Richardson and Hendry being brilliant, while Oclficld kept wickets magnificently. Tho attendance was 58,464 and tho takings £6,200 —both records for one day in any test. During the day tho following cable message was received from tho King’s private secretary:—“ I am requested by the Queen to thank you all for the message of sympathy and good wishes for the King’s recovery. His Majesty will much appreciate this kind thought of him, and when sufficiently recovered ho will certainly inquire all about the matches.” Details:— AUSTRALIA First Innings. Richardson b Larwood 27 Woodfuli Ibw b Geary 68 Kippax b Geary ... 9 Ponsford retired hurt ... ... ... 5 Hondry b Geary ... 37 Ryder Ibw b Geary .. 23 Nothling b Larwood ... 8 Oldfield not out ... < ... 41 Grimmett run out ... 9 Blackio f b . Geary • 8 Ironmonger o Duckworth b Larwood 1 Extras ... ... ... Total ... 253 Bowling Analysis.—Larwood, three for 77; Tate, none for 29; Geary, five for 35; White, none for 79; Hammond, nope lor IS. ENGLAND First Innings. Hobbs c Oldfield b Grimmett ... 40 Sutcliffe c Hendry b Ironmonger. 11 Hammond not out ... ... 33 Jardine not out ... ... 23 Extras ... ..... ... ... 6 Total for two wickets ... 113 Fall of wickets: One for 37, two for 65. THE SECOND BAY'S PLAY [By SuEsriTCiE.] As was predicted, there was little addition to Australia’s score before Ironmonger's dismissal was brought about by Duckworth off Larwood, who finished up with three wickets for 77 runs. In the two tests Larwood has How taken eleven wickets for 139 runs. The most successful bowler on this occasion was Geary, whose performance in taking five wickets for 35 runs has already neon commented on. Hammond has not been very successful with the ball during the present tour, and failed to get a wicket on Saturday, but he was not particularly expensive, only 18 runs being scored off him. He is a x good bowler on English wickets, being able to swerve and spin from the pitch There was hot much play on Saturday, ruin interfering with the progress of England’s innings. Hobbs was sound without being brilliant, and England’s prolific scoring opening batsman has yet to make a century on the present tour. Still, his 40 was a good contribution to his side, and it may be ' that the, hero 6f so many first-class matches is serving his side just aS well ■with his consistently steady knocks as be would he were he' to ■ score an occasional century, for it has always to be remembered that a master batsman of Hobbs’s calibre can do something towards exposing the weaknesses in the bowling. Sutcliffe has not been scoring as heavily as in the last series of games, in which "ho headed the averages for both sides. In nine innings he scored 734 runs, his highest score being 176 at Melbourne. ; In that test Sutcliffe scored a century in the second innings as well, tbu being tjjia

Australia All Out 253 Oldfield’s Brilliant Display England Two for 113

tour was 81.56 V and for all tost games his average prior 'to the present series was 80.40. Hammond and Jardine aro still at the wickets, though even yet it is difficult to say what will happen when England takes strike to-day. Grimmett appears to have been the most difficult of the Australian bowlers, and once again it looks ns if he is to be the mainstay of the attack. The Australian fielding was sound, and the cables state that Oldfield was magnificent, which perhaps is only to be' expected of such a great player. He has served his side well, for outside of Woodfuli and Hendry he was the only other who made much of a stand against the Englishmen." England has had all tho luck so far, but even yet Australia’s luck may turn, and there may be some sensational happenings before tho present match concludes, though at the present time England is certainly in much the stronger position. ■ THE HOME CRITICS UNLUCKY PONSFORD LONDON, December 15. Next to the King’s illness the test match is given prominence in the Press, and due regard is given to unlucky Ponsford. . , , P. J. Warner heads his article in tho ‘ Morning Post ’ with Adam Lindsay Gordon’s verse, “No game - ever yet was worth a rap,” pointing out that he came across the lines before the test opened, little dreaming that an accident would put Australia without her “scoring machine.” The goddess of chance seems at the moment to bo working against Australia, believing, as many do, that this is ono of tho best teams ever sent to Austalia, wo would fain meet our opponents at their full strength. The first day’s play put England in a strong position if rain does not fall.” Continuing, Warner says; “Many hard things have been said about tho 1 barracker,’ but as a fact ho is a keen and impartial judge of the gam© if he is occasionally over-demonstrative. This is duo to an excess of zeal. I do not think I would like it on English grounds, but in Romo wo must accept Roman customs. In any case, the barracker loves cricket, and his applause is nowise confined to his own side. So far it looks as if many people will have to revise their opinion of the English bowling.” STICKING TO VETERANS “Luck,” says Lord Tennyson in the ‘Daily Chronicle,’ “is still against Australia. The loss of Ponsford, one of the most brilliant bats in the world, is irreparable.” Ho tliorouglily agrees with Armstrong that Australia is facing certain, defeat by sticking to veterans. “The Australian selectors should have taken their courage in both hands and chosen some youngsters, such as Bradman and A’Beckott. Four selectors is an .unfortunate number, as it is highly probable that they were unable to agree oh the" claims of certain youngsters, and have been forced to compromise.” Ho pays a glowing tribute to Woodfuli, and says that to bat on unperturbed when one’s colleagues’ wickets are falling is the hardest thing to do in cricket. He declared that his responsibility revealed greats gilts in Chapman, who is recognised on ail sides as rapidly becoming ono of England’s finest captains. AUSTRALIA'S FAILURE F. E. Woolley, in the ‘ Daily Chronicle,’ says: “The injury to Ponsford is a most severe handicap to Australia. It is not putting his ability too high to say that he might have performed as Hendren did at Brisbane. Chapman’s manner of using the bowling had much to do with the low scoring. No doubt tho Australians suffered from overanxiety, but they should have played their natural game.” Provided the weather holds, he anticipates that England will secure a lend of 200 in tho first innings, Clem Hill, cabling to the ‘ Daily Telegraph,’ says: “The Australians have shown no real fight thus far, and Larwood seems to have got some of the players frightened.” Ho regarded Australia’s chances good when Ryder won tho toss, but, though everything favoured them the batsmen failed miserably. Well as Geary bowled, he believes that Larwood and White were mainly responsible for Australia’s failure. The ‘Daily Express,’ in an editorial, deplores the casualties, because England wants to meet Australia at her best. FAILURES OF HOBBS AND SUTCLIFFE “Has a decline set in?” asks tho “Evening Standard,’ whom commenting on the comparative failures of Hobbs and Sutcliffe. It : recalls that on the last tour a century from either was a commonplace, but they are now comparatively easy victims, and it adds, ‘ ‘ Perhaps we expect too much from Hobbs.” It is significant, however, that the same paper, in commenting on Hobbs’s presentation, heads the paragraph, “ But Jack has Boomerang.” Leicestershire, which does not often provide test cricketers, is overjoyed at Geary’s success. The county club has cabled, Geary congratulations. “TEST PLAY AT ITS WORST" A. C. M'Laren, in a ‘ Sunday Times ’ article entitled, ‘Test Play at Its Worst,’ ‘ Men Who Bat Like Juniors,’ says: “That the Australian selectors should, have kept to the same policy of including average bowlers and batsmen is suicidal. I estimate that Macartney would stand out in this weak eleven. The Brisbane teat destroyed Australian confidence, and Woodfuli alone can possess confidence. The selectors have persevered with players who have never been in the top class, and one is justified in expressing astonishment that Macartney and Andrews are put aside for second raters.” He denounces Tate’s_ bowling as a failure. Pit. is. time it was realised that Tate'is is . his thirty-fourth year, and, apart,from that", his performances leave much to be desired. I reckon Tate is far likelier to play the earlier batsmen in than out.” He expresses the opinion that Bettington is Australia’s best bowler. ' Referring to the Kippax Incident after the umpire had said “Not cut,” he says: “Our men had no right to say, one more word. Kippax should have continued his innings.”—Australian Press Association.