AUSTRALIA’S DIFFICULT TASK

Evening Star, Issue 20052, 18 December 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIA’S DIFFICULT TASK

[By Substitute.] Australia had one of its worst days to date yesterday, England gradual!}’ passing well beyond the former’s total with five wickets in hand. The most .disappointing aspect from the Australians’ view* .was the weakness of the bowling, which was lacking in sting, and it .seems that if the Englishmen, as they look like doing, score another big win public opinion will be so strong that the selectors will have to make some drastic alterations in tho teams. The fact is becoming increasingly apparent, however, that the present English team is’one of the most powerful sides that has visited Australia for many years. ]t certainly has more bowlers of class to call upon than their opponents. With a score' for fi-fc wic-

kets ifc would not bo surprising it tho test match record score of 600, made by Australia at Melbourne in 1924-25, wore beaten. England’s previous Inga est score was 589, at Melbourne in 1911-12. The highest score mgistered at Sydney was 58G, made by Australia in 1894-95. The ■ features of, the series so far, it. the writer’s opinion, have been Chapman’s captaincy and the great total put together by Hammond yesterday. His 201 not out was truly a fine ellort, despite the fact that the bowling was not regarded as being up to test match standard. Hammond is only 25 years of age, and is a very popular player both at Home and in Australia. He is an aggressive type of batsman, and is one of the few Englishmen who have ever made over 1,000 runs in one month. Last season in English cricket ho played forty-eight innings, was five times not out, and his total was 2,825, with an average of 65.69. His total already is the second highest that has been made for England, the highest being that of 11. E. Foster at Sydney in 1903-04. Foster was playing in his first test matcu, and made 287 runs in seven hours, his total ■ including fortyfive 4’s—a test match record —and he was most brilliant, particularly towards the close of his innings. W. L. Murdoch has the Australian record of 211, made in England at the Oval in 1884. He was batting for eight hours, and hit twenty-four 4’s. At Sydney in December, 1894, S. E. Gregory made 201 for Australia in hours. J. Ryder, the present captain of the Australian team, made 201 nob out at Adelaide in 1924-25, his innings occupying nearly 6i- hours. Hammond’s innings has occupied just over 3i hours, and he has hit twentytwo 4’s. It is quite on the cards that he will go on to make fresh records to-day, though he may find the bowling a little more difficult than was the case yesterday. Hendren continues to make runs In tho first test he made 169 and 45, and now ho comes to light with a brilliant 74. He was not particularly successful. in the last series of + csts in Australia, but his average in tost matches to date is 40.14, his innings including four not outs, his aggregate being 1,124 and his highest score 169. Chapman infused that brightness into his play which is characteristic of England’s great captain, and Larwood again proved his worth as a batsman, having 37 not out to his credit at the drawing of stumps. He certainly is earning for himself tho distinction of being regarded as one of England’s greatest all-rounders, and he is only 24 years of age. Just how hard put to it the Australian captain was is shown by the fact that ho gave Kippax a turn with the ball, Kippax being one who rarely bowls even in club cricket. Blackio had 204 runs hit off him, but the Victorian took two wickets, and towards the close of the day lie was howling well, which may be a hopeful sign for to-day’s play. Gfimmett’s wicket cost 123 runs, and Ironmonger’s 88. Many Australian critics have advocated the trying out of young blood in the present series, and while Australia simply docs not appear to have tho bowlers, it is. likely there may be one or two experiments in the next test, though on tho result of the next game may depend tho fate of the ashes.