FIRST CRICKET TEST

Evening Star, Issue 21744, 12 June 1934, Page 9

FIRST CRICKET TEST

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright,

LONDON, June 11. (Received June 12, at 10 a.m.) At Nottingham the weather was hot for the resumption of the test match, and there was no sign of rain. The game was held up for a few minutes when thousands of spectators rushed to the boundary ropes for a better view. The police were heckled when they endeavoured to force them to stand back. When play started there were 20,000 in the ground, with a half-mile queue waiting to pass through the turnstiles. The wicket was faster than previously. Hendren scored two 2’s in Wall’s first over, but Wall dismissed Pataudi in his second over, having him nicely caught at second slip by M'Cabe. Pataudi was tedious and uncomfortable, and had batted for eighty minutes. Five were down for 145. Ames was at the wicket for. twenty minutes before scoring. The Australians’ fielding to-day was much improved. Brown, Bradman, and Darling making several excellent saves and snappy returns. O’Reilly kept both batsmen in check. Hendren was looking for runs; but was unable to connect with Gnmmett. Ames K>st his wicket at his first attempt for a big hit, giving Wall a catch at square-leg. Six were down for 165. Hendren had a close shave when he cooked the ball towards Darling. With the wicket becoming more difficult Hendren was most uncomfortable, often dangerously chopping Grimmet't. Geary defended stubbornly, and occasionally took liberties. He helped himself to 4’s, and as a result the score began to mount more rapidly, and put the onlookers in better heart.

Chipperfield was given a few overs, but was inaccurate. Hendren took two 4’s off him in quick succession, and the partnership _ yielded 50 in thirty minutes, which was a severe setback for Australia. A telegraph messenger rushed on the ground with a telegram for Chipperfield. and the game was held up. Woodfull ordered the boy off, and Chipperfield thrust the message into his pocket unread. Hendren and Geax-y now settled down, and 203 runs appeared in 285 minutes. Fours were all too frequent for the Australiaxis. Grimmett and O’Reilly returned at 226, after M'Cabe and Wall had had brief use of a new ball, but Hendren and Geary continued a stubborn defence until lunch, Geary shaping better than some of tlxe recognised batsmen. He cut and drove Grimmett for 4’s in the same over. Australia appeared to be failing to drive home its initial advantage. The crowd after lunch exceeded Saturday’s ground x’ecord of 30,100, and the gates were closed. Two hundred and fifty took 300 minutes. Runs were coming freely, Geary reaching 50 in ninety minutes. The partnership was worth 101 in 125 minutes, when O’Reilly was again called ow. He bowled Hendren first ball, taking his middle stump with a ball turning from the off. Hendren had batted 220 minutes, and gave a chanceless, powerful, and admirable display after a poor start. He hit nine fours. The total was seven for 266. No runs had been added when Geary jumped out to drive Grimmett, and Oldfield made a fine stumping. Geary, who had been in 115 minutes,. hit ten 4’s, and showed some noble hitting in a good fighting knock. He played a chanceless innings, though he was fortunate in the early stages. O’Reilly in the nest over bowled Verity neck and crop, three- wickets falling in three overs without an addition to the score. The last pair added 2, and then Grimmett easily bowled Fames, making four wickets in four overs. The innings lasted only fortyfive minutes after lunch, and 385 altogether. Grimmett and O’Reilly bowled splendidly throughout. Australia’s fielding was of a high class. VISITORS’ SECOND STRIKE.

Ponsford and Woodfull reopened at 3.20 with Australia 106 ahead. Woodfull glanced Farnes’s third ball for 2, but the fifth swung in, completely deceiving Woodfull, whose leg stump was uprooted. One for 2. ; Brown, who followed, was fortunate in snicking the last ball to the fence. Fames was making the ball lift, and was keeping the batsmen on the defensive. Ponsford had a narrow escape from chopping Hammond in to his wicket before the same bowler, pitching one in a worn spot, bowled Ponsford round his legs. Two wickets were down for 32.

Bradman began quietly. He then, drove and hooked Hammond for successive 4’s. Brown was more attractive than on Friday, though Verity almost bowled him. Bradman played several flukey strokes, but the pair were together at the tea adjournment, at which time the total was two for 61. Hammond and Fames reopened. The third ball of the latter’s third over was a very fast one of good length. It rose sharply. Bradman failed to play it in time, and the ball snicked off the shoulder of his bat and he was neatly caught at the wicket. The total was three for 69. M'Cabe began brightly, though worn spots on the wicket clearly worried both batsmen. M'Cabe swung Mitchell for two consecutive 4’s, and also drove Geary to the fence, but Brown quietened, and was unable to get Geary and Mitchell away, thanks largely to excellent fielding. One hundred occupied 115 minutes. Brown at 33 should have been stumped off Mitchell, Ames fumbling the ball. There were frequent bowling changes, but M'Cabe continued finely, passing Brown’s score, though M'Cabe had seventy-five minutes’ less batting. M'Cabe hit the first six of the match —a fierce pull from Mitchell. He also collected two 4’s in the same over, and reached 50 in even time. Brown was tedious.

M'Cabe, with a delightful variety of strokes, played the best innings of the match so far. He had batted eightyfive minutes, and had given a brilliant display. He hit one 6 and thirteen 4’s. The innings so far has lasted 165 minutes. Fames has taken two wickets for 11.

Australia In The Lead Grimmctt and O’Reilly Bowl Well Another Fine Innings by IVTCabe

Details;— AUSTRALIA. First innings ... 374 SECOND INNINGS. Woodfull b Fames 2 Ponsford b Hammond 5 Brown not out 37 Bradman c Ames b Fames 25 M'Cabe not out 74 Extras ... 16 Total for three wickets ... 15 9 Fall of wickets:—One for 2, two for 32, three for 69. ENGLAND. FIRST INNINGS. Walters Ibw b Grimmett 17 Sutcliffe c Chipperfield b Grimmett 02 Hammond c M'Cabe'b O’Reilly ... 25 Pataudi c M'Cabe b Wall 12 Leyland c and b Grimmett 6 Hendren b O’Reilly 79 Ames c Wall b O’Reilly 7 Geary st Oldfield b Grimmett ... 53 Verity b O’Reilly 0 Fames b Grimmett ... 1 Mitchell not out 1 Extras 5 Total 268 Fall of wickets: One for 45, two for 102, three for 106, four for 114, five for 145, sis for 165, seven for 266, eight for 266, nine for 266, ten for 268.BOWLING ANALYSIS.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY LONDON, June 11. (Received June 12, at 1 p.m.) The Australian Press Association comments: “ If bold tactics are pursued to-morrow Australia should be one up in the tests. The probability is that Griramett and O’Reilly, on a 'wearing wicket, will dismiss England for a smaller total than in the first innings.” Hobbs, writing in the ‘ Star,’ says: “ Australia is now safe from defeat. If it likes to push on quickly it has a very fine ’chance of winning.” Jardine says: “ It has_been a lucky match for Australia. Things have run right for it with both bat and ball.” All the critics pay tribute to the fine fighting stand by Heudren and Geary, and describe the day’s play as most exciting, with the fortunes fluctuating.

0. M. R. W. Wall 33 7 81 1 M'Cabe ... 7 2 7 0 Grimmett ... 58.3 24 81 6 O’Reilly 37 16 75 4 Ohipperfield 3 0 18 0