POOR M.C.C. BATTING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 31, 20 February 1937, Page 5

POOR M.C.C. BATTING

J. O.

HOBBS)

Ames Aloite in Form Against Victoria EIGHT OUT FOR 169

(Bv

(Copyright in- all countries. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden). (Received 20, 8.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. i9. England 's early batsmen figured in a startling eollapse on a fast wielcet, playing Victoria. The Englishrnen broke another dry spell soon after reaching Melbourne. Though the weather Was brililant this morning, a thunderstorm delayed the start of the match till 2.30 p.m. The slcy then became overcast and a breathless atmosphere threatened more thunder. Half an ineh of rain made the turf near the Cover on the wicket very soft. It was a slow, dull opening, but only because of the weather and because everyone 's mind was Occupied with thonghts of the great event to be staged here next Friday. Robins, still deputislng for Allen, won the toss and England made another deplorable start, this time worse than ever. In the hour before tea they lost five wickets for 49. McCormick and Nash opened the bowling and all that came from the first two overs was a bye. In McCormick 's second over Barnett and Verlty each got a single but off the seventh ball Barnett was caught in the gully high up off a ball that rose considerably. McCormick 's first over had seen an appeal for a eatch in the same position which the bowler's umpire referred to his colleague who shook his head. Pear3on, the fieldsman in question, was in the limelight, for in Nash's second over he caught Verity in the same place after the Yorkshireman had been missed there two balls before. Only ten runs came in 40 minutes when Hammond, having cut at two suc* cessive balls from McCormick without connecting, hit the last one of the over past cover for four, all run, Nash, having delivered three overS, went on at McCormick 's end. Hardstaff livened things up, seoring a four and a two to leg. In Nash's second over at the new end Hardstaff hooked two and then cut one straight to the ^ully, giving Pearson Ms third catcto. Hammond cut Ebeling for four and then was bowled when not attempting to play a ball. McCormick replaeed Nash in another change which was successful, Wyatt being caught off the fourth ball, The pitch was certainly lively, but invariably it is here to begin with, for a certain amount of moisture is neeessary in its preparation to make it last and this makes it sweat under cover, Victoria, with three paeey bowlers and two medinra, have an attaek able to take advantagc of this. McCormick we lcnew was a good fast bowler and Nash bowled against .England last tour but not in tho first match this season. Short in statute, he has speed. Both delivered a number of shoTt balls that reared and wero difficult to negotiate, but this Cannot be offered as an excuse for the feeble display. Ebeling bowled a good length throughout. Recently, English batsmen have shown a great dislikO to the rising ball, exfiepting Hardstaff who plays it well, faeing it and getting his bat right up in the air. However, allowing for the poor resistance, it was really a good bit of bowling by Victoria before tea. After tea, Siovera bowled for the first time. Ames hit his second ball for four, cut the next and hit another four. Leyland on-drove the last ball of his second over to the boundary so it looked as if M.C.C. wefe in for & much needod stand. Hopes wero daShed when Leyland, tryihg an off-drive off SieverS, hit tho ball hard, but the tioiing was sadly out and he WaS easily caught at extra cover. Robins played a plueky knook and helped Ames to add 56 for tbe seventh wicket. To-day We saw the fieldsmen chasing the ball. One eause was the life seemed tO gO Out of the wicket and another was tliat Ebeling did not hOWl Nash, McCormick or himself much more. The batsmen relislied the other bowlers more, Despite the improvemont, the pooi display of the earlier batsmen is di9s conCerting with the Test in the Offing. There is certainly a suspicion that they are playing earelessly. Even si), I.am worried. I am afraid they aren't batting as well as prior to the fourth TeSt. Perhaps the players , have been stiffering from too mueh cricket and gone stale. One bright iiote is that Ames geemS to be absolutely at the top of his form. Seores:— - ENGLAND. First Innings. Verity, c Pearson, b Nash. ^ 1 Barnett, c Pearson, b McCormick 1 Hardstaff, c Pearson, b Nash .... 14 Hammond, b Ebeling 14 Leyland, c • Ledwand, b SieVera , . 19 Wyatt, c Barnett, b McCormick .. 1 Ames, nOt out .. . . 50 Robins, c Nash, b Pearson .. . . .. 33' Sims, c Ledward, b Ebeling .... 16 Voce, not oUt .............. 81 Extras . . Total fPr eight wickets .. .. 169