DEPENDS ON WEATHER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 35, 25 February 1937, Page 5

DEPENDS ON WEATHER

Australia Will Win if Weather Keeps Fine ,* * (Eeceived 25, 11.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 24. McCartney, the Herald's eomment®* tor, in a Test forecast (says: "The to.s» will again play an important part. Th# Melbourn© wickets is th© worst in thf world in wet weather and there trouble in store for the side that meets such conditions. The EnglisflEmen are uncomfortahle against fast howling just as some Australian. batsmen are; yet, even so, I feel that the Australiani will fare better than the Englishmen, In Fleetwood-Smith Australia haa k; bowler who can turn the scales, alwaya provided his- length is good. H ha bowls xeasonably close to the quality of his Adelaide effort there is every • prospect of Australian suocess. 4In fine weather, the MelbOurnt wicket is perhapa the hest-in Australia. Once the pre-lunch session on the fiiUt day has passed the pitch develops inTo one of an easy natui© with good lasting qualities. The last innings Will thus not he a dangerous affair. "England mu&t rely on her fast bowlers and Verity to dismisa Australia if the latter has the final innings, whereas Australia is better eqUipped with spin bowlerB — Fleetwoed-Smith, Q 'Reiliy, Gregory— if England has to( bat laist, > 5 "If the match is played in fine weather X think Australia. wfU wto» There is Bradiman. who can turn the scales with the bat, and. Fleet-wood-Smith, who can do so with the halh • * If the wicket is had tKroughout| England will win,, as, on a rain-dann aged wicket, England 's batsmen are more skilfnl and her bowleUs hav# , greater knowledge of such fionditionS and are more eifective. " Th© city js filled with visit'ore fromf all States and New; Zealand for the final .Test. Trafficking iix Test tickets has sent the value of reserved grandstand seats soaring, 30/- ticke.ts selling as higb as £?.