ENGLISH TEST TEAM COLLAPSES

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5321, 6 February 1947, Page 5

ENGLISH TEST TEAM COLLAPSES

(Press Assn.

EIQHT DOWN FOR 274 * / australia may yet win fourth series -

— Rec. 11.30 p.m.)

ADELAIDE, Feb. 5. • England suffered a batting slump when the fifth day of the fourth Test match began on the Adelaide oval to-day. Washbrook was out to a catch behind the wicket, by Tallon, off Lirftiwall, from the sixth hall of the day, and tactics continued to play a big- part in forcing ihe Englishmen to take risks in order to score. When stumps were drawn, England, 27 behind in the first innings, had lost eight wickets for 274 runs. Bradman set a widely-placed field to his accurate bowlers, making boundary shots rare. Hutton was bowlecl by an offspinner from Johnson before lunch, but he had reached 1033 runs in firstelass cricket for the season, being the first Englisman to do so. Tireless Bowling Attack Bradman kept Toshack and Johnson operating- from lunch to tea while they were turning the ball on a wicket which was now threatening to become a big faetor in the game. Tactics forced Edrich out of the firing line when he tried to batter the bowlers. He fc-ught a change in the field placings, but was beaten by Toshack's fiight and skied a ball to Iong-on. Bradman ran round from mid-on to take a well-judged catch. When Hammond went to a smart catch by Lindwall, in trying to force Toshack to fine leg, England was in a bad position. HardstaS was always in tr&uble to the spinners and. Ikin never looked like getting started. Compton held the fort for England but was unable to force the scoring rate. He reached his 1000 runs in first-class games during the afternoon. The Englishmen scored only 30 runs in the hour hefore the tea adjournment when. England had a credit balance of 198 runs. Toshack and Johnson bowled throughout before the tea sqssion, each sending down 15 overs, At tea, Toshack diad four for (52 olf 24 overs, and Johnson had one for 43 off 22 overs. * Play from tea developed into a battle^of tactics. The Englishmen l'ought stubbornly to remain batting at stumps and to allow Hammond to have the cboice of the roller to be put on the wicket for the start ' of play on the last day to-mOrrow. Runs" .becalue a secondary consideration with Compton and Yardley trying to keep their wickets intact. With only the tail enders to follow Yardley, the Englishmen could not expect many runs. Yardley and Bedser went quickly and then Compton set out deliberately to keep Evans away from the bowling. Bradman set his field on the boundary to cut oft" fours, in an attempt to keep Compton down tfi singles and to give the bowlers a chance at Evans. Lindwall brougbt.about the end of" the Yardley-Compton partnership, while Miller got Bedser's wicket, but neither he nor Lindwall could make an impression on Compton, who"" redched 50 after batting 185 minute's. It was one of the slowest fifties of the series. His half-century included four fours. Toshack was thrown ii^to the attack in place of Lindwall, with eight minutes' play before stumps, but the batsmen plaved out time. Compton's was not a good stand to watch but it was one of great value to England from a tactieal point of view. Details : — AUSTRALIA — First Innings — 487 ENGLAND— -First Innings — 460 Second Innings Washbrook, c Tallon b Lindwall 39 Ilutton, b Johnson „ 76 Edrich, c Bradman b Toshack 46 Hammond, e Lindwall b Toshack 22 Compton, not out . . ... 52 Ilardstaff, b Toshack - - „ 9 Ikin, lbw b Toshack .. . ... 1 Yardley, c Tallon b Lindwall . 18 Bedser, c Tallon b Miller ... „ 3 Evans, not out _ . 0 Extras . .. __ 8 Total, for 8 wickets - ... 274Bowling: Lindwall, 2 for 47; Miller, 1 for 29; Toshack, 4 for 69; Johnson, 1 for 51; McCool, none for 34; Dooland, none for 36.