MODERATE SCORE

Southland Times, Issue 21088, 21 May 1930, Page 5

MODERATE SCORE

THE M.C.C. MAKE 258 ATTRACTIVE INNINGS BY DULEEPSINHJI FAIRFAX SIX FOR 54 (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, May 19. After 50 had been scored in 55 minutes by the M.C.C. in their match against Australia, Grimmett was given the ball. The lively pitch seemed to suit Hornibrook, but Duleepsinhji and Hendren used their feet well, scoring at a good rate. The splendid fielding kept down the runs. Duleepsinhji reached 50 in 80 minutes. Fairfax came on and had another success in his first over, Hendren giving Woodfull an easy catch in the slips. The 12,000 spectators present after lunch saw a quiet half hour’s play. Fairfax continued to bowl well, and Richardson and Bradman were applauded frequently for good fielding. Wall, with an extra fast ball, dismissed Jardine after a dull innings.

When the Indian seemed certain of his century he played forward to Hornibrook, the ball turned, and Walker achieved another fine stumping feat. Duleepsinhji had given a delightful display, with never a semblance of a chance. He hit eight fours. Wall tvas now bowling much faster and sent Chapman's middle stump flying. Two hundred appeared after 220 minutes, Marylebone thus being the first side to score 209 runs against the Australians on the present tour. Stevens batted soundly, scoring all round the wicket.

Fairfax changed ends and immediately bowled Allen, and Stevens, after a valuable innings, was caught at cover. Fairfax got his fifth wicket when a slow “yorker” deceived Kennedy. Altogether Fairfax bowled 31 overs, including five maidens.

Woodfull and Jackson opened Australia’s second innings at 5.45 in a gloomy light. Another disastrous start was made, Woodfull playing the ball on after a narrow escape from being run out. Bradman also gave a chance before he put his leg in front of a straight one. Jackson held up his wicket for 45 minutes against good bowling. PLAY INTERRUPTED AUSTRALIA TWO FOR 46. (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) London, May 20. After only 20 minutes’ play at Lord’s this morning, rain drove the players off the field. The wicket seemed to be satisfactory. Meanwhile, Jackson batted splendidly. Hornibrook shaped well, the pair putting on 23 after bright cricket. The opening bowlers were Allom and Stevens. Following are the scores:— MARYLEBONE. First Innings. Lyon c Richardson b Fairfax 3 Lee st. Walker b Fairfax 11 Hendren c Woodfull b Fairfax .... 31 Duleepsinhji st. Walker b Hornibrook 92 Jardine l.b.w. b Wall 25 Chapman b Wall 7 Allen b Fairfax 3 Stevens c Grimmett b Hornibrook .. 4S Peebles b Fairfax 3 Kennedy b Fairfax 14 Allom not out 5 Extras 16 Total 25S Bowling Analysis.—Wall took two wickets for 66 runs, Fairfax six for 54, Hornibrook two for 44, Grimmett none for 78. AUSTRALIA. First Innings . 285 Second Innings. Woodfull b Allom 7 Jackson not out 28 Bradman l.b.w. b Stevens 4 Hornibrook not out 7 Total for two wickets 46 BUCKED UP

AUSTRALIANS AT LEYTON

HORNIBROOK FINDING HIS FEET.

During the course of the match between the Australians and Essex, which .the Australians won by 207 runs, largely due to splendid bowling by Hornibrook, M. A. Noble penned the following comment in .the Sydney Sun:— On previous occasions I have stated that provided our bowlers develop as we hope they will, Australia will have a good chance of recovering the Ashes. Above all it was essential that Hornibrook, the left-hander, should find his length and flight, his slow spinner, and thus be able to take advantage of any assistance the English wickets might provide.

In his case, at all events, the doubt has been satisfactorily dispelled. That there was a doubt, one has only to refer to the fifth Test Match in Melbourne, where on a very worn wicket he failed to realize expectations.

Sometimes a man will bowl exceedingly well, without much success. That is called bad luck. Unfortunately, luck was not with Hornibrook on that occasion. He bowled fast and medium inswingers and neglected his slower leg spinner, the most dangerous proposition to right-hand batsmen in a left-hander’s equipment. While we do not lose sight of the fact that Essex batting strength is not nearly up to Test Match standard, we are intensely bucked up by his great performance. Not so much because of his six for 11, as in the methods employed to bring about that result.

Nichols and Russell were clean bowled after the ball broke across, and Hipkin was also bowled with a slower ball. The presence of a left-hander in the Australian team, is a vital factor in their chances of defeating England. Hornibrook’s performance in this match certainly permits us to view our, future prospects with less intrepidation and much greater confidence than hitherto.

It may be said the batting was weak. Perhaps it was, but it must not be forgotten' that 67 runs on a bad wicket takes a lot of making against high-class accurate bowling. As Australia had to sample the wicket ten minutes after their opponents’ dismissal, its condition did not improve. It was necessary, therefore, to hold the fort without loss if possible until the luncheon adjournment, thus giving it time to make some measure of recovery.

Woodfull and Ponsford must have played remarkably well to achieve their object. Later on, runs came more freely, but none too easily, but all credit must be given our opening batsmen. The double success of Kippax is very satisfactory, and, in a lesser degree, so is Jackson’s 27. It. will help to run him into form. I hope he will not be given a spell. His classic batting will be a feature of the tour. Every opportunity will no doubt be provided him to recover from this temporary embarrassment. Fairfax and a’Beckett, our two all-rounders, are also getting into their stride. Our men are getting excellent training, which will bear fruit at a more critical stage. The very conditions necessary for improving their back and onside play have been provided. It looks as though the gods of chance are in a benevolent mood, and sympathetically inclined to our* cause. Very little real individual or collective success is ever achieved without an early and thorough grounding in essentials. The latter

is represented by experience of hitherto unknown qualities. Nature is providing opportunities of discovery. YORKSHIRE MATCH GRIMMETT’S DEADLY BOWLING. COMMENT BY ARTHUR MAILEY. Arthur Mailey, cabling to the Sydney Sun from Sheffield on May 10, gives some interesting sidelights on the opening day’s play against Yorkshire, in which Grimmett’s average was ten for 37. He states: The Australian team arrived in smoky Sheffield at 9 o’clock last night, and found hot-water bottles in their beds. An old gentleman requested one, but a maid replied, “No, sir, the bottles are only for the Orstralians.” “Can't they bear the cold?” asked the old gentleman, disgustedly, and he went off complaining about the delicacy of modern youth. An advertisement has appeared in the London Press for the sale, to the highest bidder, of a photo of the Orford, on which the team sailed to England, signed by Mr Kelly, the manager, and the players. The advertisement was probably inspired by the scarcity of autographs. An autograph book is seldom seen at the matches. The selection for the Yorkshire match is confusing. I think that Jackson requires match practice, while others, obviously unsuited to the English conditions, are chosen instead. The other bowlers did not trouble Holmes and Sutcliffe, and it became obvious that Woodful must depend on Grimmett. Despite the slow wicket, Sutcliffe, in my memory, was never so aggressive early in the innings. He pulled the short ball high to square leg —a favourite Sutcliffe stroke—but the fieldsman was out of position. Holmes appeared to be batting confidently, adn to unperturbed, similar to Sutcliffe.

lhese Yorkshiremen are terribly dour,

I met Wilfred Rhodes, who is a grandfather, before the match. He said he had just “coom back” from the West Indies. “I haven’t got my arm over yet,” he said, “but my voice is very good for ‘How’s that?’”

It is traditional that the Yorkshiremen, before a match, say to the Australians, “Good morning lads!” But when the match starts, it is “How’s that, umpire?” I have never seen Sutcliffe brighter. His placing between the cover fieldsmen was particularly clever, and tliis form should be shown in the Test matches, by virtue of his experience of the Australian attack.

Leyland, who is considered a possibility for the Tests, batted well, with aggressive shots, but the Australian placing of the field rendered the strokes valueless. Walker’s keeping was brilliant, despite his missing of one difficult chance. The Australians, by 3 o’clock, had the cream of the Yorkshire batsmen in the pavilion, and the performance was meritorious.

With Mitchell and Barber batting, Grimmett again had the upper hand. The batsmen were in difficulties. Mitchell and Robinson were not troubled by the bowlers, except Grimmett. Robinson, who is bow-legged and short, and wears his cap at an angle, is a true product of the northern counties. He danced about the wicket, driving tremendous holes in the atmosphere. He was strenuous, but ineffective. Grimmett’s success influenced the other bowlers, Wall particularly, who bowled at an increased pace. But he was unlucky, owing to Hornibrook dropping another catch in the slips. So far, in the tour, Hornibrook’s slipfielding has not been satisfactory—not of first-class standard.

At 3.30 Yorkshire were completely routed, with Grandfather Rhodes courageously attempting to stem the tide. The Yorkshire crowds became strangely quiet all of a sudden. From the lunch interval to 3.15, it was a glorious hour for Australia. That hour provided a dramatic change. At lunch the Yorkshiremen were jubilantly scenting victory with one wicket down for 60 odd. An hour later eight wickets were down for less than 70 runs more, placing Australia in a splendid position... Grimmett was .assisted by Walker, who kept wicket brilliantly. Grimmett never bowled better. Although the wicket was slow, he broke the ball sufficiently to beat the bat, and seldom bowled a wrong ’un. Grimmett finished the tail-enders off after a very meritorious single-handed performance.

I would like to shake Clarrie’s hand, but the awful dressing-room restrictions forbid.

Grimmett again demonstrated the value of a slow bowler in England. In the previous matches, he was the outstanding bowler, the one exception being at Essex, when Hornibrook took six wickets on a bowler’s wicket. Hornibrook then bowled slower than usual, similar to Grimmett’s pace.

To-day, the veteran, Wilfred Rhodas; had no terrors for young Bradman, who jumped down the wicket, driving forcefully.