AUSTRALIANS’TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 21090, 23 May 1930, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS’TOUR

DERBY MAKE 215

WORTHINGTON’S BRIGHT INNINGS SUCCESS OF HORNIBROOK (United Press Assn.--By Telegraph—Copyright) London, May 21. Storer and Worthington saved Derbyshire from a rout at the hands of Hornibrook and Wall. Storer batted patiently throughout, but Ford rattled up 33 in 45 minutes. Worthington, who visited New Zealand last season with Gilligan’s team, also batted brightly, the small ground making boundaries plentiful. Two hundred runs appeared after 215 minutes, Derby being the first county to make_that total against the visitors. Wall and Fairfax early proved innocuous on a lifeless wicket; and it was left to Hornibrook to get the wickets. Wall came on again with a new ball and quickly dismissed Worthington and Mitchell. Ponsford and Jackson scored 54 in the remaining 85 minutes. The county’s bowling was accurate, and good fielding kept down the runs. Both batted tediously in the fading light, the crowd ironically applauding- occasional runs. Many opportunities of scoring were lost. The Australian Press Association correspondent says that Hornibrook, whom the wicket suited, showed that he is becoming indispensable, and is now pitching the ball up more and varying his'pace cleverly. AUSTRALIA ONE FOR 196 PONSFORD’S FIRST CENTURY. (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) » London, May 22. The weather was dull and showery and the wjeket good when the match between Australia and Derbyshire was resumed this morning. With the visitors’ total at 196 for one wicket, play was stopped by rain. Ponsford has made his first century of the tour. Following are the scores:— DERBYSHIRE. —First Innings.—• Lee b Hornibrook 14 Storer 1.b.w., b Bradman 65 Aiderman b Hornibrook .. 0 Slater c Fairfax b Hornibrook .. 0 Ford c Bradman b Wall 33 Townsend b Hornibrook 1 Jackson b Hornibrook . 2 Hutchison c Ponsford b Hornibrook .. 0 Worthington c McCabe b Wall .... 79 Elliott not out.. 12 Mitchell bWall 0 Extras 9 Total 215 Bowling analysis: Wall took three wic•kets for 48 runs, 'Fairfax none for 23, Hornibrook- six for 61, Hurwood none for 31, Bradman one for 24, McCabe none for 19. AUSTRALIA. —First Innings.— Ponsford not out 100 Jackson c Elliott b Worthington .. 63 Bradman not out 27 Extras .. 6 Total, for one wicket 196 IT POURED! THE AUSTRALIANS UNLUCKY. MATCH AGAINST YORKSHIRE. London, May 13. As in the cases of the great majority ‘4 cricket matches throughout England to-day, there was no play in the AustraliaYorkshire game, and the match was abandoned, with the visitors in a winning position.

The Australians are perturbed because they will have to sleep on the train after the match against Lancashire, going almost direct to Lord’s' upon their arrival in London for the M.C.C. match. There is a new member of the Australian team —“St. Howard.”

It happened this morning when Vickers Ltd., the great steel firm, entertained the team at breakfast. On the menu card was the quotation, “To everyone a cake of bread,” from 2 Samuel 6, 19, and the team was asked to say where the quotation was from.

Only seven men attempted to give an answer, some saying that it was from Shakespeare, while one said it was from Omar Khayyam. But Tom Howard was alone successful, and he was awarded the prize—an elaborate set of scissors. The team was highly amused at the captain’s failure to give the correct answer, asking “What has happened to Woodfull?” because his father is a clergyman. Each member of the team was presented with a steel shafted golf club, after which they saw the works, where a 125-ton gun and great sheets of steel were being manipulated as if they were cheese. The team caught an earlier train to Liverpool, as the Yorkshire match was abandoned. However, there is considerable concern because after the Lancashire match on Friday the team will have to catch a late night train from Liverpool, sleep on the train, and then go almost immediately to Lord’s for the M.C.C. match.

It appears impossible to leave Liverpool earlier unless there is a very early drawing of stumps. Even the best sleepers do not relish a night aboard the train. The tour is strenuous enough now, and only by going regularly to bed are the Australians able to keep up the pace. The train from Liverpool arrives in London at 5.44 a.m., and if they must catch it the members of the team hope to sleep aboard at least an extra hour.

Due to continuous rain there was no play in the match against Yorkshire today, and the match was abandoned. With a lead of 165 on the first innings the Australians were in a very happy position, and it was hoped that they might have secured another win. Further, it would have given the visiting bowlers more practice on a damp wicket.—Sydney Sun.

ADJOURNMENTS

HOW THEY UPSET PLAY.

THE BATSMEN’S BUGBEAR.

Although betting, fortunately, enters little into our national game, we do occasionally hear expressions of belief in certain results accruing before the actual event, emphasised by the phrase, “I’ll bet you,” (writes M. A. Noble in the Sydney Sun of May 13). For instance, a broken bat suggests the possibility of a batsman’s early dismissal, not so much because of the short suspension of play to allow its replacement, but because the substitute is always more or less/ of ■different weight and less accommodating balance, which’ often leads to inaccurate timing, with fatal consequences. Knowing this, small bets are made either way by amateur punters.

Luncheon and tea adjournments, how.ever, take more toll off the luckless batsmen, who have previously succeeded in mastering the attack, because, upon resuming they proceed at once with their stroke making, forgetting the recovered freshness of the attackers, which the rest has bestowed. There is more venom in their deliveries the ball lifts quicker and higher, as it comes off the pitch, producing uncertain connection and frequent defeat.

Sometimes we notice the decreased rate of scoring, when the total, either individually or collectively, is in the forties and nineties. We accuse the innocent batsman

of playing “too Scotch,” when, in reality, it is a result of the fielding team’s more strenuous efforts at those periods. They are more grimly intent upon preventing a score of 50 or a century being registered against them. When “The Hope” Failed. At the commencement of an English season the weather is invariably unsettled, and only intermittent play is at times possible. “Rain stopped play” messages are so frequent that Australians are puzzled how the game can be proceeded with at all, Now rain is rarely heavy enough in England to cause abandonment for the day; adjournments are therefore many, and often have a deciding influence upon the ultimate fate of the contest. The most momentous one within my memory was the historic stoppage of play in the fourth Test at Manchester in 1902, which probably accounted for our dramatic victory. England had to make 124 runs to win.

. With nine wickets down for 116, Tate, father of Maurice Tate, came in to help Rhodes win the game. His feelings must have been indescribable as he left the pavilion carrying such a responsibility. His mission was to hold up his end and let Rhodes win the game. The silent excitement of the big crowd, as they watched his progress to the wicket, only served to intensify the situation. When half the journey had been completed the rain came. Tata waited alone in the middle of the field during an oppressive silence while the umpires consulted and suspended play. It is not difficult to imagine the scene in the English dressing-room during that fateful half-hour’s adjournment. The crowd of sympathetic followers gathered round the hope of liis side, bewildering him whom they strove to help with useless advice and chatter on the coming crisis, before he walked out again to his doom. His first ball from Saunders wgs snicked to fine leg. Armstrong chased it at topspeed, and, much to our relief, he failed at the ditch. The crowd wildly cheered. We were grimly relieved, for Tate still had the strike. Only four runs to win. He missed the next two balls. Then came a fast one. Tate played forward, the ball swung across from the off, went inside the bat, the centre stump turned a beautiful somersault, and Australia won by three runs. Wearying Travel. Train travelling in England is the cause of much vexation of spirit and weariness of the flesh. Much of it is avoidable by sensible arrangement of the programme before the commencement of the tour. In some instances, however, it is impossible to eliminate the trouble. County matches that have been played for years on certain holidays, and particular dates, must not be interfered with, and wherever possible these time-honoured arrangements are respected; therefore, it is no easy task to complete the itinerary of the tour, without inflicting somes measure of hardship upon the tourists. At present there is considerable concern, because, after the Lancashire match on Friday, the team will have to catch a late train from Liverpool, sleep on the train, and then go almost immediately to'Lord’s for the M.C.C. match. The grades on English railways are'easier, and the tracks smoother and- straighter than our own; therefore, better sleep is possible. Of course, sleeping berths are provided, but no cricketer, however keen, relishes the prospect of a strenuous day in, the field after a whole night’s travelling, much less is he able to do himself justice with the.bat, for the nerves and eyes react unfavourably to such an environment, and unduly handicap the player. First Class Games. To, avoid night travelling, arrangements are often made to cease play an hour earlier on the day, when a convenient train is available; or ’for cross country work, a motor bus is engaged. This method would solve the problem were it not for the extra expense. The cost of a motor journey from Liverpool to London would be prohibitive, and would only be warranted if a Test match had to be played the following day. Taking the programme from the Oxford match on May 30, to the Yorkshire game at. Bradford on July 4, there is a whole month of first class fixtures tacked on to excessive travelling over the same ground. It is no use to say, English teams suffer equally in Australia, perhaps they do. The point is, when the unavoidable hardship has been imposed the avoidable is not taken seriously into account.