AUSTRALIA BATTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 299, 9 March 1928, Page 13

AUSTRALIA BATTING

Ponsford and Woodfull Start

BIG CRICKET AT EDEN PARK

WINNING the toss from N. C. Snedden at Eden Park this morning', Vic Richardson, captain of the touring Australian XI., needed only one look at the pitch to decide in favour of batting. The wicket rolled out firm as a rock.

X>OY. who was ill in bed yesterday j with influenza, came down to the Park prepared to take his place in the Auckland XI., but it was deemed wisest to replace him with Postles, in view of the fact that Roy was far from well, although naturally enough the Ponsonby player was keenly disappointed at having to stand down in the first rep. match for which he has been chosen. The teams were: Australia.—V. Y. Richardson (capt.), W. M. Woodfull, W. H. Ponsford. A. F. Kippax, A. Jackson, W. C. Alexander, W. A. Oldfield, t>. L>. J. Blackie, R. McNamee, C. V* Grinvoiett, F. L. Morton. Auckland.—N. C. Snedden (capt.), B. 11. Bowley, J. Langridge, A. Anthony, R. W. Rowntree, J. Cooper, G. L. Weir, A. F. Weir, W. Hendy, A. J. Postles, A. S. Player. A BRIGHT START Cheers greeted the great Australian opening pair, Woodfull and Ponsford, as they went out to the wicket. Woodfull took strike to Player, getting his fourth ball away for a pretty leg shot to the boundary. Nothing more was scored off the over, and Langridge went on at the other end. Twice in succession Ponsford pulled him powerfully to the fence. Woodfull secured a single off Player and then faced Langridge, square-cutting him for four. Double figures were up in eight minutes. The total mounted steadily, chiefly at Lungridge’s expense, G. L. Weir at cover, and Anthony at third man were responsible for some smart work. Pons-

ford was now 14, and his partner one less. At noon the total was 27 for no wickets (Ponsford 14, Woodfull 13). Ponsford reached 20 with a boundary shot ofl! Player. The total was then 37 after half an hour’s play. Bowley went on in place of Langridge, and Ponsford straight drove him two singles. The Sussex man’s first over yielded three. The scoring slowed down for a time, the batsmen being content with singles and an occasional brace. WEIR BOWLS WELL G. L. Weir replaced Player with the total at 47, liis first over yielding a single past mid off to Woodfull. The half century appeared, after 38 minutes’ play, when Woodfull on drove Bowley for two, Ponsford then being 27 and his partner 23. The coach had the batsmen thinking, and Woodfull tried in vain to get him past the field. To Weir came the first maiden over of the match. Ho was bowling with much more confidence than characterised his last appearance in rep. cricket. The first short one he sent down, Ponsford lifted to the fence. The next over saw Ponsford glance him prettily to the boundary. With 72 on the board Anthony took over from Bowley at the terrace end. a single to each of the batsmen being the result of his first six. The score board showed 79 after the game had been in progres for an hour (Ponsford, not out, 41, Woodfull, not out, 38). NT. C. Snedden himself went on at the score board end, his first over yielding a single to Woodfull. PONSFORD FALLS Cheers rent the air when, with the total at 86, Bowley ran to brilliantly catch Ponsford at mid-off, off Anthony’s bowling. Ponsford had made his 45 in 68 minutes, while Woodfull had 40 to his credit. The 18-year-old Balmain colt. Archie Jackson, was next man in. He opened with a single off “Tony,” and the rate of scoring was checked before the steady attack of Snedden ancl Anthony. The first century was hoisted after an hour and a quarter’s batting (Woodfull 48, Jackson 6). Player was brought back at the scoring board end, and a single to Woodfull gave him his half century after DO minutes. The scoring slowed down again till Jackson gave Anthony the “long handle,” for Player to save a boundary. At the luncheon adjournment at 1.10 p.m. the Australians had scored 118 for one wicket (Woodfull, not.out, 58, Jackson, not out, 16). Play was resumed at 2.5 p.m., Player bowling from the score-board end to Woodfull. Anthony taking over at the other end. Jackson scored freely, taking his total from 19 to 27 in ten minutes. Twice in succession. Bowley fielded brilliantly at mid-off, when Jackson tried to force Anthony to then fenCC WOODFULL SKITTLED i Just as the batsmen were settling down again, Player skittled Woodfull with a fast one on the off. —69—2—146. The Victorian had batted for just under 2 hours. Kippax joined Jackson, whose score was then 33. One hundred and fifty was up at 2.25 pni. Kippax. after putting up a breezy 11, skied a spinner from Bowley and Rowntree took an easy catch. Details: — AUSTRALIA First Innings PONSFORD. c Bowley. b Anthony .. 4a WOODFULL, b Player ”1 JACKSON, not out ** KIPPAX, o Re wn tree, b Bowley .. 11 Extras " Total for three wickets .. 172 NOTES AND COMMENTS i Roy's inability to play was a heavy I blow to Auckland. With Matheson I away in Dunedin for a year's study, |it was hoped that the young Ponsonby I bowler would take his place. This ! morning, with the Australians batting ( on a plumb wicket. Snedden was left with a battery ranging from slow to medium pace, and it was evident from the start that a bowler with a bit of pace would have been a godsend to Auckland, if only to steady up the batsmen and give the spin bowleia a chance to encourage the batsmen to ! take liberties. Neither Ponsford nor Woodtull, however, showed the slightest desire to vary the steady, consistent rungetting'which has made them famous as the greatest pair men in Australian cricket to-day. Short and stocky of build they are hard to separate at the wickets from n distance, and their style is approximately the same. A GOOD START Although there were duite a number

of complaints in the South Island about the excessive monotony of their batting, there was nothing slow about their opening partnership at Eden Park this morning. Both went for the bowling briskly, and when Ponsford was splendidly caught by Bowley, the score-sheet showed 86 runs, scored in 68 minutes.

Naturally enough, there was considerable joy in the ranks of Auckland supporters when such a formidable batsman as Ponsford was dismissed for less than the half century, but he had been long enough at the wickets to demonstrate his remarkable gifts as a run-getter, which have made him the greatest batting machine and cricket record-breaker of the age. Sound and solid, he scored the bulk of his runs on the leg side, driving and hooking with power and excellent placement.

After Ponsford’s departure, the rate of scoring slowed down quite a lot. Woodfull continued on his imperturbable way, while Jackson, the IS-year-old Sydney colt, started slowly, although he frequently disclosed a nice variety of shots, including a welltimed cut through slips.

A conspicuous feature of this morning's play was Rowntree’s alert work behind the wickets. “Dick” caused a mild commotion at the start of play by arriving a little late, but he made up for it by not allowing a single extra up to lunch time.