2 WICKETS FOR 113

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 539, 17 December 1928, Page 11

2 WICKETS FOR 113

ENGLAND IS BATTING TEST MATCH AT SYDNEY HOBBS AND SUTCLIFFE OUT (l nited P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright) SYDNEY, To-day. The weather was warm and the wicket in excellent order when the test match was resumed on Saturday. There were 43,000 spectators present. Ironmonger played stubbornly for three overs, scoring a single. He was then taken left-hand by Duckworth. The innings lasted live hours. Oldfield butted 102 minutes and hit three fours, giving a brilliant, gritty display. England opened with Hobbs and Sutcliffe, to the bowling of Nothling and Grimmett. The batsmen took no risks, generally just tapping the balls back and occasionally stealing singles. Grimmett beat each batsman with balls slower than usual, but failed to hit the wicket. Ironmonger and Blackie were tried, but the batsmen were together until lunch, when the score was none for 36 (Sutcliffe 11, Hobbs 25). HENDRY CATCHES SUTCLIFFE On resuming Hobbs added a single and then Sutcliffe snicked Ironmonger to Hendry, who took a catch in tho slips. The Yorkshiremaai played a chanceless innings, though it was not bright cricket. The light had now become duller and a storm was indicated when Hammond came in. He had scored 12 and Hobbs 36 when in bad light and a drizzle play was adjourned at 2.50 p.m. Thousands now left the packed hill* those remaining covering themselves with newspapers. Though the conditions continued bad the crowd yelled for a re-start, sections indulging in counting out, as in boxing. Some onlookers scaled a fence, but were removed by the police or officials. HOBBS CHEERED During a lull Al. A. Noble, on behalf of the citizens, presented Hobbs with a boomerang and cheque fox* £46 in honour of his 46th birthday. Accompanied by Noble, Hobbs walked round the ground, receiving a gi*eat ovation. A small boy jumped the fence, Hobbs autographing his bat amid cheers. After two inspections by the umpires play was resumed. Following the two hours’ stoppage, Hobbs soon went. He reached forward to a ball from Grimmett, just touched it, and was splendidly caught by Oldfield. He was batting 100 minutes and hit two fours. He did not show any enterprise, but was thoroughly sound, except on a few occasions when facing Grimmett. FINE FIELDING Neither Hammond nor Jardine was very comfortable against the slow bowler, but both were together till 5.55 p.m., when, after two appeals regarding the light, stumps were drawn. All the Australian bowlers showed good form, with Grimmett, whose wicket cost 52 runs, most troublesome. The fielding was sound, Richardson and Hendry being brilliant. Oldfield kept wickets magnificently. The attendance was 58,464, and the takings £6,200. Both were records- for one day in any test match. Following are the scores; AUSTRALIA First Innings RICHARDSON, b Larwood .. ~ ... 27 WOODFUL, Ibw, b Geary . . 6 8 KIPPAX, b Geary ~ . D PONSFOKD, retired hurt ; HENDRY, b Geary . . .. 3 7 RYDER, lbw, b Geary 25 NOTHLING. b Larwood .. 8 OLDFIELD, not out . . . . ' 41 GRIMMETT, run out . . 9 BLACKIE. b Geary S IRONMONGER, c Duckworth, b Larwood 1 Extras . 35 Total 253 Bowling—Larwood, 3-77 ; Tate, 0-29 ; Geary, 5-35; White, 0-79; Hammond, 0-IS. . ENGLAND First Innings HOBBS, c Oldfield, b Grimmett . . 10 SUECLIFFE, c Hendry, b Ironmonger 11 HAMMOND, not out 33 JARDINE, not out 23 Extras 6 Two wickets for . 113 Fall of wickets: 1/37, 2/65. UNLUCKY AUSTRALIA ACCIDENT TO PONSFORD PRAISE FOR BARR ACKERS (Australian and N.Z. Press Associationl LONDON, Saturday. Next to tho King’s illness the cricket test is given most prominence. Due regard is paid the unlucky Ponsford, though naturally the headings resolve pain with joy* P. F. Warner heads an article in the “ATorning Post” with Gordon’s verse, “No game was ever yet ■worth a rap,” pointing out that he came across the lines before the test opened, little dreaming that the mishap would put Australia without

its scoring machine.” The goddess of chance seems at the moment to be working against Australia. Believing as many do this is one of the best teams ever sent to Australia it would not feign meeting its opponents at full strength. The lirst day puts England in a strong position if rain does not fall. Many hard things had been said about the barracker, but as a matter of fact he was a keen, impartial judge of the game. K occasionally over-de-monstrative this was due to his excess of zeal. The writer did not think he would like English grounds, but in Rome one must accept Roman customs. In any case the barracker loved cricket and his applause was nowise confined to his own side. So far it looks as if many people will have to revise their estimate of the English bowling.

“SCARED OF LARWOOD” AUSTRALIANS FAIL BADLY “MEN BAT LIKE JUNIORS” (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Saturday. Clem Hill, cabling to the “Daily Telegraph.” says the Australians have shown no real tight thus far. Larwood seems to have got some players a little frightened. He regarded the chances good when Ryder won the toss, but, though everything favoured the batsmen, they failed miserably. Well as Geary bowled, Hill believed Lar-

I wood and White, were mainly responsible. The ‘ Daily Express,” in an editorial, j deplores the casualties, because EngI land wants to meet Australia’s best. A. C. Maclaren, in a “Sunday Times” article entitled “Test Play at its Worst: Men who But like Juniors,” says “That the Australian seelctors ! should keep to the same policy of in- . eluding average j bowlers and batsj men is suicidal. The Brisbane test destroyed Australian confidence.” Instead of persevering with players who have never been in the top class one is justified in expressing astonishment that Macartney and Andrews are put aside for second-raters. Maclaren denounces Tate’s bowlingfailure. “It is time it was realised Tate is in his 34th year, and apart from that his performances leave much to be desired.” he says. “I reckon Tate is far more likely to play early batsmen in than out. Bettington is Australia’s best bowler.” Referring to the Kippax incident, Maclaren says: “After the umpire said ‘not out’ our men had no right whatever to say one more word, and Kippax should have continued his innings.” “AUSTRALIA FACES DEFEAT” YOUNG PLAYERS IGNORED (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Saturday. “Luck,” says Lord Tennyson in the “Daily Chronicle,” “is still against Australia. The loss of Ponsford, one of the most brilliant bats in the world, is irreparable.” “I thoroughly agree with Armstrong that Australia is facing certain defeat by sticking to its veterans. The Australian selectors should have taken courage in both hands and chosen some youngsters such as Bradman and A’Beckett. Four selectors make an unfortunate number, as it is highly probable they were unable to agree. The claims of certain youngsters forced a compromise.” The writer pays a glowing tribute to Woodfull, and says that! to bat on unperturbed when one’s colleagues’ wickets are falling is the hardest thing to do in cricket. DECLINE SET IN? HOBBS AND SUTCLIFFE LONDON - , Saturday. ,“Has a decline set in,” asks the “Evening Standard,” commenting on the comparative failures ©f Hobbs and Sutcliffe. It recalls the last tour, when a century to either was commonplace. They are now comparatively easy victims. “Perhaps we expect too much of Hobbs. It is significant, however.” The same paper, commenting on the presentation to Hobbs, heads the paragraph: “But Jack Has a Boomerang.” Leicestershire, which does not often provide test cricketers, is overjoyed at Geary’s success. The county club cabled congratulations to Geary.