Record Test Innings

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 541, 19 December 1928, Page 11

Record Test Innings

ENGLAND COMPILES 636 Hammond’s Great Batting AUSTRALIA AT WICKETS AGAIN ENGLAND’S record innings of 636 gave it a first innings lead of 383 over the Australians, who are again batting, having lost one wicket for 39. The great feature of the match has been Hammond’s 251, described as a glorious display of batting. (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright)

SYDNEY, Tuesday. The test cricket match was resumed this morning in warm weather. The wicket was excellent. England had made 420 for live wickets yesiterday, against 253 by Australia in the first innings. The not-out men, Hammond and Larwood, continued their innings. Hammond made 251, and the total reached the test match record of 036. Australia in their second innings have lost one wicket, Richardson’s, for 39 runs. Hammond, who had made 201 yesterday, soon passed Murdoch’s record of 211, made in England in 1884. However, he lost Larwood, who hit out at Grimmett and was well taken by Ryder at square leg. Although Larwood took 89 minutes to make 43 runs, he played well. His off-driving was good. Hammond continued to give a very brisk display. His driving to cover was as good as has been seen on the Sydney Cricket Ground for years. All the time that the bowling was receiving a trouncing the fielding was splendid, except that of Ironmonger, who was very slovenly, causing the crowd to ridicule him. GLORIOUS BATTING All the spectators thought that Hammond was certain to beat Foster’s test niatcli record of 287, made at Sydney 25 years ago, but he played Ironmonger into the ground on the leg side and the ball rolled into the wicket. He had given a glorious display of batting for 451 minutes. He hit 30 fours by versatile cricket. England has sent out few better batsmen. Tate hit breezily for 25. Then he missed the ball in attempting a hit off Blackie, and was out leg before wicket. Geary and Duckworth offered surprising opposition. Both men were quiet at the start, but were brighter afterwards. The bowling was absolutely collared. Blackie and Ironmonger appeared to be the most dangerous. the former being able to turn the ball, but it had no sting. When he had made 66 Geary pivoted around, to send a ball from Blackie to leg. The ball struck on his pad and he was out l.b.w. He had batted for 162 minutes. He hit eight fours and did not shape like a tail-end batsman. Eight runs were required for a test match record when 'White, who is a weak batsman, joined Duckworth. But again there was a surprise. They showed up the poorness of the bowling. The record was beaten by 36 runs before White was stumped. Duckworth’s was really a good innings for 39. He was especially sound on the off side. BLACKIE TRICKY Blackie, who obtained thej best bowling figures, deserved them. He kept a good length to-day, and was tricky. He made the ball turn well from the off. The fielding never slackened. Richardson and Grimmett were the best. Oldfield kept wicket perfectly. His stumping of White was particularly brilliant. Australia faced the huge deficit of 383 runs, a practically hopeless task, with Ponsford out of action. Disaster came almost immediately. Before a run was scored Richardson turned Tate hard to square leg, where Hendren, close in, took a splendid catch. Woodfull had a great piece of luck. He played a ball from Tate hard into the ground. It bounced on to the bails without disturbing them. It was the first stroke of fortune that Australia had during the game. Hendry and Woodfull were together until 5.50 p.m., when an appeal regarding the light was successful. The attendance was 17,358. The receipts were £1,600. England was w r ell on top all day. There were many regrets that Hammond did not break the record, but Foster’s score was made against much superior bowling, including Noble, Howell, Saunders, Laver, Armstrong and Hopkins. The details of the scores are as follow: — AUSTRALIA First Innings 253 ENGLAND First Innings. HOBBS, c Oldfield, b Grimmett .. 40 SUTCLIFFE, c Hendry, b Ironmonger 11 HAMMOND, b Ironmonger 251 JAKDINE, run out 28 HENDREN, c Richardson, b Blackie 74 CHAPMAN, c Ryder, b Blackie .... 20 LARWOOD, c Ryder, b Grimmett .. 43 GEARY, lbw, b Blackie 66 TATE, lbw, b Blackie 25 DUCKWORTH, not out 39 WHITE, st Oldfield, b Hendry .. 29 Extras 10 Total 636 Fall of wickets: 1/37, 2/65, 3/14S, 4/293, 5/420, 6/432, 7/496, 8/523, 9/592, 10/636. Bowling: Notliling, 0-60; Hendry, 1-62; Grimmett, 2-191; Ironmonger, 2-142; Blackie, 4-14 S; Rydei*, 0-22; Kippax, 0-11. AUSTRALIA Second Innings RICHARDSON, c Hendren, b Tate .. 0 WOODFULL, not out 17 HENDRY, not out 21 Extra 1 One wicket for 39 Later results wiH appear in the Stop Press as they come to hand. SHEFFIELD SHIELD QUEENSLAND NEEDS 604 Recti. 9.5 a.m. MELBOURNE, To-day. Requiring 604 runs to win the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, Queensland in the second innings, yesterday had made 76 for four wickets. O’Connor has now made 160, Thompson 107 not out, and McCombe 61. Queensland still needs 230 runs. “ASHES GOING BACK” WHAT AUSTRALIA THINKS SYOXEY, Tuesday. The average Australian cricket enthusiast is convinced that the ashes" are going back with the Englishmen. thanks to Hammond. Larwood, Oeary and Hendren. In a multitude of facetious observations at the ground, one wag to-day seemed aptly to express the feelings of those around him when he shouted: “Hey, Ryder, when does the test match begin?” The question whether players should be allowed to write for the Press also ia, the subject of considerable comment. A number of people regard the practice as objectionable, as it takes the players' minds off their real job I

and might even cause dissension in a team. Old cricketers and some pres-ent-day players engaged in Press activities at the test match are Noble, Hill, Armstrong, Mailey, Macartney, Kelleway, Ponsford, Moyes and Fender. It is practically certain that the Board of Control, at its meeting a fortnight hence, will debar those players still in the game from writing for the Press. Mr. Oxlade, the president of the board, this statement to-day.