AUSTRALIANS DIG IN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 611, 13 March 1929, Page 11

AUSTRALIANS DIG IN

TWO CENTURIES IN TEST WOODFULL AND BRADMAN GREAT FIGHT BY BATSMEN (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) j MELBOURNE, Tuesday. j The fourth day’s play in the final test cricket match, England v. Australia, was witnessed to-day at Melbourne by 20,700 spectators. The receipts totalled £1,515. When stumps were drawn yesterday the visitors had been dismissed in their ! first innings for 519 runs, and Aus- ; tralia had made 152 for two wickets. ! Woodfull (78) and Ryder (4) were the , not-out men. The weather was much warmer when ! play was resumed, the conditions being . still greatly in favour of the batting j side. Woodfull and Ryder opened cautiously, only five runs being added I in the first 25 minutes. Even when the batsmen became more aggressive, runs were difficult to ! make owing to the accurate bowling j and the fine fielding of the Englishmen. * Ryder reached double figures after he had batted an hour in all. He then hit one from White to the on for four (all run out). However, there were few efforts of that kind. After a long period of dull play eight runs were scored off one of White’s overs. When Ryder had scored 23 he had made 1,000 runs in test matches. WOODFULL'S CENTURY In the last over bowled by Hammond before luncheon the total was j taken to 200, and Woodfull reached his j century after having batted 322 rain- ! utes. Ryder, who had batted for 112 j minutes, went for a big hit off the ball j before the last in the over. He skied it and was easily caught at point. There was a sensation just after | luncheon. In Larwood’s first over j Woodfull played the ball into the slips, j Geary took the ball low down and sig- j nilied that he had made the catch, but ; Woodfull refused to leave the crease until he was given out. Evidently he was very dissatisfied with the decision. Woodfull had batted 325 minutes for liis 102, without giving a chance, and had made three boundary hits. BRADMAN AND FAIRFAX Bradman commenced confidently and soon reached double figures. Fairfax also was enterprising. Bradman aroused enthusiasm by scoring seven runs off one of Tate’s overs. His strokes included a perfect straight drive to the fence. The board showed 250 after 379 minutes’ play. Bradman batted very pluckily and skilfully, and Fairfax was solid. When Bradman had made 46 he drove a ball from White straight and hard to Geary at mid-on, but the fieldsman dropped the catch. Bradman reached his 50 after 71 minutes at the crease. His was a refreshing display after so much dull cricket. Both batsmen played quietly for some time after tea, and then increased the pace slightly. The third century appeared on the board after 449 minutes’ play. The partnership realised a century in 116 minutes. Bradman then opened out to Larwood. He scored a four, a two, and a three in one over with delightful strokes. SPECTATORS EXCITED The onlookers now were greatly excited at the change which had come over the situation. Bradman entered the nineties with a forceful drive to the on-boundary off Geary. When the partnership had yielded 143 runs the previous Australian fifth wicket record, made by Darling and Gregory on the same ground 35 years ago, was broken. The score was taken to 350 in 493 minutes. Each run was wildly cheered. There was a great demonstration when Bradman reached his century in 172 minutes. It was his second century in test matches. Fairfax, who had played an invaluable innings, reached his 50 in 173 minutes. An appeal against the light was rejected at 5.40 p.m., but a second appeal was allowed at 5.47 p.m. Bradman had given a great exhibition of batting. He had hit seven fours. Fairfax gave a sound display, and hit two fours. Details of the scores are: ENGLAND First Innings HOBBS, lbw, b Ryder 142 JARDINE, c Oldfield, b Wall 19 HAMMOND c Fairfax, b Wall .. .. 38 TYLDESLEY, c Hornibrook, b Ryder 31 DUCKWORTH, c Fairfax, b Hornibrook 12 HENDREN, c Hornibrook, b Fairfax 95 LKYLAND, c Fairfax, b Oxenham .. 137 LARWOOD, b Wall 4 GEARY, b Hornibrook 4 TATE, c A'Beckett, b Hornibrook .. 15 WHITE, not out 9 Extras 13 Total 519 Bowling; Wall, 3-12; Hornibrook, 3-142; Oxenham, 1-S6; Grimmett, 0-40; Fairfax, 1-84; Ryder, 2-29; Kippax, 0-2. AUSTRALIA First Innings. WOODFULL. c Geary, b Larwood .. 102 JACKSON, run out 30 KIPPAX, c Duckworth, b White .. 38 RYDER, c Tate, b Hammond 30 BRADMAN, not out 109 FAIRFAX, not out 50 Extras S Four wickets for 367 (Later Results will be found in the Stop Press column as they come to hand.)

WOODFULL CRITICISED

SLOWNESS OF THE PLAY (Austr<%'ian and X.Z. Press Association) LONDON. Monday. Commenting upon the final test cricket match at Melbourne the “Daily Express” says:—lf play continues at the present rate this will be the world’s slowest cricket match. It may possibly be over in time for the English team to sail for home a fortnight hence. This remark accurately sums up the point of view taken practically by every newspaper in London. The obvious inference is that they think Woodfull was not right to stay in all day and attempt to lay the foundation of a score which would approach that of England. Critics assert that Australia is attempting something which is beyond her powers. Mr. Clem Hill, in his cabled comments in the “Daily Telegraph.” however. helps to put Woodfull’s position in the correct perspective. He says: "Never have I seen a more game opening fighter. I have a tremendous admiration for him. Defence is his natural game. He carries a big responsibility and realises that he must stay in. He does his part with credit.” Mr. Hill, nevertheless, agrees that at present there is a feeling abroad that it is a crime to jump out and hit the ball. He says Kippax did not play his own game. Larwood bowled some overs faster than any he had ever sent down. Mr. P. F. Warner, in the “Morning Post,” does not join in the general chorus, lie contents himself with the remark that the cricket is of a dour tV p e . He praises Woodfull for his impregnable defence and unfailing judgment. _ , Mr\ Warner adds: The match may last seven days. It lias been suggested in certain quarters that not only in England in future, but in Australia, test matches should have five days alloted to them, and that play should be from 11.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. .