HUGE SCORING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 9

HUGE SCORING

EXTRAORDINARY CRICKET TEST IN JAMAICA M.C.C.’S BATTING MARATHON One of the most amazing matches in the history of Test cricket was played at Kingston (Jamaica) last month between the M.C.C. touring team and the West Indies. It dragged on for over a week, and resulted in a draw. The M.C.C. started i off with a score of 549, of which Sand- . ham made 325 and Ames 149. West Indies retaliated by digging in for nearly a week, and drawing the match. So good was the wicket that even in the West Indies’ second innings (a follow-on)* G. Headley made 223 runs. The five tests ended with honours i easy. Each side won one, and the j other three were drawn. CAUSTIC COMMENT Commenting on this extraordinary final match, an English writer says: There could be no apter comment on the spirit in which modern Test cricket ;is played than the message from I Jamaica giving particulars of Engi land’s mammoth score against the j West Indies. This is the match which will decide the rubber, as each side has so far won one, with two drawn games. ‘‘The M.C.C.,” says the message, not without a trace of pride, ‘‘has destroyed all chances of a West Indies victory.” Sandham made 325, in ‘‘about ten hours’—average rate, say, 35 an hour. Given fine weather, the West Indian ! wickets are the most perfect in the I world from the batsman’s point of view, and in my view those 849 runs ! are fit to rank with Yorkshire’s score iof 887 against Warwickshire in 1596. ! Yorkshire created a county cricket reI cord, but it did not win the match. If the ruling idea of our Test players is to make themselves safe from defeat, they must not wonder if the public take steps to save themselves from Test cricket —-by staying away!