A STICKY WICKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1938, Page 7

A STICKY WICKET

BATSMEN FIGHT FOR RUNS AUSTRALIA v YORKSHIRE. SUTCLIFFE RETIRES HURT. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Copyright. LONDON, July 2. The ground at Sheffield for the match between Yorkshire and the Australians was saturated by a thunderstorm yesterday and the start was delayed till 1.45 a.m. The weather was cloudy and the wicket sticky. The attendance was 35,000. Australia, batting first on a difficult wicket, raised 222 in a total time of 215 minutes. Replying to this, Yorkshire had made 74 for three wickets at stumps. Yorkshire won the toss and sent Australia in. The bowlers found difficulty in obtaining a foothold. Fingleton was uneasy and escaped an l.b.w. appeal in the first over and was dropped at fine leg in the second. The wicket quickly cut up. Fingleton succumbed to Smailes in the latter’s second over. Bradman, when twelve, made a bad stroke and the ball dropped just short of second slip. Conditions kept the batsmen on tenterhooks. Badcock was unhappy during his short stay at the crease and Smailes, bowling offspinners round the wicket, kept the batsmen on the defensive. Bradman livened up with the arrival of Verity and reached 27 in an hour. He batted splendidly under adverse conditions, placing with the utmost skill. He had a narrow escape after lunch, but continued to force the pace and showed delightful footwork. Hassett also played Verity well but, when 43, narrowly escaped being caught. He reached 50 in a hundred minutes and then began to hit out brilliantly. He secured fours and sixes freely, but went out l.b.w. when attempting to pull. The innings occupied 215 minutes.

Sutcliffe, opening the innings for Yorkshire, had to retire when a ball from White popped up unexpectedly and struck him on the right hand. Waite, bowling slow offspinners, was successful after a few overs in having Hutton well caught at fine leg. Waite, bowling remarkably well, took advantage of the wicket. Yorkshire’s main concern appeared to be to hang on in the hope of a better wicket on Monday. Details: — AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Fingleton, b Smailes 2 McCabe, c Smailes, b Bowes 13 Bradman, st Wood, b Smailes 59 Badcock, c Turner, b Robinson .... 11 Hassett, lbw, b Verity 94 Barnes, c Wood, b Leyland 10 Waite, lbw, b Smailes 2 Barnett, c Robinson, b Smailes .... 12 White, c Sutcliffe, b Smailes 1 McCormick, c Leyland, b Smailes 9 Fleetwood-Smith, not out 4 Extras 5 Total .... 222 Bowling Analysis.—Bowes took one wicket for 15 runs; Smailes, six for 92; Verity, one for 69; Robinson, one for 39, Leyland, one for 2. YORKSHIRE. First Innings. Sutcliffe, retired hurt 12 Hutton, c McCormick, b Waite .... 7 Barber, b Waite 2 Leyland, lbw, b Waite 13 Turner, not out 16 Smailes, not out 8 Extras 16 Total for three wickets 74 THE 1934 GAME DRAWN. (Notes by “The Bowler.”) The match between the Australian cricketers and Yorkshire is being continued today, and tomorrow. On the 1934 tour, the game ended in a draw. Yorkshire, in their first innings, made 340 runs, Sellars (104) being the chief contributor. Australia replied with 348 runs, Bradman (140) and Woodful (54), being the highest scorers. Yorkshire, in their second innings, compiled only 157 runs. At the end of the day’s play, Australia had lost one wicket for 28 runs. On Wednesday and Thursday next, the Australians are not playing any matches. On Friday, the third Test commences at Old Trafford.