FIFTH AND LAST

New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 734, 7 August 1953, Page 7

FIFTH AND LAST

SK any -artist to draw a cricket ground and the odds are he'll put a gasometer in the background. It has become an illustrators’ convention. Why? Because there’s one_on the edge of the Oval. For cricket enthusiasts who will be listening to the crucial fifth Test between Australia and England: next week, this association of Kennington Oval with Test cricket will be no surprise. It was after a Test at the Oval that the Sporting Times published its famous obituary on English cricket, and the fate of the Ashes has been decided there more often than on any other ground, It has been the scene of every final match in England for half a century. Of the last six series of Tests played in England, five have been decided there, on the home ground of the Surrey Club. In 1921 the result was a draw, in 1926 England won, in 1930 and 1934 Australia won, and in 1938 England again won. The 1948 series was decided in Australia’s favour before the visitors won the Oval game. The gasometer, too, has a_ history. According to Jack Lamason, ex-New Zealand | representative cricketer, to whom The Listener spoke, the famous landmark is reputed to rise and fall in step with the fortunes of the Surrey side. Quantities of gas may, of course, have as much to do with the legend as with the gasometer’s loyal behaviour. Best reached from the West End by Underground, the Oval is, says M:. Lamason, one of the gloomiest grounds in England. In the midst of a _ closelybuilt area south of the river, it is surrounded by blocks of flats, school build-ings-and the gasometer. There are not

the trees and pleasant open spaces which brighten the surroundings of less famous grounds, Apart from the emerald of the ground itself the only oasis in this urban desert is,the "Cricketers," a pleasant cottage-style pub which can just be discerned in our cover picture on the corner, immediately to the right of the gasometer. bY To assist readers following the Test, here are some other reference’ points which may be used by the commentators. The Pavilion End is that to the right of .the. picture and is the site of the. clubhouse, the main stands and the commentators’ box, The opposite end is known as the Vauxhall End and the’ stand there as the Vauxhall Stand. About half-way between this stand and the "Cricketers" is the scoreboard. In the lower right corner of the picture is Archbishop Tenison’s Grammar School. Flanking the Pavilion, at top right, are the East Stand and the East ‘Mound. The gasometer, of course, makes its presence obvious in more ways than one. The Vauxhall End lies slightly to the west of North, and the pitch almost exactly North-South. The dark patch in the middle of the ground is the Centre Square. Across this the pitch is continually shifted during the summer months to avoid undue wear and tear. This means that at times the boundary on one side is considerably farther away than that on the other. The pitch for the Test is almost certain to be in the middle, but even so the side boundaries. are distant. "If you want to hit sixes," says Mr. Lamason, "it’s best to hit them straight at the Pavilion." As he remembered it, the Oval provided a tough wicket to bow! on in fine weather. It was hard and fast. Recently, however, it was reputed to have been

kept in a more "natural" condition than previously. This would appear to be confirmed by a contributor to the-1953 Wisden, who pays tribute to the Oval’s groundsman, H. Lock, and says: "Not | only did he succeed in producing pitches | which usually gave the bowler a fair | chance, but he kept the outfield in a perfect state of verdant green." The ground is well drained, says Mr. Larne- | son, but in wet weather can become very nasty. "Judging by the bowling _ performances that have been put up there, it’s bad after rain." As an example of what could happen he men- | tioned the final Test of the 1926 series. All the: previous matches had been drawn, but at the Oval England won comfortably when J. B. Hobbs and HB. Sutcliffe went into partnership on a bad wicket and scored a century each. The Oval has also been the scene of some of Bradman’s greatest triumphs, | says Mr. Lamason, as well as some of | his greatest disasters, On his first tour | in 1930 the great: Australian made 232. and in 1934 scored 244 in a partnership with W. H. Ponsford, who made 266. But in 1938--the year England made 903 for seven and Hutton broke Bradman’s re¢ord with 364-Bradmen himself broke an ankle bone while bowling and couldn’t bat at all. And in 1948 his retirement already announced, Bradman went on the field amid the cheers of the crowd and of the England side--and was clean-bowled for a duck: on the second ball, One of the most exciting Tests ever played at the Oval, says Mr. Lamason. was in 1902. England looked beatentill G. L. Jessop went in and made 104 in just over an hour. After that two Yorkshiremen; Hirst ' and Rhodes, went

As one of those who have stayed awake at nights following the Tests and as an experienced cricket commentator himself. Mr. Lamason had something to say of John Arlott, the most popular of the BBC commentators, "I think ‘he’s a marvel," he told The Listener. "I’d very much like to know how he produces the turn of phrase that may not tell you anything, yet which is interesting in the extreme. And, of course, he’s discerning in his cricket, too? He’ brings out points the cricketer alone can .appreciate." An authority on and the author of seyeral books. on cricket, Arlott leavens his commentary with humorous remarks in a rich Hampshire accent. When Arlott speaks of. a batsman patting the turf, almost reVerently, "for was it not Yorkshire soil," the listener who fails to respond has indeed had too many sleepless nights. One wonders what he might say were a player to contravene the Test rule which says: "No player on the fielding side shall leave the field for the purpose of having a rub down or shower whilst a Test match is actually in prdégress." The fifth and final Test of this serie3 will begin at the Oval on Saturday, August 15, which means at least that New Zealand listeners will be able to sleep in the following morning.