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SI
; Tide
His Glorious
Spell of Bowling"
(By Sir Donald Bradman)
London, Monday-By mid-afternoon England were mov-
ing comfortably towards a substantial first innings. All signs
point to this being a necessary ingredient for victory, unpredict-
able as cricket is.
A glorious spell of bowling by cheerful, lion-hearted Bill
Johnston turned the tide, and now England is fighting again.
Australia has 275 on the board, and in the background
is looming up England's last use of the' dusty pitch, providing no
rain comes to alter the whole outlook.
Comparing Saturday and
today, England may have
had slightly the better of
conditions. Humidity was
absent for bowlers, light bet-
ter for batsmen, and the
pitch slightly more recep-
tive to spin but slower in
pace. The difference in
scoring rates may be fairly
put down to Australia's bril-
liant ground fielding which
saved countless runs.
It is a great fight so far
and it is' still on. Lind
wall and Miller opened
the attack v today at full
speed. Quite obviously
they did not intend to
spare themselves and with
seven slips covering either
side of the wicketkeeper,
the batsmen had to face
one of |the most severe
tests of the season.
Not only did Edrich and
Hutton meet it with resolu-
tion (even though Hutton
survived three balls of one
Lindwall over by some good
fortune), but they showed ue
a measure of defiance and
stroke play sadly, lacking
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[By courtesy - of
"Daily Telegraph",
Sydney, which holds
the N.S.W. rights
for Sir Donald Brad
man's articles.]
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throughout the season.
With one ball of Lind
wall's fifth over to go it
looked to mc as though the
opening. burst would be sur-
vived without loss. Then
almost unbelievably Edrich
played across a full toss.
He tried to turn it
square instead of playing
straighter, and according-
ly hit slightly across the
line to pay the penalty.
That was a setback when
things were shaping so
well.
I expected Compton to ap-
pear next but it was Peter
May to whom the job was
entrusted. Then we saw. one
of the most intelligent moves
of the season by the bowlers, i
Probably some 90 per cent
of those present, including
myself, thought Miller and
Lindwall would play on his
weakness by sending down a
few short ones.
Instead-they each bowled
him a perfect yorker. How
that first one from Miller
missed thc stumps is a
miracle.
There fololwed a partner-
ship of 100, during which I
always felt May was even
more at home than Hutton.
I This lad showed grand
temperament and né v,e r
looked rattled or perturbed
even in the most difficult
moments. As the innings
progressed he unfolded some
lovely shots-a beautiful full
circle cover drive and the
on drive predominating-and
altogether played with assur-
ance and poise years older
than his boyish face.
Eventually he got out af-
ter a period during which
he got very little of the
strike. He did a grand job.
Here is, a great England
player of thc future, so
long as he continues to
give full reign to his natu- i
rai talents and does not
allow himself to be drawn
into the "stay there at all
costs" school.
May's dash of enterprise
today lifted the batting as
Trueman's speed had lifted
the bowling.
D" iring this partnership
the hostility of the Austra-
lian attack progressively de-
clined as the batsmen's con-
fidence rose.
Johnston had been send-
ing down spinners most
accurately from the Vaux-
hall end, but the English-
men have batted against
Miller and Lindwall this
series as though they be-
long to a different class.
When they were rested thc
batting certainly visibly
improved.
JOHNSTONS SUPERB SPIN BOWLING
There is no doubt Hassett
was thoroughly worried
when England at 137 for
one, were right on top, and
Lindwall's second and third
efforts, following his open-
ing spell, carried nothing
like his speed nor energy.
The lack of a genuine third
finger spinner in the Aus-
tralian side was being
reflected.
A big change came when
Hassett gave Johnston à turn
at the pavilion end, for it
was he who got May and
who stunned the crowd still
further when he shattered
Hutton's wicket.
Hutton's stroke appeared
tired and almost casual to
about the blockhole. But
this spell by Johnston was
one of the most superb
pieces of genuine left arm
spin bowling I have seen
for many a day.
From the pavilion end he
produced just sufficient turn
to worry the batsmen. They
still have to contend with
that puzzling, curving flight
(over which he exercises
such wonderful control) and
the ball moving with the arin
towards two short legs.
The field he uses is water-
tight. I have always thought
it to be Hassett's greatest
contribution to the scientific
combination of attack and
defence.
Of course, it is Johnston's
peculiar flight and great ac-
curacy which enable him to
hold it and I don't neces-
sarily advise other bowlers to
copy it. But nevertheless, it
would repay careful study.
Hutton played a typical
knock. He revealed the usual
defensive- technique with
which we are so familiar. He
refused to be goaded into
hook, pull or cut and relied
on an occasional drive or leg
glide for his runs, and was
out just when a century
appeared beyond doubt.
Hutton obviously re-
strained any impulse to force
the pace. When one re-
calls happenings which have
so often occurred - after his
dismissal, his case is not
without merit. It was an
Innings of quality.
When Compton came in
the new ball was due, and
¡as Denis these days is such
A nervous beginner in Test
matches, I thought Hassett
would bring Lindwall and
Miller back. Instead he
curiously gave the ball to
Graeme Hole. This respite
enabled the batsmen to sur-
vive until tea, and I empha-
sise survive, for that is all
chey did.
I Compton was scarcely re-
cognisable as the brilliant
Middlesex player of a week
ago. His play was almost
furtive, as though seeking
hidden surprises. Gone were
daring sallies down the
pitch, cover drives and back
'cuts which brought a glori-
ous 100-against even Bedser
THEN LINDWALL TRIUMPHED
Just at the moment
when England desperately
needed batsmen to domin-
ate an attack composed
almost entirely of speed
and tired speed at that, on
a pitch from which all
vestige of life had disap-
peared, it was not forth'
coming.
In the hour before tea,
little telltale puffs of dust!
were rising from the pitch
with increasing frequency, j
denoting clearly that runs
were badly needed now, not
on Thursday.
A substantial first innings
lead was a much more desir-
able advantage than confi-
dence in making runs in the
fourth innings. By then only
tiredness is likely to stop
Johnston bowling even
better
It was not surprising when
after tea Compton tamely
glanced Lindwall just wide
enough for Langley to reveal
his well known faculty of
Holding any catch within
reach.
Once again Lindwall had
taken a wicket with a kind
of pipe opener ball. He
promptly found a new
source of energy, took the
new ball and left Graveney
confounded by sheer speed
and swing. A fatal chance
was gloriously held by
Miller inches from the
ground as he dived forward.
Bailey, as he had done so
often, defended resolutely
until the end, unfolding in
the process some strokes I
thought were in moth balls.
Lock also displayed in the
last grim half hour con-
siderable determination and
a broad bat, thereby provid-
ing encouragement for to-
morrow, even though the
hour is late.
Hassett's anxiety about
the outcome was portray-
ed by many protracted de-
lays in setting thc field.
Even if the time he took
was occasionally irksome.
I thought his final posting
of men and bowling
changes absolutely fault-
less.
True he made heavy de-
mands on Johnston, still
soft after his long absence
with knee trouble and Bill
was just about ready for an
ambulance at stumps, but
this is the final Test-all or
nothing. There is not
much use losing the match
and having Johnston fresh
for the game against Kent.
Australian prisoners of
war who died in captivity
during the Korean cam-
paign will be remembered
in Australia's first' P.O.W.
Memorial to take the form
of 'a Toddler's Home. To be
built at Molong, N.S.W., it
will bs dedicated to all
men who died in the Par
East during the 2nd World
War, and the. Korean cam
paisn.- i lt l ! j
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