Davidson wrecks England's hopes and Aussies win by 8-wkts
By A.C. De Silva
CRICKET: It was the third Test in Sydney - and nobody, that
is, outside the Australian team, the inner circle of officials and,
without a doubt, the young lad who fielded the winning hit, on the
boundary, promptly pocketed the ball, and cleared out over the pickets
and out of the grounds.
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Bob Simpson - the Australian captain made 91 out of 319 in
the first innings and 34 not out of 67 for 2 wickets in the
second innings.
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Ted Dexter - captain of England team. Scored 32 in first
innings total of 279.
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Alan Davidson - it was in bowling that he really impressed
taking 4 for 54 in England’s first innings total of 279 and
5 for 25 in England’s second innings total of 104. |
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Neil Harvey - made 64 out of 319 in the first innings.
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Colin Cowdrey - the vice captain of England. Scored 85 in
first innings total of 279.
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Fred Trueman - ace bowler came off in batting making 32 in
England’s first innings total of 279 in the first innings
and took 2 for 20 in Australia’s second innings of 67 for 2
wkts. |
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Graham Mackenzie took 3 for 26 in England’s 2nd innings total of 104.
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Geoff Pullar (England) made 53 in total of 279 in the first
innings.
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F.J. Titmus - took 7 for 79 in Australia’s first innings
total of 319. Also scored 32 in England’s first innings
total of 279. |
The day was lost completely but such was the public interest in the
game that 166,000 people watched it and even on the last day when the
game looked like being over in a few hours, 20,000 spectators attended.
So, it was Australia who won by eight wickets over England. It was
England who batted first and scored 279 and Australia replied with 319.
Then England were shot out for 104 in their second innings which left
Australia to get 65 runs for victory. Australia got 67 for 2 wickets to
get a comfortable victory by eight wickets.
The English team clearly outplayed Australia in Melbourne and won a
convincing victory. The question is: "Why did they change their tactics
in Sydney? It was likely that they did change their tactics because
whereas they played the more attacking cricket in Melbourne, in Sydney
they quickly went on the defensive. Much has been said and written about
the deadly perils Davidson presented those days with the new ball but,
even after Cheppard went early in the first innings, Dexter and Pullar
had taken all the sting out of Davidson by taking the score to 65.
Dexter, however, batted out of character. He seemed to be more intent
upon staying in the middle than scoring runs and after his dismissal it
was thought odd that Sheppard should have twice have run out Cowdrey
with a pair of batting gloves.
It appeared that Sheppard took some advice and instructed as he
returned with the gloves he had taken out. Obviously, it seemed that
Sheppard had taken out instructions.
Cowdrey, who was vice-captain of the side, should not stand in need
of advice as to what tactics to adopt.
He is very proficient cricketer in all ways. A side on top should
make the most of their position by pressing on. A situation can well be
lost by sitting still. Cowdrey batted well on the first day but, apart
from a short partnership between him and Barrington, the England batting
never sparked. It was, mostly, a rearguard action.
The Australians did little better. They too, seemed to be sparring
for time and had two chances been taken, they could have been a hundred
runs behind England instead of 40 in front on the first innings. Cowdrey,
who could well have been fussing at the time over the injury to Murray,
dropped Harvey at two; and Parfitt, substituting for Murray, missed an
easy stumping chance against Shepherd when he was in the late forties.
Simpson played a fine innings of 91. Harvey played a remarkable
innings of 64 and Australia's Sheppard, in his first Test, was an
immediate success. He made 71 not out. Finally Australia were all out
for 319 in the first innings which gave them a lead of 40 runs on the
first innings.
England's fielders missed some chances but Fred Titmus bowled England
well back into a winning position by the end of the first innings. He
did well to take seven Australian Test wickets for 79 runs in 37 overs.
He was one of the nicest players in the game. He is cheerful, he doesn't
spin the ball much but puts it down with precision and flight and he was
aided by good field placing on the leg side.
In the second innings, England were somewhat shocked and Alan
Davidson the Australian speedster bowled tidily to take 5 for 25 while
McKenzie took 3 for 26 and England were all out for 104 in their second
innings. Australia had no difficulty in winning this game, making 67 for
2 wickets in their second innings.
Score board
ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS
G. Pullar c Benaud b Simpson 53
D. Sheppard c Mckenzie b Davidson 3
T. Dexter c Lawry b Benaud 33
M.C.Cowdrey c Jarman Simpson 85
K. Barrington lbw b Davidson 35
P. Parfitt c Lawry b Simpson 0
F. Titmus b Davidson 32
K. Murray lbw b Davidson 0
F. Trueman b Simpson 32
J.B. Statham c Benaud Simpson 0
L. Coldwell not out 0
EXTRAS: 5
TOTAL: 279
WICKETS FELL AT: 1-4, 2-65, 3-132, 4-201
5-203, 6-221, 7-221, 8-272, 9-272
BOWLING: A. Davidson 24.5-7-54-4
G. Mckenzie 15-3-52-0
Guest 16-0-51-0
R. Benaud 16-2-60-1
Simpson 15-3-57-5
AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS
W. Lawry c Murray b Coldwell 8
R. Simpson b Titmus 91
N. Harvey c Barrington b Titmus 64
B. Booth c Trueman b Titmus 16
N. O’Neill b Titmus 3
Shepherd not out 71
B. Jarman run out 0
A. Davidson c Trueman b Titmus 15
R. Benaud c and b Titmus 15
G. Mckenzie lbw b Titmus 4
Guest b Statham 11
EXTRAS: 21
TOTAL: 319
WICKETS FELL AT: 1-14, 2-174, 3-177, 4-187
5-212, 6-216, 7-242, 8-274, 9-280
BOWLING: E. Trueman 20-2-68-0
B. Statham 21.2-2-67-1
L. Coldwell 15-1-41-1
F. Titmus 37-14-79-7
K. Barrington 8-0-43-0
ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS
G. Pullar b Davidson 0
D. Sheppard c Simpson b Davidson 12
T. Dexter c Simpson b Davidson 11
M.C. Cowdrey c Simpson b Benaud 8
K. Barrington b Mckenzie 21
P. Parfitt c O’Neill b Mckenzie 28
F. Titmus c Booth b O’Neill 6
K. Murray c Jarman b Mckenzie 9
F. Trueman not out 3
J.B. Statham b Davidson 2
L. Coldwell c Shepherd b Davidson 0
EXTRAS: 4
TOTAL: 104
WICKETS FELL AT: 1-0, 2-20, 3-25, 4-37, 5-53
6-71, 7-90, 8-100, 9-104
BOWLING: A. Davidson 10.6-2-25-5
G. Mckenzie 14-3-26-3
Guest 2-0-8-0
R. Benaud 19-10-29-1
R. B. Simpson 4-2-5-0
N.O’Neill 7-5-7-1
AUSTRALIA 2ND INNINGS
W. Lawry b Trueman 8
R. Simpson not out 34
N. Harvey lbw b Trueman 15
B. Booth not out 5
EXTRAS: 5
TOTAL: (for 2 wkts) 67
WICKETS FELL AT: 1-28, 2-54
BOWLING: F. Trueman 6-1-20-2
J. B. Statham 3-0-15-0
T. Dexter 3.2-0-27-0 |
