Tap-and-run tactics pays at vital moments

By A. C. de Silva

CRICKET: Test cricket was very interesting in the good old days and one of the most exciting finishes in Tests was witnessed in Melbourne, Australia around December 1951 that's around 57 years ago. The match was between Australia and the West Indies.

There were scenes of indescribable enthusiasm when Australia's last-wicket pair of Ring and Johnston put on 38 runs with tap and run tactics when the West Indies seemed to have the game well and truly in their grasp. The win gave the Australians the "Rubber."

It was somewhat heart-breaking for the West Indians to have victory snatched from them. All day long, the battle was waged in the most bitter manner, as first the West Indies and then Australia, and again the West Indies got on top.

The West Indies got their first leg in for victory when Alf Valentine drew Neil Harvey forward to the pitch, beat him with his spin and clipped the top of his off stump - a delivery of supreme perfection and the one, batsmen have nightmares about.

Australia then were 93 for two, with Harvey, the most punishing batsman gone and the injured Moroney, who resumed, trapped a second time leg before by Ramadhin.

All the exciting time, Lindsay Hassett as imperturbable as Gibraltar, kept out the dangerous bowling on a pitch that was helping spin with every now and then an outrageous shooter. Once again, as when he made 99 against England in Adelaide in the preceding summer, Keith Miller hit his stumps with his bat in executing a cut and Australia needing 260 runs, was 109 for 4 wickets - a position overwhelmingly in favour of the West Indians.

Douglas Hole caused palpitations as he hung on tenaciously up to lunch with Lindsay Hassett with the score at 128 for 4 wickets, Hassett had been batting for 175 minutes for his 58, but he always seemed impenetrable. He was playing the innings of a lifetime.

After many midfield deliberations, the West Indians took the new ball, thus resting the spinner Ramadhin and Valentine who had carried the attack for two hours on end.

Reward for Windies

Gomez and Worrell concentrated on Hole and they had their reward when this youngster who had played the winning innings of the first Test in Brisbane, swung hard at Worrell only to find Gomez's safe hands wide of leg-slip. Gomez uttered a shout like a Red Indian, not a West Indian, as he threw the ball up and Australia were 147 for 5 wickets with all the recognised batsmen gone.

Here it must be noted that victory must have been assured for the West Indians had Guillen stumped Hassett off Ramadhin at 59. It was a difficult leg-side chance with Hassett well out of the crease, but Guillen failed to take the ball.

Lindwall bent low to his task and was almost immediately bowled by Valentine. Lindwall took a good look at the bowling wares and then opened out at Ramadhin, taking 14 runs in an over. This took the Australians to within a 100 runs of victory and again did Lindwall open out on Ramadhin taking 7 runs off an over. This batsman scored 29 runs while Hassett had added eight runs, but Ramadhin had the last word as Lindwall snicked an intended cut.

Hassett, who spent 70 minutes when going from 71 to 80, now took stock of the situation like the great cricketer he is and went looking for runs. He hit Valentine for two beautiful 4's in the same over and went to his century in 303 minutes with 9 fours. He has never made a better one.

Ramadhin trapped Johnson and when Hassett at last secumbed to Valentine, Australia looked well and truly beaten with 218 for 8 wickets. Five minutes later, it was 222 for 9 as Valentine also got Langley out and as the long-legged Johnson came to bat, the constabulary moved into position, around the ground to cut off would-be encroachers at the end of the game - not an encouraging sight for the last batsman. Ring was very toey. He paced about like a cat on hot bricks, as he awaited Johnston. The West Indians looked supremely confident. And Stollmeyer, Goddard and Gowez went into a huddle and worked out the last rites for the Australians. Ring and Johnston also had their own little pow-wow.

Windies fielders retreat

Ring at last got the ball he wanted - one well up from Valentine and he swung with all his might.

He connected and got a 4. Ring is a dasher who does not delay usually in putting his luck to the test, but the tense situation had bottled him up. The boundary gave him courage and he followed with another.

The West Indian fieldsmen surged in and retreated like a surf as first; Johnston and then Ring had the strike. They wanted to cut off Ring's hitting and keep Johnston to the strike but playing tip-and-run tactics the Australians ran helter-skelter for everything. It was all intensely exciting and the crowd was on its feet roaring all the time.

The West Indians were holding more conferences than the Korean truce talks, but still luck ran with the Australians. With 20 runs to get, Ring swung a ball over Atkinson's head to the fence. Weekes misfielded and missed a run-out and still the Australians continued to run for everything with the crowd roaring.

Ramadhin off

Ramadhin broke down here and left the field (one has never known a side with tender muscles). And then Stollmeyer almost ran Johnston out as as he hit the stumps, but now came a horrible mull as Johnston hit a ball six yards down the pitch and scampered off. Valentine could have run either man out by yards, but he misfielded and so the Australians went on to win by singles with Johnston making the winning run.

This was probably the most exciting Test on record. It went up and down each day. The West Indians had victory taken right out of their hands by this last wicket with its seemingly suicidal policy of tap-and-run, but it completely demoralised the tourists as they missed run-outs. Ring hit brilliantly, but the match belonged to Hassett. He has never produced a greater rock-like defence.

The final thought too to Lindwall, for good hitting, and to Valentine who is as stout-hearted as he is brilliant. Valentine's performance should be ranked next only to Hassett.

West Indies: 272 (F. M. Worrell 108; Keith Miller 5 for 60) and 203 (J. B. Stollmeyer 54, G. E. Gomez 52; W. Johnston 3 for 51).

Australia: 216 (Neill Harvey 83, Keith Miller 47; Trim 5 for 34) and 260 for 9 wkts (A. L. Hassett 102; S. Ramadhin 3 for 93, A. L. Valentine 5 for 88).