Bulletin
The Australian innings didn’t last too long. The play resume half an hour late due to the heavy downpour and the rest folded without any fight. A disappointing total of just 147 overs and they lasted just over 47 overs. Morley is the star with 3 for 27 off 11overs. Massie fights a lone battle. The rest just fail to fire. Rain rules out the play for the rest of the day.There is a moment of controversy as Ulyett in his followthrough walk doen the pitch and imitates a defensive storke as to say to the batsmen, Thats the way to do it.This hasn't gone well with the batters or the spectators.
The next morning, everyone is surprised to see the English coming out to bat.Admist the boos, the English captain Bligh defends his decision to bat again. “Our plan,”he tells Wisden “ is to bat the opposition out of the match. The pitch is wet and it will crack once the sun comes out. We don’t want to bat last on this pitch. No sir, noway!”
The Australian bowlers stick it to the batsmen and run making is a big chore so much so that when Studd falls to an ugly swipe across the line, the scoreline is just 17 off 11.4 overs! The English seemed to have a very cautious approach and they put extra pressure on themselves by not scoring. Leslie seems to be riding his luck as he is dropped off consecutive balls by Murdoch and Blackham. The unlucky bowler is Spofforth. But the big man is not to be denied. For in his next over, Leslie’s stump go for a walk.
22 for 2 off 15.4 overs becomes 3 for 34 as Barlow is trapped legbefore by Spofforth.
Garrett produces a peach of a delivery to dismiss Steel. Steel gets down on one leg for a drive while the balls seams and takes off the legstump. This brings the deadly duo of Read and Barnes and it works wonders. Suddenly, the scorecard that had become stationary, becomes a bandwagon. Barnes continues his good form and with Raed, he adds 61 runs off just 6.1 overs. The partnership ends with Barnes running out. But Raed sweeps Palmer to bring the 100. On third morning , England go to lunch at 104/5.
The first half of the session belonged to the colonials who denied English the chance to run away with the match. But when Messers Read And Barnes joined hands, the scoreboard looked like a bandwagon. Losing Barnes was a big blow. But Readis in there and with a lead of around 370, England have the match in their pocket.
Gallery
Ulyett has some pointers for the batsmen
Studd loses his patience and stumps to Spofforth
Leslie is dropped by Murdoch...
...And then by Blackham
Before Spofforth gets him in his next over
Barlow is leg before to Spofforth
Garrett forces an error off Steel
Barnes falls to the run-out bug
Read sweeps in air
England:405
Australia:147
England:104/5
Read:30*(27)
Tylecote:1*(7)
