Australia v England - Tour Match

Queensland XI v England XI
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane
4 Day Game
Umpires: PJ McConnell & RC Bailhache
Toss: QLD XI

QLD XI: KA Archer, *WA Brown, KC Wessels, PJP Burge, GM Ritchie, KD Mackay, RG Archer, +D Tallon, TV Hohns, G Dymock, CG Rackemann.
ENG XI: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, ER Dexter, DI Gower, MC Cowdrey, IT Botham, +AJ Stewart, FS Trueman, DL Underwood, JB Statham, RGD Willis.

Day One

Queensland made good progress after Bill Brown won the toss and elected to bat on a hard and fast track at the 'Gabba. Burge made an aggressive fifty, dishing out severe punishment to the disappointing Underwood, and the unheralded Greg Ritchie had moved almost unnoticed to the brink of his century when stumps were drawn. England's bowlers looked rusty, and Len Hutton will be demanding a better performance on the second day.

Close - Queensland XI 1st innings 281-5 (Ritchie 98*, RG Archer 27*; 83 ov)

Greg Ritchie (l) & Geoff Dymock (r)

Day Two
Armed with the second new ball, Bob Willis and Fred Trueman ripped through Queensland's lower order on the second morning, and Hutton was a far happier man after witnessing the last five wickets tumble for just thirteen runs, although Ritchie did manage to complete a deserved century before the carnage began. Bright innings from Dexter and Cowdrey took the tourists to a comfortable 104-3 in reply, but both fell shortly before tea, and this proved to be a prelude to a disastrous evening session for England. Geoff Dymock cut a swathe through the tail, and the innings folded for just 151, with the visitors unable to offer up any excuses. England had batted very poorly, and a successful assault on the Ashes looks a distant prospect at this early stage.
Close - Queensland XI 2nd innings 17-0 (KA Archer 4*, Brown 12*; 8 ov)

Day Three
Queensland continued to hold the ascendancy throughout the third day, with contrasting innings from Ken Archer and Peter Burge helping to build a lead that eventually topped 400 before Brown declared. Archer, who had been dropped on 10 by Hutton, dropped anchor for nearly four and a half hours in making 66, but the stand-out performance came from Burge, who followed up his first innings fifty with a dominating century, an innings that included three sixes and eleven fours. Only Brian Statham can claim to have bowled well, and with a target of 401, England's main goal on the final day will most likely be one of survival.
Close - England XI 2nd innings 15-0 (Hutton 6*, Hobbs 5*; 6.1 ov)

Peter Burge (l) & Ian Botham (r)

Day Four

With Hobbs and Dexter dismissed before the morning session had reached its halfway point, one could have forgiven England for simply playing for the draw, but Hutton and Gower put together a stand of 122 for the third wicket that just about kept them in the hunt, Gower in particular batting with great freedom. Constrictive spells from Rackemann and Mackay in the afternoon put England behind the clock though, and with twenty overs remaining the tourists sat at 245-4, still 156 short of victory. Ian Botham was up for a Twenty20 style chase though, and he butchered his way to 75 at better than a run a ball as the pressure mounted on the Queenslanders. At the other end though, Cowdrey just couldn't match Botham's pace, and when Botham was finally out with ten overs left and 110 still needed, the chase was called off. England had escaped with a draw, and now the focus switches to the Tests and the battle for the Ashes.
Close - England XI 2nd innings 306-6 (100 ov) - end of match

Score Summary

QLD XI 1st Inns 302 (Ritchie 106, Burge 56; Willis 4-40)
ENG XI 1st Inns 151 (Dexter 48; Dymock 4-37)
QLD XI 2nd Inns 249-3 dec. (Burge 112*, KA Archer 66)
ENG XI 2nd Inns 306-6 (Hutton 86, Botham 75, Gower 71)

1st & 2nd innings scorecards
(click to enlarge)

MATCH DRAWN

Australia v England - Series Preview

England have never won the Ashes in the ATG world, the last two such series having been drawn after Australia won 3-0 in England back in the very first ATG series of all, and they head Down Under as distinct second favourites having slipped to fourth place in the rankings after a disappointing home season. The major talking point regarding England's squad is the omission of Walter Hammond, and despite the fact that his poor form in the recent home series against Pakistan and South Africa made this a logical decision, England's selectors are known to have been divided over the issue. Ted Dexter, included in an England squad for the first time, is expected to bat in Hammond's place at number three, and Trevor Bailey could also make his debut should Ian Botham - whose retention in the squad was also a matter for great debate - not find his best form.

Australia on the other hand will begin their defence of the Ashes in high spirits, having won their last three series since the 1-1 draw in England last season. Richie Benaud's leadership has been a major factor in Australia's recent strong run, and the outcome of his tactical battle with Len Hutton will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this series. Battle commences in Brisbane and both sides - especially England, who have never won the opening Test of an Ashes series - will be desperate to get off to a good start in the quest for the urn.

Current form (most recent result first)
Australia WWDLD
England LLWLD

Previous series result
England 1 Australia 1 (Season V, 5 Tests)

England Squad
L Hutton (c), LEG Ames, TE Bailey, AV Bedser, IT Botham, MC Cowdrey, ER Dexter, DI Gower, JB Hobbs, JC Laker, JA Snow, JB Statham, AJ Stewart, FS Trueman, DL Underwood, RGD Willis.

South Africa v New Zealand - Series Summary

SOUTH AFRICA WON THE SERIES 2-0
As expected, South Africa ran out comfortable victors over New Zealand, and their 2-0 series victory lifts them to second place in the world rankings. When Hansie Cronje took over as skipper for the series against Pakistan last season, South Africa were languishing in fifth, but a run of eight victories and only one defeat in twelve Tests under his leadership has transformed the side into serious challengers for West Indies' number one spot. Cronje's personal form during this time has fallen away quite alarmingly, but in this series he was more than covered by the performances of the rest of the Proteas' batting line-up. Eddie Barlow excelled on recall after time was finally called on Trevor Goddard's run in the side, but the real batting star was Graeme Pollock, who played an innings for the ages in the first Test and whose average of 168 is the highest ever recorded in an ATG series.

Of the South African attack, only Allan Donald disappointed as Neil Adcock and Mike Procter both enjoyed a particularly good series, with Glenn Turner being just about the only New Zealand batsman able to stand up to the pace barrage on a consistent basis. Skipper John Reid bookended the series with a couple of fighting fifties, and although Martin Donnelly ran up a century in the first Test he contributed little else thereafter. New Zealand's bowling was their real weakness however; Richard Hadlee was in poor form, despite his series-leading 14 wickets, and no-one was able to average under 35 as South Africa were allowed to run up substantial first innings totals in each of the three Tests.

Even allowing for the loss of Chris Cairns through injury before the series had begun, the manner of New Zealand's defeat was a huge disappointment after the spirit they had shown in the Caribbean, and they will be desperate to have Cairns fit and ready to face West Indies when they make the trip to New Zealand later this season. Before then, the West Indies travel to South Africa for a series that will put Hansie Cronje's captaincy to the ultimate test, but next up in the ATG world we head down under for Australia's defence of the Ashes against an England side who have never held the urn in ATG competition. Let battle commence!

Series averages
(click to enlarge)

Players of the Series: RG Pollock & GM Turner

South Africa v New Zealand - Third Test

Newlands, Cape Town

South Africa: BA Richards, EJ Barlow, *WJ Cronje, RG Pollock, DJ Cullinan, JN Rhodes, +DT Lindsay, MJ Procter, NBF Mann, AA Donald, NAT Adcock.
New Zealand: GM Turner, B Sutcliffe, GP Howarth, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, +AC Parore, RJ Hadlee, DN Patel, BR Taylor, SL Boock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: BC Cooray (SL) & LH Barker (WI)
Toss: South Africa

With the series already lost, New Zealand would be fighting for pride alone in Cape Town, and when skipper John Reid uprooted Graeme Pollock's middle stump with a beautiful outswinger shortly after tea on the first day, South Africa had been reduced to 210-6 and Reid's team had established a firm foothold in the game. The pitch at Newlands was favouring the batsmen at this stage now that a little early moisture had dried up, and one more wicket would have exposed South Africa's tail and given the tourists every chance of pressing home their advantage. However, by the afternoon session on day two, the Proteas' last four wickets had added 180 further runs to take the hosts close to 400 to snatch away all New Zealand's momentum and place the visitors firmly behind the eight ball once again.

Denis Lindsay led the late order onslaught, smashing nine fours and four sixes in his 84, then Donald and Adcock thoroughly enjoyed themselves in adding 44 for the last wicket, with Donald racking up a career high 41* in the process. Howarth and Crowe looked confident in reply for New Zealand after the early loss of both openers, but just as in the last Test a clatter of middle order wickets pulled the rug from under the Kiwis' feet, and at 120-5 the tourists' ship looked set to plunge beneath the surface once again.

If there was ever a time for a captain's innings it was now, and John Reid was not about to disappoint the smattering of New Zealanders in the crowd who had made the trip to Cape Town. Reid had bowled superbly in South Africa's innings, and with Richard Hadlee as a capable ally he oversaw the addition of a national record 134 runs for the seventh wicket as New Zealand defiantly clawed their way back into the game. Reid was dropped twice down the leg side by Lindsay early on the third day, firstly on 29 and then again on 45, and by the time Hadlee was bowled for 71 with the new ball by Donald, the scoreboard read 284-7 and the tourists were still hanging on to their hosts' coat tails.

Reid eventually perished for a fine 93 in the first over after tea on day three, and New Zealand's final total of 344 had got them to within fifty runs of the South Africans. Richards and Barlow re-established South Africa's momentum with a chanceless century opening stand though, and despite having already secured the series, Cronje would have undoubtedly been looking to declare at some stage on day four so that he could press for what would be a fifth consecutive Test victory. However, rain severely curtailed play on the fourth day, and although South Africa's batsmen continued to dominate proceedings, the lead was not extended enough to allow the declaration. Richards departed for 75 before Barlow completed his second hundred in two Tests since his recall, and Pollock rounded off his wonderful series with an undefeated 64 before Cronje - who had earlier registered his fourth consecutive single digit score - declared on South Africa's overnight total of 269-3.

New Zealand thus required 316 on the final day for a consolation victory, but more rain on the final morning and then again in the evening session put paid to any notions of a successful run chase. With mere survival the only option, the Kiwis had little trouble in staving off the South African bowlers in what was a disappointing finish to the series, Crowe's 83 the highlight as the tourists plodded their way to 194-4 by the time stumps, and the match, were drawn. South Africa's 2-0 series win moves them up to second place in the world rankings nonetheless, and the second half of the South African summer plays host to the West Indies in what should be a titanic battle for the number one spot in the ATG world.

1st & 2nd innings scorecards
(click to enlarge)

Scores
SAF 1st Inns 390 (Lindsay 84, Cullinan 55, Richards 43, Pollock 42, Donald 41*; Hadlee 4-108)
NZL 1st Inns 344 (Reid 93, Hadlee 71, Howarth 51, Crowe 44)
SAF 2nd Inns 269-3 dec. (Barlow 117, Richards 75, Pollock 64*)
NZL 2nd Inns 194-4 (Crowe 83, Turner 43)

MATCH DRAWN


Man of the Match: JR Reid

South Africa v New Zealand - Second Test

The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

South Africa: BA Richards, EJ Barlow, *WJ Cronje, RG Pollock, DJ Cullinan, JN Rhodes, +DT Lindsay, MJ Procter, NBF Mann, AA Donald, NAT Adcock.
New Zealand: GM Turner, B Sutcliffe, GP Howarth, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, +AC Parore, RJ Hadlee, BR Taylor, J Cowie, SL Boock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: DM Archer (WI) & BC Cooray (SL)
Toss: South Africa

South Africa sealed the series with a crushing 299 run victory in Johannesburg, and although the tourists managed to force the match into a fifth day, the nature of the cricket played led one to the conclusion that there have been few more one-sided affairs in ATG history.

Having taken his 200th wicket in Bloemfontein, a lack of productivity with the bat meant that Trevor Goddard was dropped for this Test, thus ending his proud record of 62 consecutive appearances for South Africa, but his replacement, Eddie Barlow, found no difficulty in getting amongst the runs as New Zealand's bowlers were put to the sword in South Africa's first innings.

An opening partnership of 88 between Barlow and Richards (56) was followed by a second ball dismissal for the worryingly out of form Cronje, but then Barlow and Pollock proceeded to take the tourists' bowling apart with a 248 run stand that was simply all too easy for both batsmen. The less said about New Zealand's bowling the better; Hadlee and Cowie both looked tired after having been asked to do a lot of work in the first Test, and the standard of the Kiwis' fielding deteriorated markedly as the innings progressed.

That said, it was a run out that finally brought the partnership to an end; Sutcliffe's throw from the deep allowed Geoff Howarth - recalled for this match in place of Andrew Jones - to break the wicket with Pollock a foot short of his ground, but Pollock had made 135 by that stage and South Africa already had 336 on the board. Barlow, whose only previous appearance had come against Australia way back in Season I, went on to record a magnificent 160, and to rub salt into the wounds, Jonty Rhodes scampered his way to 103 before Cronje declared at tea on day two with the scoreboard reading an imposing 565-9.

New Zealand's reply began encouragingly, with a fine 80 from Turner helping to take the score to 132-1, but exactly one hundred runs later it was all over as the remainder of the innings subsided against the unremitting pace of Donald, Procter and Adcock, with only Parore's three hour 38 providing any resistance down the order. With a lead of 333, Cronje decided not to enforce the follow-on, and led by a sparkling, undefeated 82 from Cullinan, the South Africans raced to 152-4 in their second innings before Cronje declared for the second time in the match, this time with a lead of 485 runs.

New Zealand began their final innings after lunch on day four, and again they began brightly, a partnership of 77 between Turner and Crowe taking the score to 103-2 half an hour into the evening session. But, in an unedifying repeat of the first innings, New Zealand's batting fell away dramatically thereafter, and it was only a boisterous 32 from Taylor at number nine that managed to take the game, albeit briefly, into a fifth day. New Zealand were finally bowled out for 186, having lost their last eight wickets for 83 runs, and the expressions of resignation on the visitors' balcony were there for all to see. South Africa's dominance in every department of the game had been total, and after their string of fighting performances against the West Indies, New Zealand's capitulation both here and in Bloemfontein has been most disappointing. South Africa need only to avoid defeat in the final Test to secure second place in the world rankings, and it would take a brave, or foolish, man to bet against that happening now.

1st & 2nd innings scorecards
(click to enlarge)

Scores
SAF 1st Inns 565-9 dec. (Barlow 160, Pollock 135, Rhodes 103, Richards 56)
NZL 1st Inns 232 (Turner 80)
SAF 2nd Inns 152-4 dec. (Cullinan 82*)
NZL 2nd Inns 186 (Turner 49; Procter 4-47)

SOUTH AFRICA WON BY 299 RUNS


Man of the Match: EJ Barlow