4th Test - Brisbane

The Match Report - click on the required day for session report.

Day 1 - report
Day 3 - report
Day 4 - report
Day 5 - report
Day 6 - final day - report

Day 2 Report

Douglas Jardine thought of this second day of the Test match the greatest day for English cricket in 20 years!! They did indeed perform admirably, taking all 7 remaining wickets for only 89 runs and then score 99 runs without the loss of a wicket at the close. During the 1930's, the fast bowlers found it difficult to eat much for lunch in Australia and given the energy levels required in the hot weather, without food it could often cause a problem in stamina levels. Given this problem, Mr Palairet (joint tour manager) suggested that the bowlers be given half a dozen sips of champagne to counter this! [As a side note, I'm not sure how this would work but it obviously had the desired effect]. Upon drinking the champagne, some of the bowlers managed a light lunch!

The wicket was faster on this second morning and with Jardine asking for a great effort from Larwood, the fast bowler delivered, claiming four wickets for 31 runs. Verity was instrumental in his success as his bowling was amazingly accurate. (Verity bowled 27
overs for only 39 runs). A report from and Australian paper he following day said "There was a sharp duel between Bradman and Larwood, and the fast bowler won. Bradman was edging away from his wicket, and, when he stood back and tried to cut a ball on his leg stump, was bowled. It was a bad stroke made with a cross bad and deserved to fail!" Harsh words indeed!

Ponsford was clean bowled by Larwood 3 runs later, deciding to leave a good length ball alone without covering his wicket with his pads - he watched on as wickets fell. Darling (17) and Bromley (26) both on debuts played well, until Darling's weakness was found - he liked to stab at the ball on off and it wasn't long before he edged a ball behind off Allen for Ames to claim another victim.

Bromley now under pressure as the last recognised batsman hit 12 off the next over in an attempt to score quick runs. However when he tried the same against Larwood he only managed a loose shot given Verity a superb full-length diving catch. The tail gave up little resistance but for Ironmongers highest Test score against England of 8 before he became Hammond's 2nd wicket of the innings.

Sutcliffe and Jardine opened the batting for England, O'Reilly and Wall bowling for the home side. Australia setting an attacking field yielded runs quickly in an attempt to secure an early wicket. It wasn't to come and Woodfull sat back and continued their off-theory. With only 15 minutes to the close, the light faded and after both batsmen played reckless shots because of it; they decided to appeal for bad light. It wasn't allowed, but when Woodfull brought on his fast bowlers, Jardine appealed once again and this time he was successful.