England v Australia 1934.

Toss: England

For their defeat at Trent Bridge, England took an ample revenge at Lord's, winning the match in three days in an innings with 38 runs to spare. This was England's first success in a Test match against Australia at Lord's since 1896 when Lohmann and Tom Richardson in a memorable struggle swept the Australians off their feet. While everyone in England naturally was jubilant over the triumph of the Englishmen it could not be denied that they were helped in a pronounced degree by the weather.

Winning the toss England stayed in until nearly three o'clock on the Saturday and put together a total of 440, but before the end of the day Australia had 192 runs on the board with only two men out. In view of this splendid start by the visitors there existed no sound reason why they should not have closely approached if not even have passed the England total, but they suffered the cruellest luck, rain falling during the weekend and rendering their chances almost hopeless. Fortunately England had in the team a bowler capable of taking full advantage of the conditions that prevailed, and Verity, obtaining seven wickets in the first innings for 61 runs, followed this up with eight in the second for 43, to be the chief factor in giving England such a pronounced success. With his full record for the match, fifteen wickets for 104 runs, he excelled Rhodes's performance at Melbourne in 1904 when that even more famous left-hander, took fifteen wickets for 124 runs. By a singular coincidence Rhodes was present at Lord's to see his brother Yorkshireman accomplish his wonderful performance. Verity had taken one of the Australian wickets which fell on Saturday, and on the Monday he dismissed fourteen men for 80 runs, six of them after tea at a cost of 15. This amazing achievement would probably have been only possible to a man possessed of such length and finger-spin as Verity, because although the wicket certainly helped him considerably it could scarcely be described as genuinely sticky except for one period after lunch. Verity's length was impeccable and he made the ball come back and lift so abruptly that most of the Australians were helpless. The majority of them had had no experience in England of such a pitch, and they showed no ability or skill in dealing with bowling like that of Verity under these conditions. Those who tried to play forward did not get far enough, and their efforts at playing back were, to say the least, immature.

Dealing with the earlier part of the match, Walters and Sutcliffe made 70 together for the opening England wicket in just under an hour and threequarters, but then came that series of dreadful failures which at this point of the proceedings characterised England's batting throughout the series. Hammond was out at 78, Hendren at 99, and Walters, after playing admirably for two hours and fifty minutes, at 130. In the course of his display, he showed marked skill in driving both Grimmett and O'Reilly, and altogether batted extremely well. When Walters left, Leyland went in and began what was to be a very fine exhibition. He and Wyatt put on 52 to effect a partial recovery which was consolidated by Leyland and Ames. By the time stumps were drawn these two had raised the score to 293, and next morning they carried it to 311, their partnership realising 129 runs in two and a half hours. Leyland, who batted three hours and a half, drove superbly in his great innings of 109, hitting a six and fourteen 4's. In the end he was bowled by what is known in Yorkshire as a long half-volley, hitting a little too late and over the ball. Ames and Geary next added 48, Ames, missed by Oldfield standing back at 96, being eighth out at 409. He hit fourteen 4's during his stay of four hours and twenty minutes, powerful driving being the outstanding feature of an inspiring display. Verity helped him to add 50 and the last wicket produced 30 runs. Neither Grimmett nor O'Reilly looked nearly as difficult as they had at Nottingham, but except when Leyland and Ames were in they bowled well.

Woodfull, who took Brown in first with him, scored 22 out of the first 68, and then Bradman with seven 4's, hit 36 of the next 73, but actually he never looked like staying very long, making many of his strokes without restraint. The England bowlers met with no further success that day, Brown and McCabe adding 51 and carrying the score to 192. McCabe brought off some wonderful hooks, while Brown with admirable drives and cuts completed 100 out of 184 in two hours and three-quarters. On the Monday, the light was very bad, an appeal being made against it directly the batsmen reached the wickets, but soon after the game had been resumed Brown was out at 203. He and McCabe added 62 in about an hour. Brown batted in first-rate style for three hours and twenty minutes and in his century on the occasion of his first appearance in a Test match at Lord's he hit fourteen 4's. He drove beautifully and placed the ball cleverly on the on-side. His dismissal was the beginning of the end. Darling left at 204, McCabe one run later, and Bromley at 218. Then soon afterwards came a short break while the players on both sides were presented to His Majesty the King. Chipperfield and Oldfield put on 40, but by half-past two Australia were all out for 284, the last eight wickets having gone down in two hours and twenty minutes for 92 runs. Verity took six of them for 37.

The follow-on not having been saved - Australia finishing 156 behind - the visitors had to go in again, and with only 10 on the board Brown was out to a fine catch at long-leg, the ball travelling down wind at terrific speed. Verity, coming on at 17, quickly got to work again, dismissing McCabe and Bradman at 43 and 57, while after tea Woodfull, who had defended stubbornly for two hours, was fourth to leave at 94. The rest of the innings was a mere procession, for by this time the wicket had become even more difficult. There seemed a chance of Verity doing the hat-trick when he dismissed Oldfield and Grimmett with consecutive balls but he was denied this distinction. Still he took the last six wickets, and at ten minutes to six the match was all over, seven men having left in an hour for 44 runs. He was supported by brilliant fielding close to the wicket.

Ponsford being ill, Bromley came into the Australian team in his place, while England had Wyatt and Bowes for Pataudi and Mitchell. Farnes, however, was nothing like the success he had been at Nottingham, an injury to his heel preventing him from bowling in anything like his usual form. Hammond, too, was not in his best health, his back all through the match being very painful.