Gubby Under Pressure

emergencies, was not ideal but it more than served its purpose when the scratch pair gave England the two best starts of the series so far. England did very well on the first day by taking seven Australian wickets for 267 runs, with Allen bowling Bradman for 26. On the second day, they collected the last three wickets for the addition of only 21 more runs and ended clearly on top with 174 for 2, the wickets of Verity and Hammond. Monday morning dawned and Allen started to write a letter as play continued: ‘We have done pretty well so far, but have not yet got into a certain winning position and I do hope we can do that. We need at least 450 this innings and we are at present 190 for 3, Barnett not out 98. In my opinion we put up a wonderful performance to get Australia out for 288, especially as we had to get Bradman out twice. He was more palpably caught at the wicket off me than anyone I have ever seen. I just don’t know how the umpire had the gall to give him not out, as he turned the ball so much. However, it didn’t make a great deal of difference, as he only made ten more. Wyatt is now out caught at short leg, so I must stop and go and watch.’ Australia ended the day only 21 runs in front for the loss of Fingleton, but Allen was not optimistic about England’s chances: ‘We had a really bad day today, losing all our advantage and will now have to put up a great performance tomorrow if we are going to win this blasted match. Ever since 1937 came in, nothing has gone right for us in the Test matches and I am now getting pretty anxious about the issue. I have a reputation for being a lucky captain, but I am damned if I can see it at all. However, perhaps I am unnecessarily depressed tonight and things may come right in the end. I wouldn’t in the least mind losing this match if we can win the Fifth in Melbourne, as I should love to see the crowd there, they are so hopelessly one-sided.’ England’s bowlers did not put up the performance Allen had hoped for, and were reduced to trying to contain Bradman by setting a deep field that prevented many boundaries, while allowing him to score easy singles. It may have slowed Bradman down, but it did not prevent him completing another double century containing an extraordinary 99 singles. As if that was not bad enough, Fleetwood-Smith, according to Pollock ‘went through England like a dose of salts in the last innings, on a pitch just roughed enough to make his spinner zip-off’. Allen did not finish his letter until the result of the game was almost decided. All of his enthusiasm seems to have drained away and he looked forward to the final Test in three weeks time without hope of victory: ‘We had another bad day yesterday and I am afraid we are now certain to lose this match. Australian cricket simply does not exist and we have proved that match upon match, it is simply Bradman. Everything will now rest on Melbourne and what a lousy match it will be, with 100,000 people on the ground per day and only about 99,850 there simply to scream for Australia. However, it would be lovely to beat them in front of their own crowd and I would much rather we won in the last match but can we do it? I doubt it. If only I could win the toss for a change.’ The cricket 55