Famous Cricketers No 57 - W. M. Woodfull

57. Australians v Sussex, Hove, August 28, 30, 31 (Match drawn) lbw M.W.Tate 52 317 240 1 c E.H.Bowley b F.B.R.Browne 12 153-4d 157-5 58. Australians v An England XI, Folkestone, September 1, 2, 3 (Match drawn) c sub (H.L.Collins) b H.Larwood 2 274 199 59. Australians v Mr.C.I.Thornton’s XI, Scarborough, September 8, 9, 10 (Match drawn) c J.B.Hobbs b W.Rhodes 31 194 244 79-3 60. Australians v An England XI, Blackpool, September 11, 13, 14 (Match drawn) not out 116 281 191 c H.Smith b C.H.Parkin 5 201-4 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Test matches 5 6 0 306 141 51.00 2 - - Other matches 22 28 5 1366 201 59.39 6 6 17 Tour 27 34 5 1672 201 57.65 8 6 17 Career 60 88 17 4835 236 68.09 19 21 39 1926/27 Victoria’s strong batting was not supported by their bowling and they finished down the Shield ladder. Woodfull was appointed Victorian captain after his excellent English tour performances. He had a dismal captaincy debut, being run out in both innings whilst his team narrowly lost to South Australia. This year marked Queensland’s Sheffield Shield debut. Woodfull and Ponsford’s first opening partnership in Shield cricket added only six, but they added 98 in the second innings against South Australia. A century partnership (115) followed against Queensland before this was all put into perspective against New South Wales. A lunch score of 132/0 accelerated to 364/0 at tea, 232 runs coming in two hours. Woodfull was dismissed shortly after tea for 133. Their 375 partnership took only 223 minutes. Ponsford made 352 as Victoria ran up a World Record 1107 in two days. Victoria’s win by an innings and 656 runs is the third highest winning margin ever recorded. Woodfull and Ponsford were unavailable for the return game when Victoria scored 1072 runs less in their first innings! Ponsford and Woodfull opened with 223 in 149 minutes sharing a “brilliant stand” in McCartney’s benefit match (Australia v The Rest) to confirm they were the best opening pair in Australia. Woodfull finished third in the VCA’s District batting averages, scoring 457 runs at 91.40. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 61. Victoria v South Australia, Adelaide, December 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 (South Australia won by two wickets) run out (C.V.Grimmett/C.N.Parry) 1 315 481 2 run out (C.N.Parry/D.E.Pritchard) 84 430 267-8 1 62. Victoria v Queensland, Melbourne, December (17), 18, 20, 21, 22 (Victoria won by an innings and 169 runs) b L.E.Oxenham 56 533 147 217 63. Victoria v New South Wales, Melbourne, December 24, 27, 28, 29 (Victoria won by an innings and 656 runs) c A.T.Ratcliffe b T.J.E.Andrews 133 1107 221 230 64. Victoria v South Australia, Melbourne, January 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Victoria won by 571 runs) c D.E.Pritchard b A.J.Richardson 6 304 149 st G.B.Inkster b C.V.Grimmett 34 649 233 16