Famous Cricketers No 57 - W. M. Woodfull

65. Australian XI v The Rest, Sydney, February 18, 19, 21, 22 (Australian X1 won by seven wickets) c V.Y.Richardson b R.L.A.McNamee 140 533 305 not out 29 117-3 344 2 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Sheffield Shield 4 6 0 314 133 52.33 1 2 3 Other matches 1 2 1 169 140 169.00 1 - 2 Season 5 8 1 483 140 69.00 2 2 5 Career 65 96 18 5318 236 68.17 21 23 44 1927/28 For the first time, a time limit was introduced for Sheffield Shield matches. Matches were to be restricted to 30 hours, spread over four and a half days of play. The elevation of Queensland to Sheffield Shield status was the reason for the change as States struggled to fit in six ‘timeless’ Shield matches. The pairing of Ponsford and Woodfull proved to be very successful. Between them they scored 1892 runs at 145.3. Woodfull never failed, his worst innings being when he was run out for 31 against Queensland. Ponsford made amends, scoring a World Record 437 in this game. Woodfull finished the season with a run of 99, 191*, 106, 94 and 81*. His next innings (in New Zealand) was 165 which gave him six consecutive 50s for the only time in his career. As good as that was, it did not compare with Ponsford who scored 133, 437, 202, 38 and 336 in December alone. The shortening of the length of matches had no effect on this pair. The VCA was very happy with Woodfull’s captaincy of the State side, saying he “justified the confidence reposed in him by his judicious leadership”. Woodfull’s match double of 99 and 191* against New South Wales was scored in quick time. Ponsford and Woodfull added 227 in the first innings and Woodfull then batted through the second innings to set up a declaration. This was the first time a declaration had been made in a Sheffield Shield match. By so doing, Woodfull deprived himself of an almost certain double century. The next game against South Australia saw 236 added for the first wicket with Ponsford in two and a half hours. Woodfull had an excellent return match against NSW, scoring 94 and 81*. He added an unbroken 195 with Rigg for the second wicket in the second innings. Struck by Jack Gregory on the hand whilst batting, Woodfull could not appear in the return match against Queensland. Prior to the season Woodfull undertook a tour of Malaya with an ‘Australian XI’ under the leadership of McCartney. The team contained Test players Andrews, Everett, McCartney, Oldfield and Mayne but the remainder of the team were fairly inexperienced, with three of them never appearing in first-class cricket. Against the Singapore Cricket Club, Woodfull scored 157 at better than a run a minute. Woodfull scored 266 runs at 133.00 to top the VCA District batting averages. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 66. Victoria v South Australia, Adelaide, December 2, 3, 5, 6 (Victoria won by an innings and 310 runs) c N.L.Williams b C.V.Grimmett 43 646 177 159 67. Victoria v Queensland, Melbourne, December 16, 17, 19, 20, 21 (Victoria won by an innings and 197 runs) run out (L.L.Gill/L.P.D.O’Connor) 31 793 189 407 68. Victoria v New South Wales, Melbourne, December 23, 24, 26, 27 (Victoria won by 222 runs) c and b R.L.A.McNamee 99 355 367 2 not out 191 386-7d 152 69. Victoria v South Australia, Melbourne, December 30, 31, January 2, 3 (Victoria won by an innings and 35 runs) c V.Y.Richardson b T.W.Wall 106 637 319 1 283 17