Famous Cricketers No 57 - W. M. Woodfull

1930/31 Woodfull had a poor season by his own high standards, averaging under 50 for the first time since 1923/24. This was mainly caused by the touring West Indian team. In his first encounter with the tourists he was bowled by Constantine for a duck. Constantine continued to be Woodfull’s nemesis, assisting in his dismissal in five of the seven times they met during the season. Batting down the list in the First Test in Adelaide, Woodfull was run out for six by Constantine. He continued to bat down the list before promoting himself to open with Ponsford in the Fourth Test at Melbourne. This time Woodfull was run out for 83 “when Bradman, uncharacteristically did not respond to his call for an easy run”. He added 183 for the fifth wicket with Ponsford in the Second Test and 212 for the second wicket with Bradman in the Fourth Test. Only in the match against South Australia was Woodfull recognisable as the high scoring batsman of the 1920s. In this game he scored 177 and 27*. His 177 took well over seven hours and he slowed down appreciably after he scored his 100. Woodfull was unavailable for several Shield matches, possibly because of the closeness of the dates to the Tests. He did not play in the return West Indies game because Victoria was scheduled to play a Shield match at the same time. This match was abandoned because of the weather. By then it was too late to be selected for what was virtually a State Second X1 game against the tourists. Victoria won the Sheffield Shield but Woodfull did not play in a winning team. He scored only 66 runs at 22.00 in VCA District cricket. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 113. Australian XI v The Rest, Melbourne, November 14, 15, (17), 18 (Match drawn) b H.Ironmonger 53 367 293 not out 13 96-5 191-3d 114. Victoria v West Indians, Melbourne, November 28, 29, December 1 (Victoria won by an innings and 254) runs) b L.N.Constantine 0 594 212 128 115. AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES, Adelaide, December 12, 13, 15, 16 (Australia won by ten wickets) run out (L.N.Constantine/I.M.Barrow/H.C.Griffith) 6 376 296 did not bat - 172-0 249 116. Victoria v New South Wales, Melbourne, December 24, (26), (27), 29 (Match drawn) c J.E.H.Hooker b A.G.Fairfax 3 185 97-6 117. AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES, Sydney, January 1, (2), 3, 5 (Australia won by an innings and 172 runs) c I.M.Barrow b L.N.Constantine 58 369 107 90 1 118. AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES, Exhibition Ground, Brisbane, January 16, 17, 19, 20 (Australia won by an innings and 217 runs) c I.M.Barrow b H.C.Griffith 17 558 193 148 119. AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES, Melbourne, February 13, 14 (Australia won by an innings and 122 runs) run out (G.A.Headley/G.N.Francis) 83 328-8d 99 107 120. Victoria v South Australia, Adelaide, February 20, 21, 23, 24 (Match drawn) b C.V.Grimmett 177 369 439 not out 27 131-4 154 1 121. AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES, Sydney, February 27, 28, March 2, (3), 4 (West Indies won by 30 runs) c L.N.Constantine b F.R.Martin 22 224 350-6d c L.N.Constantine b H.C.Griffith 18 220 124-5d 23