A Sticky Adjacent Wicket
History Makers—Part XIX
What follows is the latest installment in our series on the inaugural women’s Ashes tour of 1934/35. The previous installment is here.
Saturday 22nd December 1934
Queensland versus England at the Exhibition Ground, Brisbane, 22nd and 24th December 1934.
Day One: Close of Play-England 165-5 ( E. Snowball 40, J Partridge 59*, M Maclean 3-40, E Crouch 2-20, R Bouel 2-40) Attendance 700. Gate receipts £.20.
Play began over an hour late at 2:33 pm on an adjacent wicket to the original, damaged by the weather. Queensland captain Kath Smith won the toss and asked England to bat. Maclagan and Snowball would have scored more heavily had the wet outfield slowed the ball, but they looked in control until Maclean, the fastest Queensland bowler, was introduced. In Maclean’s second over, Maclagan was caught at fine leg by Joy Brewer. Once again, the openers had looked in good touch but failed to press on. England were 1-40, the highest opening partnership against the states. Hide and Snowball added 30 before Hide misjudged a Maclean delivery and was bowled Child, fell to Bouel cheaply before Maclean clean-bowled Snowball for 40. Much is expected from Snowball; her wicketkeeping has been exceptional. However, she had only scored 40 runs in the previous state matches.
When Archdale departed to Edna Crouch’s left arm spin, England was 5-100. If Queensland had been able to dismiss them for around 130, they would be in the driving seat. However, Partridge scored freely, reaching her fifty just before England closed on 165-7. If Crouch and Maclean can cause problems on day two, they would keep the visitors to a respectable total.
Monday 24th December
Day Two: Close of Play-England 181 (J Partridge 63, E Crouch 5-25, Maclean 3-40, Bouel 2-40 ) Queensland 57 ( M Crouch 29*, J Maclean 12, M Hide 4-16, M Maclahgan 3-20, M Spear 2-2) and 83 ( Joyce Brewer 36*, D Turner 3-11, Maclagan 2-16 ) England won by an innings and 41 runs.
England were quickly dismissed in the morning. Edna Crouch’s left-arm spin was unplayable, taking all three wickets for five in six overs. Partridge added only four more before being bowled; Taylor was beautifully caught at point by Smith, and Valentine fell quickly.
England’s class and Queensland’s inexperience showed as Hide and Maclagan sent back four batters, all bowled for nine. Mabel Crouch, Edna’s cousin, batted confidently until lunch.
Queensland batted slowly as play resumed, scoring only 11 runs in the first hour until Smith lost patience when she offered an easy catch to Maclagan at fine leg. Wickets continued to fall, with only Maclean looking capable of supporting Crouch. She fell for 12, including two beautifully driven fours, and Queensland were all out for 57. Crouch top scored with 29 not out in 120 minutes.
Archdale asked the home team to bat again. Openers Attwood and Williams completed pairs. Mabel Crouch soon followed, caught by Partridge in the slips, as Queensland went to tea at 3-4.
Much depended on the Brewer sisters. However, they could add only 12 runs before Jean Brewer was run out for 10. Joyce Brewer batted with class and determination for the rest of the innings, scoring 36 not out, but only Maclean and Peg Broderick offered support. Doris Turner took 3-11, and Maclagan added two more wickets, which made her the leading wicket-taker on the tour with 15.
Queensland's lack of experience on turf showed, but they didn't disgrace themselves. With more opportunities, they would quickly become more competitive. As they look forward to the first Test Match, England looks good in all departments.
The first Indigenous female athletes to play international sport
Edna Crouch and her cousin Mabel Crouch were the first Indigenous women to play international sports. They played for the Wynnum Cricket Club before being selected for Queensland. This was remarkable considering the difficulties indigenous people faced daily. They came from a sporting family; Edna’s brother Glen “Paddy” toured New Zealand with the Queensland Rugby League team in 1925, while her niece Thelma would play for Australia from 1947-1957. Edna married Queensland heavyweight boxing champion Ben Archie Newfong (Archibald Nu Fong). Their son John would become an Aboriginal Rights activist and editor.
The State Library of Queensland has an extensive collection of First Nations history, including Edna and Mabel Crouch .