Antonio Pegs Back England
History Makers—Part XXX
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What follows is the latest installment in our series on the inaugural women’s Ashes tour of 1934/35. The previous installment is here.
18th January 1935
Day One: Australia v England (3rd Test Match) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Australia slip up
Close of play England 162 ( M Maclagan 50, B Archdale 32, J Liebert 13, P Antonio 6-49) Australia 1-31 ( Hudson16*, EM Shevill 9*, M Hide 1-8) Hours of Play 1:15- 6:15 Attendance 4172 Gate Receipts £147/8
Betty Archdale won the toss for the first time in the series, electing to bat on a perfect wicket in front of a crowd of 4172, including Hilda Hills, Australia’s wicketkeeper in the First Test, who had been hospitalized in Brisbane. Betty Snowball and Myrtle Macagan took guard on a beautiful day with a cooling breeze. If Australia had fielded to a higher standard, they could have ended the day in the driving seat. Joy Brewer dropped Maclagan off the first ball, bowled by Smith, and England kept the scoreboard ticking over until Smith bowled Snowball in the fifth over. Smith and Kettels bowled well, but England began to increase the scoring rate, reaching 1-28, when Peggy Antonio was introduced. She bowled Hide with her fourth ball and when Child was caught by Hudson, Antonio had taken 2-5 in eight overs. When Maclagan fell for 50, England were in trouble at 5-70.
Archdale dug in but Turner was bowled in the final over before tea. When Richards hit a three off her fourth ball, they were 6-90 at the break, Archdale, undefeated on twenty. She batted with more freedom when played resumed and batting with Richards and Liebert, took the score to 9-145. However, it could have been much less if another slip catch from Kettels, second ball after tea, had been held. As, Antonio began her final over, Mary Taylor and Mary Spear, realizing that attack was the best option, swung the bat. Turner was run out off the fifth ball. Antonio’s final figures were 6-49, and England finished with a moderate 162.
At 5.18 Margaret Peden opened with her new partner, Amy Hudson. Pedan gave Child a chance, but was caught behind by Snowball in Hide’s seventh over, having batted for 29 minutes. Australia took the score to 1-31 at stumps. Despite the dropped catches, it was probably their day.
A proud curator
The weather was perfect for cricket, and the wicket played well. Asked to comment on his work, Mr Burt Lutterell said, “I would not be ashamed for any men’s Test team to bat on it” (Sydney Morning Herald).
The day can be seen in greater detail in the scorebook.