Regrouping at the Carnival
History Makers—Part XXIX
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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
Selectors lose patience with Monaghan
Australia has lost the inaugural women’s Test series, but is not downhearted. At the conclusion of the fifth interstate tournament, the Australian selectors announced the team to take on England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The most notable omission is Ruby Monaghan, who continued her run of poor scores at the carnival. Amy Hudson will open with Margaret Peden, and Pritchard will drop to five. Lorna Kettels has also been recalled, with Nel Mclarty carrying the drinks. The Australia squad contains only three players from Victoria, which won the interstate championship. England remain unchanged.
Australia’s Third Test Team
Margaret Peden (captain, NSW), Kath Smith ( vice-captain, Q), Joyce Brewer (Q), Peggy Antonio(V), Ann Palmer (V). Loma Kettels (V), Amy Hudson (NSW), Barbara Peden(NSW), Hazel Pritchard(NSW), Essie Shevill(NSW),. Rene Shevill (NSW), Nel McLarty (12th Victoria)
England’s Third Test Team
Betty Archdale (captain). Betty Snowball (vice-captain). Myrtle Maclagan, Mary Spear, Joy Llebert, Mollie Child, Doris ’Dimer, Mary Taylor Joy Partridge. Marjorie Richards. Molly Hide. Carol Valentine (12th)
Interstate carnival
Melbourne was the host city for the second multi-day cricket carnival, this time featuring four states, with South Australia making their debut. (The English girls had wondered what carnival was taking place, assuming it was a fancy dress festival.) The Australian selectors, including recently-appointed Dot Mummery (nee Debnam), were given plenty of food for thought as Victoria were crowned champions for the second successive year.
Pritchard returns to form
10th, 11th January (Princes Park)
NSW 172 ( HD Pritchard 52, KM Smith 4-35, M Maclean 4-40) and 64-2 (HD Pritchard 24, AM Hudson 19*, C Lees 1-10, M Mclean 1-18 ) drew with Queensland 90 (M Mclean 36, B Webb 29*, F Blade 4-38, I Penton 3-12, J Shaw 2-6) but won on first innings.
Under-pressure opener Hazel Pritchard returned to form with 76 runs, while Fernie Blade gave the selectors a nudge. Queensland’s top seven failed to reach double figures before Mclean and Webb, with a partnership of 65, took them to a respectable total. Former Vigoro player and promising athlete May Mclean was a Queensland star with 36 runs and five wickets.
South Australia collapse, then collapse again
10th,11th January (Albert Ground): South Australia 32 (R Russell 10, EM Mclarty 4-1, P Antonio 3-13) and 16 ( MJ Dennis 6, A Palmer 6-11, EM Mclarty 1-0) lost to Victoria ( LW Kettels 91, J Day 34, EM Mclarty 30, S Summers 4-50, L Easter 2-46) by an innings and 184 runs.
South Australia’s initial carnival match ended in defeat. They were at a disadvantage, having only arrived on the morning of the game for the afternoon start, going straight to the ground. Their batting is weaker than the other states, but they did well in the field. Victoria passed South Australia’s first-innings total in only 21 minutes, but was pegged back to 5-62; then Lorna Kettels and Jean Day secured a substantial first-innings lead with a 65-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Kettels made 91 in 171 minutes before Laughton took a beautiful catch off Summers, South Australia’s best bowler. South Australia’s batters could not cope with Ann Palmer’s slow left-arm spin, falling for sixteen, the lowest-ever total at the carnival.
South Australia battle back
14, 15th January (Old Scotch Oval): Queensland 120 ( M Crouch 38, PJ Brewer 36, NM Willans 18, L Easter 2-15, S Summers 2-28) and 54-5 ( B Webb 31, S Summers 2-10) drew with South Australia 99 ( D Woods 19, I D Laughton 18, S Summers 18, Mclean 4-20, Brewer 3-25) but won on first innings.
South Australia pushed Queensland in their second match, restricting them to 120 in their first innings, and giving themselves a good chance of a first-innings lead. Joy Brewer and Mabel Crouch scored 70 for the second wicket, but Queensland lost their remaining nine for fifty runs. Russel, Summers, and Easter shared the spoils. May Mclean and Joy Brewer bowled well, taking seven wickets between them as South Australia lost wickets regularly. Dot Laughton and Sue Summers offered middle-order resistance, but fell 21 runs short. Queensland fell to 54-5 before stumps were drawn.
The Champions Match
14,15th January (Princes Park): NSW 146 ( BCW Peden 40, EM Shevill 20, AN Hudson 19, P Antonio 6-31) drew with Victoria 209 (P Antonio 60, EM Deane 46, LW Kettels 26, BCW Peden 3-41, FL Blade 2-44 ) but lost on first innings.
The winner of this match would be certain to be crowned state champions. NSW won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to tame the Victorian bowlers. The decision looked vindicated as the NSW openers progressed to 33 before Monaghan was run out for fourteen. Antonio had been introduced and struck quickly, sending Hudson and Shevill back to the pavilion. She bowled brilliantly, taking 6-31 in 27 overs, with only Barbara Peden offering resistance. NSW were dismissed for 146; Victoria were 7 without loss at stumps on day one. Day and the match belonged to Antonio. She played brilliantly and selflessly for 60, partnering Deane, who played another captain’s innings of 46 to ensure a first-innings victory.
NSW fall short
15, 16th January (Ransford Oval): NSW 248 ( AN Hudson 90, FL Blade 46, EC Ogden 31, S Summers 4-57, R Russel 2-40) beat South Australia 97 (ID Laughton 30, L Easter 11, R Russel 11, I Penton 2-8, FL Blade 2-25, M Dive 2-25) and 52 (R Russel 28*, I Penton 3-3, P Knight 3-20, FL Blade 2-6) by an innings and 99 runs
NSW would have shared the title if Victoria had been unsuccessful in their chase for a first-innings lead against Queensland. On the first day, they took South Australia to the sword, Amy Hudson falling ten runs short of a century, but catching the eye of the Australian selectors. The NSW bowlers were too much for South Australia, which was asked to follow on. The wickets were shared but Isabel Penton’s match figures of 5-11 were particularly impressive. South Australia was well beaten in this match, but the batting of Laughton and Russel, who carried her back in the second innings, gives them hope for the future.
Victoria win race against time
15, 16th January (St Kilda Cricket Ground) Queensland 216-7 declared ( PJ Brewer 57, M Crouch 56*, M Mclean 50, P Antonio 4-61, A Palmer 2-19) drew with Victoria 243 ( WUM George 62*, J Day 47, A Palmer 41, E Crouch 3-74). Victoria won on the first innings.
Queensland showed fine spirit in defending a first-innings total of 216—a courageous declaration. They bowled well as Victoria raced against time. They looked like they had misjudged their innings until Deane played a captain’s innings, upping the pace. At 13:00, with 30 minutes to stumps, they still needed 24 runs to take the title; the winning runs came with fifteen minutes to spare, at which point George and Clements began to score more freely, scoring fifty runs in the last half hour.
Carnival facts and figures
Final standings
Victoria (11 points)
New South Wales (9)
Queensland (6)
South Australia (4)
Top Performers
Batting
Highest Score: 91—L Kettels for Victoria v South Australia.
Most Runs: A Hudson 144
Highest Average: J Shaw 62.00
Bowling
Most Wickets: P Antonio 13
Best Average: A Palmer 10 wickets at 6.40
Best Bowling A Palmer 6-11 for Victoria v South Australia
The complete averages can be viewed here.
The Australian Cricket Council Meeting
The Annual meeting of the Australian Cricket Council took place during the tournament at the YMCA club. Several important decisions were taken. In future the tournament will be publicised as the Inter-State Championships, with the next tournament taking place in Queensland. Discussion turned to the playing conditions with the following resolutions adopted:
The hours of play would be extended: 11 am-1 pm, 2-3.45, and 4-6 pm.
Matches would return to eight-ball overs and use men’s stumps.
State and national teams would adopt the divided skirts that the NSW team had been wearing.
Teams traveling from other states had asked for some entertainment during the tournament at the expense of the Victorian Association; however, as each game already costs £14 to host, together with additional costs of about £50, this had to be declined.
Concern had been expressed about the players’ health; it was decided that they would be required to undergo medical examinations before selection for the national team. This motion was added the Australian Cricket Council’s constitution.
Finally, a debate took place regarding the construction of the selection committee. It was suggested a selector be appointed from each state. There was no agreement, but the matter was agreed to be referred to the next meeting.
Hills leaves hospital
Hilda Hills, Australia’s first wicket-keeper, left a Brisbane hospital on 15th January, having been there since the First Test. Initially admitted with a broken nose, she had contracted a throat infection. She caught the train to Melbourne, where she is hoping to watch the Third Test.
Newspaper reports, especially those written by pioneer women journalist Pat Jarrett, provided essential material for the compilation of this article.
Hey David, many thanks for your support and comment. I should have seen that and get it corrected.
Hey Brent, another fine piece as always. Just noting Nell McClarty 12th Man for Australia was very much a player for Victoria, not NSW.