AUSTRALIA'S RALLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 131, 26 February 1908, Page 7

AUSTRALIA'S RALLY.

TRUMPER SUCCEEDS. ,

ENGLISH BOWLERS DEMORALISED. • I

HAM) HITTING. BT TELECEIPn —PEKSS ASSOCIATION —COPTEIGHt. (Rec. Feb. 25, 9.5 p.m.) Sydney, February 25, Tho weather was beautifully fino and cool foi tho continuation of .tho Fifth Test Match, and 7500 peoplo were present. Tho wicket was tricky at tlio 6tart, but rapidly dried iuto good condition. Rhodes and Barnes opened the bowling, tho former getting up dangerously at times.Noble opened vigorously ■ and played a good innings. Ho lost O'Connor early in tho game, Barnes clean bowling that playor—ono for 25. i Trumpor was slow in moving—a proceeding contrary to his usual forcing play; but his previous failures mado him cautious.

NOBLE'S DEPARTURE. . It looked like, a good partnership till Noblo got in front of a straight ono from Rhodes when trying to place it .to !leg.. Ho had batted for 77min.—two'for 52. '' . •/ Gregory joined Trumper, and set about punishing . the bowling, ~ outstripping Trumpor's score in a'few strokes. Trumper now opened out,, and both the Sydneyites began scoring, for a long time on lovel terms. -■ -■ Trumpor allowed somo of his old brilliancy, whilo Gregory's strokes wero of a kind that reminded ono of his -old-timo ability. Changes in tho .bowling wero rurig in quick succession, in order to dissolve tho partnership, which looked daiigerous.' ■ '

ALL BOWLERS ALIKE. Aftor the; first half-hour Crawford, Rhodes, Barnes, and Braund but tho batsmen treated tho various styles of bowling with impartiality, up to hutch. The ocntury was recorded-for, 113 minutes' play. On resuming, runs camo merrily. It became a race between theiwo'batsinen'for tho half-century, Trumper reaching it'first,"aftor 94 minutes' batting. ' The deficit on the first innings was thus wiped off. Gregory's halfaontury occupied 72 minutes! The Englishmen wero fielding-brilliantly,-but! tho batsmen wero treating tho bowling unmercifully. :y;" GRECORY OUT AFTER A COOD INNINGS.

A double change, from "Barnes, and Rhodes at 16.0 proved fatal to Gregory,,;Crawford get-' ting him with his second ball—jthree for 166; Macartney followed, and an interval of slow play ensued. The no.wcomer: had "just, obtained double figures when Jones caught him—four for 192. Hill was next. He shaped uncomfortably to Braund,. who .was bowlihg lext^emely'well'. Tho second century was notched in 3 hours 25 minutes.. . ' Trumper continued his brilliant display, hitting three fourcrs: off Crawford's ' over. The posting of Webb's .sculling victory on the'.scoring board elicited applause. After tea Trumper brought his hundred up with a beautiful drive right down the ground. His ccntury had occupied 2 hours': and 54 minutes. . .; FREQUENT BOUNDARIES.

Hardstaff, who .. was suffering' from a strained leg,,.was replaced .in -the field ..by Blythe. Boththe batsmen were now. vigorously' pasting the' bowling,' which becamo demoralised. Boundaries ' came-: vMth frequency, the batsmen scoring off everything;"; , Hill was hitting with" tremendous ' power.' ! He sent Crawford hard to tho fence, nnd .thenI'got1'got him for a couple,, but- Crawford sent a third ball-downcast,;. Hill:lashed ;at it, but just touched it,. Youn£ grabbing uiA five,for 300'. "

Tho third century had''taken ■ 4 hours , and. .20 minutes. > Armstrong was vhest;'' Trumper received a clieer for having wiped 'the deficit off by his own score. • - It was the Trumper of old. that batted', 'day.' With the exception'of a''possible chance when he had scored a single, his.innings was flawless. , - ■" ' ■ TRUMPER CAUGHT. .Tho English quartette' of bowlers were so tired that Hcbbs went, on ; in place of Crawford. Trumpe;r's time had arrive!', He lifted: Rhodes high jover 1 tho bowler's head, and Gunn got up; and caught-'liim..,.; : Trumper -wt;s. at tho 1 wickets -for 4 hours. Ho hit 18 fourers—six! for. 342.'; • . Ransford' joined Armstrong, and; the pair, played out time,' bringing the score to 357, which places tho Australian's present total 213 runs' ahead of England's first innings (281).

AUSTRALIA. ;Second Inmvos 1 Noble,-1.b.w., b. Rhodes , 31 O'Connor, b. Barnes 6 Trumper, c. Gunn, b. Rhodes ... ■ ■■:. 166 Gregory, b. .Crawford ... ... 56 Macartney, c. ; Jones, b. Crawford 12 Hill, c. 'Young, b. Crawford : ..J ' 44 Armstrong, not out •' • . .19 Ransford, not out ... 4 Extras' : ig Total for six wickets ... 357 First innings . ... . ... I^7 ENGLAND. First innings ... ... ... ...281 ' NOT VERY PROFITABLE. . .., ■ . (Roc. Feb. 25, 11.40 p.m.) r ; Sydnßy, February 25. It is officially announced.that the, profit to the. Victorian Cricket Association from the Fourth Test Match amounts ,io fiyeponco, and that tho Association still has to pay for tho coat and cap of Mackenzio/'the'twelfth' man.

AN INTERESTING QUARTETTE. 1 Tim following figures-show tlio Test batting performances of four of Australia's noted bats. Their averages' for nil Tests arc stated first; their innings for the present series of Tests aro stated second. . All Test Matches. ■ ... . ... Nauio. Inn. Not out. Runs.' At C.' Hill ... ... GG ; 1 : 23SC ; 3G.70 V. Trumpcr ■ ... 55 -, 3 i' -1783 : 3J.28 M. A. Noble ... 59 ' 6 ■ 172G ' 32.5G S. E. Gregory ... 77 6 ..' 1892 - 2g!gi Present Test Series. Name. ' Inn. Not out. Buns. 'Ay. .M. A. Noble ... 10 0■ i • 396 39.G C. Hill 10 0 3GO , 3G > S. E. Gregory ... 1 0 139 34.75 V. Trumoer 10 .AO 33S 33.8