FIFTH TEST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 7

FIFTH TEST.

THE FIRST DAY AT SYDNEY.

RUNS CRAMPED.

ENGLISH ELEVEN BATTING'

By Teleeraph-Press A.=sociatlon-Oopyrlsnt (Eec. February 23, G. 45 p.m.) Sydney, February 23. . Although "the ashes" have been won and lost, great interest centres in the Fifth Test match, owing to tho bitter controversy concerning tho personnel of the (cam for England. The weather was fine, but threatening. The wicket was good. Douglas won the toss, and had no hesitation in batting. Hobbs and Rhodes opened for England to tho bowling of Maclaren and Macartney. Rhodes started by driving Macartney to tho boundary, and Hobbs made a single. In Maclaren's second over, Rhodes had a narrow escape, through tipping a fast one, which Carter was just unable to reach. Macartney then drew "first blood," bowling Rhodes off his pads with tho first ball of his third over. Gunn followed, nnd, when Maclaren had bowled six overs for 15 runs, Kordern relieved him. His third ball Hobbs lifted dnngerously over Trumper's head at squareleg. Beforo adding much to his score, Hobbs skied Hnzlitt (who was bowling vice Macartney in the slips) out, but the ball fell out of danger, however, and went to the boundary. In the same over, Gunn lifted one dangerously to leg, which Maclaren reached with tho tips of his fingers, but was unable to hold. In tho next over Hobb.i hit out at a "googlie" from Hordern, and Ransford, fielding at wide long-on, made an easy catch. Hearne joined Gunn, tho score being then G9, and they were together at luncheon. After tho interval, Armstrong and Maclaren attacked, and the play was extremely slow, only nino runs being put on in 18 minutes. Then Hearne, who had scored four, turned to hit Armstrong hard to leg, and Macartney, fielding at short-log, snapped a brilliant catch. With Foster in, the rate of scoring was not improved, but 100 appeared after 120 minutes' piny. Gmm's fifty had occupied 118 minutes. At 111 Foster, who was then 15, stepped out to Hnzlitt, and missed, and Carter smartly stumped him, Douglas appeared, and Gunn (still fifty) gave Macartney a difficult chanco at shortleg off Armstrong, but this was dropped. When Douglas was four, ho tipped Hordern to short-leg, tho ball being caught just as it touched the ground. Gunn was 23 minutes in adding a single to his 50, and, after adding another single after ten more minutes, he was stumped in stepping out to Hordern.. Ho had hit three fours. Douglas and Wooiley were together at tea-time, when the score read: Five wickets for 132 runs. After tea play was still slow, the batsmen displaying extreme caution, and the [ bowling was good. Armstrong, especially, was keeping a splendid length. When relieved by Minnett he had bowled 22 overs, of which eight wore maidens, for 29 runs and one wicket. Hordern also was bowling a good length, and spinning well. When Douglas had made eighteen in 71 minutes by uninteresting batting, he tried a straight; hitv.off,'.Hordern. j The ball twisted on'the bat,'and' Ransford, fielding at deep mid-on, took tho catch. The partnership had added 37. After Vino came in, Woollcy brightened up, and brought up his fifty in seventy minutes. Vine was 29 minutes in scoring one, and tho English 200 took 252 minutes. The Australian fielding was keen and good, except in the case of Hordern, who nindo several bad misses. At 5.19 p.m. the light failed, and play was adjourned, England's score then being 204 for six wickets. England.—First Innings. Rhodes, b. Macartney 8 Hobbs, c. Ransford, b. Hordern 32 Hearne, c. Macartney, b. Armstrong t Gunn, st. Carter, b. Hordern 52 Foster, 6t. Carter, b. Hazlitt 15 Douglas, c. Ransford, b. Hordern ... 18 Wooiley, not out 63 Vine, not out 8 Sundries 5

Total for six wickets 201 A wet wicket seems likely for to-morrow. Heavy showers have fallen, and more are threatening.

PLAYERS TO GO HOME. (Rec. February 23, 11 p.m.) Sydney, February 23. Macartney and AVebstcr have been selected to replace Ransford and Carter in tho team for England.

THE SQUABBLE. (Rec. February 23, 11 p^m.) Sydney, February 23. At the conclusion of a long interview between Mr. M'Elhone and Mr. M'Gowen (State Premier of New South Wales) on the oricket trouble, Mr. M'Gowen stated that tho Board of Control had fully determined not to accept the nomination of Laver ns players' manager. Thoy were net unwilling to accept Laver as a player, even at this late hour. He believed that the board would accept a surrender by the six players if they did not persist in insisting on Laver as manager. Melbourne, February 23. Dr. Mailer, one of tho Victoria representatives on the Board of Control, declared that the secretary had no right to take action, as the players had accepted conditionally. He will, he Bays, want to know why the secretary took the action he did without afurthcr meeting of the board. The way the players had been treated was downright dishonourable Players should not bo asked to sacrifice their principles.

HILL'S VERSION. Sydney, February 23. Clom Hill, speaking for tho rejected players, declared: "We are sorry at the turn of affairs. Wo have done all we can to secure a settlement. The board still objects to Laver as manager, though I offered them all the books and papers of the last tour, to let Mr. M'Elhono appoint an arbitrator, and to abide by his decision as to whether Laver had been disloyal to the board. He refused, repeating that Laver had been disloyal. Why don't they select tho wholo team, and allow them to select a manager?" Mr. M'Gowen (Premier), and Mr. Holman (Attorney-General) had a long interview with tho six players last night. Mr. M'Gowen subsequently said he would see the Board of Control with a proposal which he hoped would settle matters. Hill subsequently stated that he only wanted peace and the best team to go to England, in tho event of Mr. M'Elhono being prepared to compromise. The latter still demanded an unconstitutional acceptance of a manager. If tho selectors chose Laver as a member of the team the players would mako no further protest.