FIRST TEST MATCH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 72, 18 December 1920, Page 11

FIRST TEST MATCH

AUSTRALIANS AT-THE WICKETS' BATSMEN PLAY CAREFULLY COLLINS MAKES TOP SCORE (Br Teltffraph-Pr««i ADiociation-OovrrliM (Kec. December_l7, 7.15 p.m.) Sydney, December 17. Tile first Test match commenced in fine woiitlier. The wicket was not affected by the previous night's brief storm.. Tho'attendance reached a total of 23.000. The teams are:—

l'iHgland: J. W. Douglas (captain), J. 1). Ilobhs, A. C. Kussell, J. W. Hitvh, W. Rhodes, E. Hendrcn, J. W. Heame, C. Parkin, P. E. Woolley, A. Waddingtou, and H. Strudwick.

Australia: "\V. "\V. Armstrong, captain (Victoria), C. G. Macartney (N.S.AV.), A. Mailey (N.S.W.), C. Kelleway (N.S.W.), \V. Bardsley (N.S.W.), J. liyder (Victoria), C. 13. Pellev (S.A.), J. M. Gregory (N.S.W.), AV. Oldfield (N.S.W.), 11. hCollins (N.S.W.), and J. M. Taylor (N.S.W.).

> Armstrong won the toss, and sent Macartney and Collins to oppose Hitch and AVaddington. Both batsmen played | cautiously for a number of overs, occasional singles alone breaking the monotony of a series of maidens. After thirty minutes' play Hitch, who was punished to the extent of fourteen in one over, I was replaced by Parkin. Waddington quickly found his length, and aided by a strong* wind, broke awkwardly from the off. ■ • Macartney, when at 19, pulled a bail to his wicket.

Bardsley settled down to carcful play, yet he unresitatingly dispatched loose deliveries to the pickets and reached the twenties, before Collins emerged from them, but in playing back to one of Henrne's slows, lie snicked one to Strudwick. 1

After luneli Cillius, wiin at no stage was extra Confident, lifted Hearne straight ti Waddington at. outside. mid-oil, but to the surprise of everyone, especially the batsman, tho fieldsman dropped ' the easiest of, catches. Collins was l then at 13 Off tho .next over the century was registered, it taking 101 minutes. Six minutes later Collins reached 50.

Kellewav vied with Collins for uninteresting batting.'and the crowd began to barrack, but to no effect. After batting fifty-five minuses for 15 runs, Kellewav was cheered for scoring a single. The crowd had grown impatient at the painfully slow run-getting. When Collins was at t(l. Kelleway placed Douglas squarely to Hitch;' ~who siiiavty fielding the ball, unerringly aimed the wicket before Collins could make goodArmstrong- had a fine reception, • and shaped like an artist straightaway, but the brilliant fielding of the Englishmen kenfe his account down. Full of promise ho went forward to Woollev, but Strudwick lifted the 'bails beforo'hc ivgained the crease. The ■diminutive wicketkeeper dominated the picture for a while; in fact, throughout tho dav lie gavo a capital display behind Hie stumps. r . .. Gregory was his nest victim. Opening his shoulders to a straight drive off Woollev. Australia's fast bowler mishit the ball, and Strudwick brilliantly accepted a lightning shot. When Taylor and Pellew became associated aft-jr the tea adjournment the spectators wre treated to the brightest batting of. the imiings, the first-named player disconcerting the field by stcnung dveky runs. Both went at the bowling ( in a vigorous fashion. • Smart work in tho outfield, however, converted potential boundaries into singles, and incidentally was responsible , for several hairbreadth escapes. Douglas curbed tho batsmen's enterprise by putting on Hitch, whose off theory was severely left alone. Wuddington's left-hand deliveries from tho opposite end' also commanded respect to the detriment of pvoliiic rungetting! After adding 68 at a critical juncture, tin? partnership was broken, Taylor stepping in front of Ins wicket, to pull Hearne, and was out leg-before. With ten minutes to play Pel ew endeavoured. to force thii pace and lilted Hearne to'the'boundary, where Hendren made no mistake. , .„ livder brought up 200 in the second to last over, and, with Oldiidd, played out ll The batting was not up to intcrnauoiial standard, the responsibility aiiparently weighing heavily on the Australian shoulders. The English fielding was excellent and savicd innumerable runs. Tha following are the scores:—

AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Macartney, b. Waddington Collins, run out DiirdsU'y, e. Strudwick, sb. Hearne ... li Kcllcwa'y, run out .............................. 33 Armstrong, st Strmlwick, b. Woolley 12 Gregory,. Strudwick, b. Woolley ... 8 Taylor, 1.b.w., b. Hearne- 31 Peilew, c. Hendren, b. Hearne ou Kydcr, not out •••••• 3 Oldfield, not out '« Sundries

Total for ciglit wickets .. 250 'ANTICIPATIONS IN ENGLAND GREGORY FEARED BY CRITICS. London, December ,IG. , In spite of counter-attractions, the Tost match overshadows otlicv sport fixtures, in England. The newspapers are featuring discussions on the prospects. Archie Muclaven, in a somewhat gjoomv article in the "Manchester _,Guardian, says he fears the English batting never compared with that of Australia, and savs he is nervous regarding Gregorys bawling, On the' other lmnd, he fears that Parkin's methods in League cricket will not avail in Test matches. Most oi the critics fear' Gregory, and expectthe Australi<iiv Holding to he farsUlass. lhoy welcome the inclusion of Witch for the. ssrne reason. Tl.c-y expect that .th° Australians* will fifjht with then-old si bbornness. It is anticipated that England's chances' will bo improved if tl e wicket is liut at its best. Cablo Assn. .