CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 201, 20 May 1921, Page 5

CRICKET

AUSTRALIANS MEET ESSEX SUBSTANTIAL LEAD ON FIRST DAY’S PLAY By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright London, May 18. Tho weather was warm and bright and the wioket fast for the opening of the cricket match, Australia v. Essex, to-day. Tho attendance was 10,000. Russell was unable to play for Essex owing to an attack of influenza. Armstrong is not playing, owing to an injury to a leg, and Bardsloy .is resting an injured finger. Neither injury is serious. Carter was omitted from the Australian, team.

Douglas won the toss, and sent in Gillingham and M'lver to face Gregory and M'Donald. The batsmen were lively, and, when the total was 32, Gregory removed Gillingham’s leg stump. The score was still unaltered when M'Donald bowled M'lver. Perrin, who partnered Freeman, had a short and merry life, knocking up 17 in six minutes. M'Donald then scattered his wicket, breaking a stump—three for 52. Douglas joined Freeman, and at 69 Alailey relieved Al'Bonald to enable the latter" to take Gregory’s place at the other end. The change was effective, as M'Donald beat Douglas and smashed another stump. Morris was next in and Gregory missed him off a hard chance off Al'Donald. Freeman's patient innings ended at 25, when he was bowled by Alailey.

Dixon was given a life in his first over, Hendry failing to hold the balL At 12 he gave a second chance, which Macartney accepted. The seventh wicket fell at 113, and with the exception of Morris, who was aggressive, tho defence against the good bowling was feeble, Gregory and Mailey quickly disposing of the rest. The innings closed for 144. Collins and Alaoartney opened the Aus-* tralian innings to the bowling of Douglas and Louden. Alacartney was brilliant until Douglas found his leg-stump at 43. Taylor succeeded, and Louden droppod him in the slips off Douglas when he had scored a single. Collins was caught in the slips. Louden, a right-hand fast bowler, swinging away, replaced Douglas, and Eastman, a tall, right-hand mediumpaced bowler, was tried, and the scoring slackened. Gregory lost his wicket in playing back. Three for 99. The century was hoisted after seventy, five minutes' play. The fielding was a. bit slow. Pellew and Taylor were in. partnership for forty minutes, and it yielded 56 runs. Dixon, who was among several bowlers tried, found the latter’s wicket, and Pellew was dismissed by a spectacular catch by Eastman, off the same bowler. Five for 166. Andrews gave an exhilarating display of batting. Ryder was missed at the wicket before he got fairly going. When stumps were drawn Australia! had scored 222 for the loss of nix wickets. The following are the scores;— ESSEX. First Innings, Gillingham, b. Gregory 18 M'lvor, b. Al’Donald .— 9 Freeman, b. Mailey ... 25 Ferrin, b. Al'Donald , 17 Douglas, b. Al'Donald .. 3 Morris, not out 40 Dixon, c. Alacartney, b. Alailey 12 O’Connor, b. M'Donald 1 Saint, b. Gregory 8 Eastman, b. Gregory ft Louden, c. Gregory, b. Alailey 3 Extras 8 Total 144 Bowling Analysis.—Gregory took three wickets for 32 runs. Al'Donald four for 54, Alailey, three for 50. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, c. Douglas, b. Louden 25 Afacartney, b. Douglas 25 Taylor, b. Dixon —.... 43 Gregory, b. Eastman — 14 Pellew, c. Eastman, b. Dixon 38 Andrews, not out 35 Ryder, c. Freeman, b. Douglas —. 16 Hendry, not out 8 Extras — — IS Total for six wickets — 223 « BOWLERS’ MERITS DISCUSSED. (Reo. May 19, 7.50 p.m.) London, Alay 19. The bowling of Al'Donald and Gregory provided the critics with much food for speculation, and their respective merits are being variously championed. The “Daily Alail" says the collapse of Essex was a triumph of pace. On tho other hand, "The Times" expert declares that neither Gregory nor Al'Donald is really fast, adding: "Our old batsmen could have played either of them with ease.” —"Times."

YORKSHIRE’S FAST BOWLER. - (Rec. May 19, 10.45 p.m.) London, May 18.. Yorkshire’s fast bowler, Alacauley, took six wickets for 10 runs against War-, wickshire on a good wicket. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.