COMMENTS ON SECOND TEST MATCH.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 317, 18 January 1902, Page 3

COMMENTS ON SECOND TEST MATCH.

Two remarkable catches wero credited to the Englanders on the first day of the Melbourne test, in the Australians’ first innings, Braund, in the slips, disposed of Duff with marvellous agility. He threw himself at the ball and took it left hand as a cat grabs a mouse. In tho second innings Tyldesley must have run nearly 30 yards to take a skier from Darling on the bias. The catch in itself was clover. The speed and judgment Tyldesley showed iiu getting to the right spot were exceptional even in the best of cricket

Ma'claren, as things happened propably lost the second test by choosing to give the Australians first innings on a wicket tyhich was not at its worst '”hen play started, i and which might have greased tho ball sufficiently to lesson Noble’s effectiveness. But, anyway, the visitors were beaten on their merits, for although Darling’s policy of keeping back his crack batsmen for tho second day was a complete success, it needed the final stand of Duff aud Armstrong to do the trick. Had either of these” debutants failed, the Englishman whuld have boon left to get (say) 300 runs, with more than a whole day of dry wicket to do it in. But, presuming that Maclaren had taken first innings, and been required to start a second innings on "' Now Year’s Day, like tho Australians, he would probably have followed tho conservative rule of sending his men to bat in the usual order, in which case tho » b es t ” wickets would have fallen before G o’clock, and the Australians must have

won. , _ , Contrary to most others, Darling believes that there's much variety in the Australian howling. Jonesis is quite different from Noble’s in pace. Howell’s has a peculiar flight and excellent length with an off-break absolutely his own; in the latest match Howell came back very quickly as much as 6in. on a perfect pitch. Trutable keeps the batsmen busy, and Armstrong, and Trumper supply additional change of attack. Darling on DutT: “ One of the most promising bats in Australia. If ho goes to En a land with the eleven he will bo very successful, as he watches the ball right on to'the hat; his first innings (82) on the sticky wicket was equal in merit to his 104 in the second —making allowance for the much altered conditions.” Duff and Armstrong’s 120 for last wicket in second test match is a record for the series. Briggs’ and Hunter s 9S in Melbourne, January, ’BS, was the previous best. Top notch 'figures for a hrstr class match are Nicholl’s and Bocke s DJJ for Middlesex against Kent at Boras fn 173 for Lancashire ■ agajnst Surrey at fcivernool in June, ’BS)