CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1920, Page 4

CRICKET.

FIRST TEST MATCH. POOR SCORING. ("AUSTRALIAN ifc N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] SYDNEY, Dee 18. The Test. Match was resinned in fine, though hot, weather. The wicket was iii splendid condition. Half an hour sufficed to dispose of tho Australian tail. Oldlie.ld placed liis first ball to Rhodes at mid-off. ’I he fieldsman tumbled it, but recovering control, returned it smartly to tlie wicket, where Ryder had backed up, but was sent back to Oldfield. But Ryder was too Into to prevent being run out. AUSTRALIA—Ist INNINGS. McCartney, b Waddington W Collins, run out ■••• 70

Bardsley, c Strudwick, b Henrne ... 22 Kellnway, run out 33 Armstrong, st Strudwick, b Woolley 12 Gregory, c Strudwick, b-Woolley ... 8 Taylor, 1.b.w., b Hearne ' 24 Pellew, c Hendren, b Hearne 36 Ryder, run out 3 Oldfield, c. Hobbs, b. Parkin ' 7 Mailey, (not out) •' 1° Sundries 11 Total •: 2e7 ‘■The wickets fell as followsl for 40, 2 for 80, 3 for 140, 4 for 163, 5 for 173, 6 for 176-. 7 for 244, 8 for 249, 10 for 267.

Bowling analysis:—Hearne 3 for <7, Woolley 2 for 35, Parkin 1 for 58, Wad dington 1 for 35, Hitch 0 for 3/, Douglas 0 for 14. Waddington bowled one no hall.

Russell and Hobbs opened for England. Tho first ball was again a fatal one, Kcllaway hitting Russell’s wicket Incidentally Russell was the first batsman to be clean bowled in tlie match. Gregory'bumped oceassionaliy from tlie opposite end, but the batsmen eager ly pounced on his loose delivery, deflecting several to the boundary. With the third ball after lunch Hearne poked Mailey close up to first slip, which Gregory accepted. Hendren, next over, sent a very fast one from Gregory to Mailey at second slip. The fieldsman got his hands round it, but he could not hold it. Gregory, in the next over, clean-bowl-ed Hobbs, who was attempting a glance. Hobbs had rattled up his 49 in brisk fashion, and ho had never looked like getting out. Woolley treated Mailey with the utmost respect ,and in playing back to one, made an uppish stroke, which just fell short of slip.

Mailey judiciously mixed loose ones with "hosies” (googlies), in the hope that tho batsmen would have a. hit; .but they were invariably despatched to the boundary. Woolley was particularly severe on them, pulling and driving them past cover in brilliant style. Hendren, who was bottled up, was content, to play steady and allow his partner to forge ahead.

Though the fielding was not without blemish, it was of a high class character and was n big factor in curtailing the score.

Hendren, when 28, skied Ryder, and was caught at first slip by Gregory. Having howled one over, Armstrong gave way to Mailey, when Douglas arrived. England’s captain appeared uncomfortable against tlio puzzling slows, lint ho launched out and returned a hot one. The hall liit tlie bowler on tlie bead, temporarily laying him out. The following over Woolley smacked a hard one high over point’s head, but Mailey sprang into the air, and affected a brilliant one-hand catch.

After the tea adjournment, Armstrong relied on Gregory and Mailey, notwithstanding tho tendency of the batsmen to punish any olose ones. Mailey liberally punctuated liis deliveries with something to hit and Parkin was tempted, and lie. lifted one to the boundary, where Kcllaway dropped it. Mailey deserved better results, as his breaks, from either side, constantly worried the batsmen, many uppish strokes resulting. The. tail-end of the visiting side offered little resistance, and the innings closed for 190.

Gregory bowled consistently throughout, though at the commencement lie sent down several off the wickets, which were promptly glanced to the boundary. He took three catches, acquitting himself with distinction in the field, which is a great tribute, considering the high standard of fielding throughout the match.

ENGLAND —Ist INNINGS. Russell, b. Kellaway 0 Hobl&; b. Gregory 49 Hearne, e. Gregory, b. Mailey ... 14 Hendren, c. Gregory, b. Ryder ... 21 Woolley, c. -Mailey, h. Ryder ... 52 Douglas, s. Oldfield, Ij. Mailey ... 21 Rhodes, c. Gregory, b. Mailey ... 3 Hitch, c. cKllaway ,b. Gregory ... 3 Waddington (runt out) 7 Parkin (not out) 4 Strudwick, c l.b.w. b. Gregory 2 Sundries 7 Total 190 The wickets fell as follows: —1 for 0, 2 for 50, 3 for 70, 4 for 142, s.for 146, 6 for 158, 7 for 165, 8 for 180, 9 for 188, 10 for 190 Bowling analysis:—Gregory 3 for 56, Mailey 3 for 95, Ryder 2 for 20, Kellawa.v 1 for 10, Armstrong 0 for 2. Collins and Bradsley opened Australia’s second innings, against Hitch and Waddington. Bnrdsley gave some glimpses-of international form, he soon running into the twenties. Both's batsen accustomed themselves to the bowling, neither taking any unnecessary risks.

With only half an hour to play, Douglas tried Parkin again, bVlt ,as in the first innings, he possessed no terrors for the batsmen. When play closed for the day, the attendance was forty thousand, and the takings amounted to £4OOO. AUSTRALIA—2nd INNINGS. Collins (not out) 17 Bardsley (not out) 23 Sundries 6 Total for 0 wickets 46 PRESS COMMENT. Tho Sunday papers describe the play on both sides as being so far as disappointing, when the easy conditions of tho wicket is considered. Charley Turner, an old international player, thinks the English combination is not so good as many of the pre-war

Emdsh teams. As a whole, he says, tlio team lacks tho finish and the general all-round effectiveness which characterised former elevens. Ho says tlio Australians treated tlio English bowling far too seriously. Tlie English bowling certainly was of good length, but it was a lack of forcefulness on the part of the Australian batsmen that made trouble, their batting being generally stodgy and scratchy. Parkin’s bowling was far th c best on his side, but the Englsh howling generally was below the standard and was wanting in tho all-round danger of that of tho former teams. The bowling of the Australians is good, and it is backed by sound fielding.