CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1920, Page 1

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA’S TOTAL OF 581. ENGLAND 659 TO WIN. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] SYDNEY, Dec 21. Qn-the fourth day play in the Test Match again commenced in hot weather. Armstrong, joining Kellaway, faced tlio howling of Parkin and Hearne. The Australian captain applied the wood vigorously, Dougins and Parkin both preferring the carpet drives to travel to tho boundary rather than intercept them.

Facing Hoarne, Armstrong scored three successive fours, by superb drives to the off boundary. He was soon rapid ly approaching within four of Kellfiway’s toal. The latter then emulated his captain, and used his feet to reach out to Rhodes, and notched an occasionally boundary.

While in tho thirties, Armstrong placed Rhodes to mid-off for a close brace. Wnddington, thinking tho batsmen were only running a' single, casually tossed tho ball to Parkin, who shied it at tho wicket, Strudwick missing it, and being compelled to chase the ball, resulting in a fin o leg overthrow for three. Armstrong’s display was in marked contrast to the remainder of the.team. Always confident, he attacked tho howling like a true artist), placing his shot with remarkable precision, notwithstand ing the excellently placed field. By luncheon the bowling, though repeatedly changed, was completely collared ,which is not to say that the batsmen could afford to take liberties, but any occasional short-length deliveries were promptly pulled to the pickets by Armstrong, who nevertheless refrained from touching tho “off-theory,” or being tempted by tho wily fieldsmen, pretending to fumble the hall when the batsmen were .running singles.

Kelleway was till playing correct cricket, and though a littlo more enterprising than tho previous day, he was satisfied with singles, where his partners went for boundaries. When 70, ho offdrove Hearne to the boundary, his second four in throe and a half hours’ batting. ”

Next over lie attempted 'a straight hit off Woolley and was caught in the slips by Russell. Armstrong meanwhile notched 120. Six wickets were down for 521.

This partnership yielded 188, and its rupture was incxpressvely welcome to tho English howlers, as neither of the batsmen at any stage looked like retiring.

Douglas tried every method of attack, hut lie was unfortunate in not having the services of Hitch, who was suffering from a slight strain from .the previous day. Ryder joined Armstrong, when he set out for his second century in a steady manner, but was soon sparkling again. After Kellaway’s dismissal, Ryder filled the crease, but, after shaping in a promising manner-, he played Rhodes to Ifobbs at outside mid-off. Ho then rather foolishly ran half-way down the pitch and was thus run out. Gregory followed, and did the same as Ryder, in attempting an impossible run from a stroke to slip, and he was also run out,

Both those wickets were absolutely thrown away.

The Englishmen were now breathing more freely, as these two incidents changed the. complexion of the game. The fielding was spiritless, however, compared with previous displays, though Hendren as usual was a gluttbn for work in tho outfield.

Fender, who was fielding for Hitch, dropped Ohlfteld off Parkin at third man.

.When 158 Armstrong, slowing down, was howled,' leg peg, by Parkin. Oldfield was caught by Strudwick off the same bowler a few overs later. The total score was 581, which is just eight short of tho Test record establish od during the last tour of P. F. A amor's team.

Few regretted the termination of the innings, as the howlers were tired and the fielding was becoming listless. The English slow bowlers felt the absence of a fast bowler. Parkin, at times commanded the utmost respect, but the attack generally was without devil.

After further play the innings concluded for the total of 581. The weather continued exceedingly hot, liccesitating hourly refreshments. ENGLAND’S SECOND INNINGS.

Hobbs and Russell faced Gregory and Kellaway. with 659 required to win. Russell glanced Gregory to Oldfield, who accepted a smart catch. Hearne and Hobbs played out time. The attendance was 15,090 and for the four days totalled 104,000. . The following are the scores:— AUSTRALIA—Ist INNINGS. McCartney, b Waddington 19

Collins, run out Bardsley, c Strudwick, b Ilearne ... 22 Kellaway, 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 . ’’ Oldfield, c. Hobbs, b. Parkin * Mailey, (not out) 49 Sundries Total 267 AUSTRALIA—2nd INNINGS. Collins, c. Waddington, b. Douglas 104 Bardsley b. Hearne Macartney, b. Douglas * / Tavlor c. Woolley, b. Parkin ...... ol Pellew 1.b.w., b. Woolley ......' ' 1 Kellaway, b. Woolley L Armstrong, b. ParkinRyder, run out Oldfield, c. Strudwick,„b. Parkin lb Mailey. (not out) Sundries Total 581

The wickets fell as follows: 1 for 123, 2 for 234, 3 for 241, 4 for 282, 5 for 332 6 for 519, 7 for 536, 8 for 540, 9 for 678.

Bowling analysis: Parkin 3 for 102, Douglas 2 for 79, Woolley 2 for 90, Hearne 1 for 24 (one no ball). Hitch 0 for 40, Waddiiigton 0 for 53 (one no ball). Rhodes 0 for 67. ENGLAND—Ist INNINGS. Russell I>. Kellaway ~.'J. 0 Hobbs, h. Gregory' 49 Hendt-en, c. Gregory, b. Ryder 21 Woolley, c. Mailey, b. Ryder 21 Hearne, c Gregory, b Mailey 14 Rhodes, e Gregory, b Mailey 3 Douglas, st Oldfield, b Mailey 21 Hitch, c. Kellaway, b. Gregory .. 3 Waddington (run out) 7 Parkin (not out) '. 4 Strudwick, l.b.w. b Gregory .. 2 Sundries .Y. 7

Total 190 ENGLAND. Second innings. Russell, c. Oldfield, b. Gregory 5 Hobbs (not out) 18 Hearne, (not out) 23 Total for 1 wicket 46 SIR CONAN DOYLE’S COMMENT. DUNEDIN, Dec 20. Speaking of cricket, of which he is an enthusiast, Sir Conan Doyle said today :—‘l know most of the English team now playing in Australia, and before I gave up cricket myself played with a few of them. I thing thoy are a splendid batting teanr, but for some reason they appear to take the Test matches far too seriously, and so paralyse their own powers a little. I quite recognise that so fast a howler as Gregory and a slow howler with such command of the hall as Mailey (who as a ‘bosie’ bowler can only he compared with Schwartz, of South Africa), form a strong combination. Still, on a plumb wicket, the English scores do not represent the real batting capacity of the team. I think that will lie made manifest before the scries of matches is concluded. I was rather surprised at their dropping Fender from the team, as he is one of tho few men who can be relied upon to force the pace if necessary, and is an excellent change bowler. However, no doubt there was some very good reason, for everyone has the utmost confidence in Dougins, both as a.' captain and a judge of the game.”

A MATCH ABANDONED. (Received this day at 8 n.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 21. Tho English cricketers have abandoned the match at Bathurst which should commence on Wednesday. PRESS CRITICISM. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 22. The “Telegraph” comments that the strength of tile English bowling seems to be in the fact that while not quite good enough to produce sensational results, it is good enough to reduce run getting to a minimum. It adversely criticises the Australians running betwen wickets. It is estimated in Monday’s play they lost over fortysafe runs from lliis cause, but apparently the tragedy of three run outs on the first day had left its impression. It pays a tribute to the English fielding. It says between them Hitch, Hendren and Hobbs must have robbed Bardsley, whose innings .is described as the sweetest he lias played for some time, of 100 runs. '