CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1921, Page 4

CRICKET.

SECOND TEST MATCH

COMMENT ON THE WAY

fAUSTRALIAN cfc N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

SYDNEY, January 1. The ‘"'Daily Telegraph” commenting on yesterday’s cricket, says the play on the whole was dull, the batsmen, ex-' ccpting Taylor and Bardsley, taking no advantage of the fast wicket. The Australians were lucky in the Englishmen missing several chances. The “Sydney ‘Morning Herald’’ says i the day’s play provided keen cricket, 'punctuated by stirring individual >urtesH's, with contrasts in style and frequent fluctuations of fortune, r.nglnnd's poor display of slip fielding was the only blemish on a fine day s cricket.

LONDON, December -SI. Commenting on yesterday’s play, the "Morning Post” says that on a perfect Melbourne wicket the Australian total on Friday is nothing to be afraid of. It regrets the non-inclusion of Wilson who kept a length perfect as any bowler since Alfred Shaw, in addition to being a batsman of no mean capacity.

A “TRAGIC DEBI T.’

LONDON, January !

Commenting on Park's tragic debut, tho ‘‘Evening News’’ says that lie is regarded ns (lie best batsman of the newer generation of Australians. (Park, who is making his first appearance in test cricket, was bowled first ball.) THK BARRACKING INCIDENT. MELBOURNE, January 1. 'l’he decision of the Board of Cricket Control to employ special constables was, to an c .xtont, the outcome of the barracking the Englishmen received during the Bendigo match. The c f owd was special demonstrative against viceCaplain Wilson, resenting some of his cables to English newspapers. As the result of complaints by Douglas and Wilson, steps were taken by the Mayor and the Cricket Association to have barracking suppressed on the second day.

The incident is reviewed by the Press in a statement that Wilson told

th<> Mayor lie would endeavour to prorent future English teams visiting Bendigo. Wilson declares he said that unless the authorities attempted to stop “barracking” they could not expect English teams to wish another visit to Bendigo. The Mayor and the president of the Cricket Association adhere to their statement that Wilson said the Marylebone Club, in future, would delete Bendigo owing to the way lie bad been treated.

COMMENT BY ENGLISH PAPERS

WON DON, December 21

The tost match is overshadowing all other themes of interest in England. The commentators agree that the English team is strengthened, though they regret the loss of Hitch’s services as a fieldsman. The cautiousness of Australia's batting is regarded as a tribute to England’s strengthened attack. I The “Pall Mall Gazette’’ says that Howell’s inclusion in the team is already justified. ■A feeling of hopefulness permeates the comments, partly due to the batsmen's luekv escapes at the hands of the. fieldsmen. 1 The “Guardian” says that England lias no reason for despondency, and still believes that her batsmen, des- | pi to the Sydney match, are bletter , than the Australians.

Much is being made of the barracking incidents. The general feeling is that some of the English players were un-

duly sensitive. Tlie “Daily Mail” says that the onlookers’ frank and soniestimcs uncomplimentary remarks wore really harmless barracking, springing from excitement. Sensitive players should, remember that if cricket, and football did not arouse enthusiasm amongst the onlookers, they would not keep alive, 'Hie “Daily Express” states -that all good sportsmen deplore the _ Board of Control’s decision regarding barracking, or, rather, the necessity therefor. Barracking as practised throughout Australia is unpleasant and undesirable. It is a crime against the laws of sport, because it upsets the visitors and affects their nlay.

'IV “Herald,” on the other hand, says that the Board’s amazing decision is most difficult to understand. The trouble at Bendigo was the direct outcome of the offensive criticism of Wilson, followed by his satirical bowing. He was really the sole cause of itlie unpleasantness. The paper suggests that players should not be allowed criticisms in the press. The “Daily Mail” states that it is difficult to understand the decision regarding special constables, as the bar-, racking in the first test was infrequent and inoffensive. It predicts a riot on the Melbourne ground if any action is taken by the specials. The “Leader” say's it is a pity that anv of the Englisli team should hu\o allowed the barracking at Bendigo to so “get on their nerves” as to require specials. “Sporting Life” says:— “Apart from winning, the one thing w c desire is that those of our players cabling messages to England should refrain from criticism that will lead to undesirable incidents as witnessed in the last game, when Wilson was the recipient of considerable barracking. It is not a good thing for English cricket and is not conducive to friendly rivalry.” LONDON, December .11. The opinion in cricketing circles in Britain is that the exchange of cablegrams commenting on episodes apart from the actual game is doing great harm. It would be 'better if the struggle for the ashes were fought out on the (Ticket field rather than in the columns of the newspapers. Thus it had been announced in London that it had been cabled to Australia that London was plastered with contents bills announcing police protection for tost match players. This was manifestly ' false, as the fact was that a single edition of one evening, paper issued an absurdly misleading placard.

ENGLAND'S FIRST INNINGS. HOBBS AND HENDEEN BAT WELL

GREGORY GETS 7 WICKETS. !

MELBOURNE, January 3. The weather is fine to-day, after continuous rain on Sunday. The wicket is fairly good, though the ground is damp and the outfield slow. . Hobbs and Hendrcn resumed ior England, to the bowling of Collins. Hendrcn opened with a single and the hundred was raised fin 121 minutes. Hendren next scored a beautiful fonjr off Kellaway. Hobbs (repeated this achievement off the same bowler. The batting at this stage was fine. The running between the wickets was

smart. Armstrong then took up the howling Hendren hit him for a four, a two, and n one successively. He reached His 50 in 113 minutes. Pellew, who was fielding brilliantly, made a gicat effort to catch Hobbs, but just missed. Then 150 was posted on the board in lofi minutes. ; I After having 26 runs hit against his name, Collins made way for Gregory, who was greeted with applause. Hobbs hit his first ball up, but the wicketkeeper failed to get hold of it. ' ! Collins then resumed at the other end, and Hendren hit his first three balls, but they travelled slowly over the slow field, and failed to reach the boundary. Shortly after Hendren was caught by Taylor, off Gregory, when his score stood at 67. He compiled it in 143 minutes of brilliant play. Hobbs reached his century amidst great applause in 180 minutes, ltussel came next but was caught by Collins off Gregory, first stroke. Ryder who now took the hall, tried to tempt Woolley, but without success. •Just tefore luncheon adjournment Collins missed catching Hobbs off Gregory when the Surrey man’s score stood at ilO. The attendance greatly increased after luncheon. Hobbs passed i’ellew’s score with a single off Ryder. Then Gregory liowled Woolley, who had batted steadily for 5. Gregory’s average was then 4 for 42.

Doughs h;ul a flattering reception when lie went to the wickets.

Hobbs, who was patting freely, liit Gregory for four, blit with his next stroke h P lifted the ball high to Ryder who was waiting patiently, and made no mist take. The Surrey crack had scored 122 in 110 minutes, and had an ovation on returning to the pavilion. Parkin had a short innings. When four he gave a chance which Mailey cleverly took off Gregory. The latter’s average at this stage was 6 for 41.

Strudwick followed and began batting carefully. Amstrong at 7 for 22b replaced Ryder, who had 31 against him without taking a wicket. Douglas who was taking no risks in the hope of saving a follow on, was declared out ■leg before, to Gregory. Howell followed and '250 was reached amid cheering, but shortly after Howell was cleverly stumped by Oldfield, and this closed England’s innings. England’s first innings 'closed for 251.

ENGLAND—FIR ST INNING S. Hobbs, c. Ryder, b. Gregory 122. Rhode's, b Gregory " Makepeace, 1.b.w., b Armstrong ... 4 Hendren, e. Taylor, b. Gregory ... 67 Russell, e. Collins, b. Gregory 0 Woolley, 1). Gregory •» Douglas 1.b.w., b. Gregory lo Parkin, e. Mailey, b. Gregory 4 Strudwiek (not out) 21 Howell, e. Oldfield, b. Armstrong .. o Extras 1 Total ! 251 Hearno did not bat this innings, as he is suffering from an injury io his back

The wickets fell as follows:—1 for '2O, 2 for 32, 3 for 174, 4 for 185, 5 for 207 0 for 208, 7 for 213, 8 for 232, 9 for'2sl.

Bowling analysis:—Kellewav 0 for 54, Gregory 7 for 69, Armstrong 2 for, 50, Ryder 0 for 31, Bark 0 for 9, Collins 0 for 37. (

As tlio visitors arc 248 behind Australia, a follow on became necessary, Hobbs and Rhodes opening to the bowling of Kellaway and Gregory. Hobbs began by making some good strokes scoring freely all round the wicket.’ Rhodes batted more cautiously, evidently anxious to improve on bis first innings score. Hobbs was clean bowled by Kellewny when 20. Makepieee was brilliantly caught by Gregory off Armstrong before be got set.

'Plie bowling became deadly, and Hendren, after scoring a single, drove back one to Collins, wbo readily accepted the eateb. Russell was showing no inclination to take risks, being satisfied with singles. Rhodes, when be was 28, bit a. ball to square leg, which Armstrong caught. Douglas and Woolley held on till time was called. The attendance was estimated at 26,000, and the takings amounted to £'2890. A doubt is expressed if Hearne will be able to play in the match, as lie is suffering from a loin strain. ENGLAND —SECOND INNING S Hobbs, b. Kell a way 20 Rhodes, c. Collins, b. Armstrong ... 28 .Makepiece, e. Gregory, b. Armstrong 4 Hendren, c. and b. Collins 1 Russell, c. Armstrong, b. Collins ... .9 Woolley (not out) Lj Douglas (not out) P Extras 3 Total for 5 wickets 7 (>