CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1921, Page 1

CRICKET.

THE PLAY DESCRIBED. A POOR BAITING DISPLAY. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. LONDON, May 30 England with a deficiency of 12(1 opened the second innings with Knight and Holmes, while Gregory and McDonald bowled from the river and pavilion ends. As on Saturday when Knight was three, Gregory almost caught and bowled him. He ran halfway up the pitch, but slipped. Macartney relieved Gregory after two overs and found the length immediately and had the batsmen guessing. McDonald was howling well, varying the pace. Tito batting was slow until Knight lifted a no hall of Macartney’s and rail four. Holmes at seven was dismissed by an excellent catch by Taylor who somersaulted, retaining the hall. Tyldesley followed, Armstrong relieving Macartney and Gregory took McDonald’s end. At 2o Armstrong bad bowled throe maiden overs ami had the batsmen tied up. The fielding was bright. At the luncheon adjournment the sctM'e was 28 tor one hour’s play. Gregory and Armstrong continued the attack after lunch. They each kept an excellent length, which with the machine like fielding made scoring difficult. Knight broke the monotony with two fine strokes off Gregory. Then a fast rising ball from Gregory struck Tyldesley on the head and knocked him out for several minutes. The ball fell from his head on to the wickets. Tyldesley thus being out. A section of the crowd shouted “Take him off.” Fifty appeared after 93 minutes. The wicket was much faster than in the morning, and Gregory was still making the ball bump. The crowd hooted, and advised Armstrong to try another howler. He accepted their advice, McDonald replacing Gregory. At 59 Hendren had joined Knight, who lost bis wicket through misunderstanding Hendren. He tried to return, but Macartnev picked up smartly and hit the wicket. —3 —38—63. He batted 110 minutes with occasionally attractive driving. He was never really comlorta hie.

Douglas filled the gap, but Hendren bad a short stay, having no confidence. He was dismissed at seven by a clinking ball from McDonald. Douglas and Woolley resorted to stonewalling in an attempt to retrieve the position. Douglas broke the spell by leg glancing McDonald to the boundary. He was nearly caught by Pellew off Armstrong. McDonald gave signs of tiring at this stage, lie Laving howled lb overs, including six maidens for 21 runs. The hatting was painfully slow and Woolley after halt an hour succeeded in getting one while Douglas made 13. The scoring was far below Test standard, but the explanation was the wonderful fielding and great howl-

ing. Douglas was dismissed by a good catch by Hendry in the slips. Jupp attempted to enliven proceedings, hut the fielding kept down the runs. Gregory replaced .McDonald at 88 and the crowd was again demonstrative, shouting, “Take him off,” and hooting. Woolley made his second scoring stroke after 3b minutes. He took an hour compiling nine. Then another of Gregory’s delivery’s struck him on the shoulder, causing a sustained outburst of barracking. There was tremendous applause when lie hit Gregory to leg for three and Armstrong to leg over the ropes. The century appeared after 190 minutes. The score at the tea adjournment was live for 101; Woolley 31, .Jupp lb. In the first over on resuming .Jupp was hrillin-ntl.v caught at mid-off f>y IVllew, whose Holding was one of the features of the match. Rhodes came to Woolley’s assistance, while Hendry replaced Armstrong at 110. The new howler soon discovered a puzzling length, and the batsmen sneaked singles. Woolley made two pretty cuts off Gregory and reached tlit- Australians’ score. In tin' next, over Rhodes gave a chance to Gregory olf Hendry which was not accepted. He also survived an appeal for leg he I ore Irom (he same bowler. Woolley brightened up and gave the best display on the English side. 11 is downfall came through a ball off the edge of his bat being snapped up by the wicket keeper. Seven—-3-I—l3B. The next ball completely beat and bowled Strudwiok. McDonald relieved Gregory at 138, causing Rhodes’ dismissal in the first over. He batted solidly for 7b minutes. .McDonald then sent Richmond's bail 50 yards. The innings occupied 21b minutes. The fall of wickets was as follows; One for 19, two for 11, three for HO, four for (13, five for 7(i, six lor 110, seven for 138, eight for 138, nine for HO. Wanting 28, Australia opened at six o’clock and finished in 20 minutes. Macartney and Bardsloy knocking up the necessary runs. Bowling analysis; Jupp 0 for 13, Richmond 0 for 17.

COMMENTS ON PLAY. LONDON, May 30. \ special correspondent writes: A drizzle, followed by sunshine, provided the English slow left-handers with a wicket to their liking, hut neithei Woolley nor Rhodes found Ins length for some time, and when they did, the wicket was beginning to cut up. Woollev relied on his length, which was consistent to the close. TTe was more consistently troublesome than was Rhodes, who depended on constant variations of length and on the spin. He still is master of a tremendous finger spin England played in an uphill, determined'fashion, but the precision _ of tlw Australian Howling awl fielding

kept them on the defensive. The fielding was the best Australian display of the tour. Pellew excelled himself. Celebrated judges pronounce him the finest all-round fieldsman that Australia has ever sent to England. The crowd consistently barracked Gregory, whose bowling often rose head high, and there was a specially angry display when he struck Woolley on the forearm. Even when the game appeared a foregone conclusion, the Australians continued to practice catching, which has become their own peculiar form of entertainment, and always interests the crowds. Hendry’s howling was a revelation to the critics ,he having a good length and rising and pacing from the wicket. Tyldesley is suffering from abrasions, but they are nothing serious. The question lias been raised as to whether ho was out, as he disturbed the hails while staggering. The decision was that he had knocked the hall into the wicket wilTi his foot. Collins was suffering from an injured finger. Mniley fielded instead of him for most of the second innings. After the dismissal of Knight and Tyldesley, Eng- 1 land, apart from Woolley, seemed to realise that they were fighting a losing battle, while the Australians realising they were winning their grimness and keenness were never displayed fo better advantage. The “Times” cricket expert characterises the barracking of Gregory as an unseemly display of ignorance and had manners by a section of the crowd. Tyldesley was more to blame for his accident titan Gregory.

AUSTRALIAN MANAGER’S STATEMENT

LONDON, May 30. Despite apparent internal evidence that the “Observer’s” article criticising the Australians had high official inspiration. the Australian manager (Mr Smith') expresses the opinion that it is merely the private view of somebody who is afraid to sign his name. If the writer comes into the open, the manager says, then he will reply forcibly. Mr Smith also says that the Australians’ relations with the authorities in securing shorter hours were, so amicable that he cannot believe that the attack was inspired.

MORE CRITICISMS

LONDON. May 30

The “Morning Host” editorially says it hopes that the English selectors in future will remember that youth must ho served. It says Jardine and Hoi dr,worth, of Oxford deserve notice. Hurston should replace Howell, who is too plain and straightforward. The claims of Morfeo, the most successful Northern League howler, should he also considered. The “Daily News” referring to the crowd’s desplay of feeling against Grc„orv after Tyldesley was struck on the jaw says: “Our only comment on this unsportsmanlike demonstration is that there was no such outburst against Durston when he put Armstrong out of action.”

BARRACKING OF GREGORY CONDEMNED.

LONDON. May 31. E. Sewell, in the “Daily Chronicle” says the tendency of a few spectators to barrack Gregory, presumably for dangerous bowling, is surprising in such a home of the game as Nottingham. Tt showed an astounding shortness of memory. The outstanding reason for Australia’s win was fair and square onolcofc and beautiful fielding. TTendren made the mistake of his life when he called Knight for a short run as Knight wag well flot.

FURTHER COMMENT

(Received This Day at 9.4 b a.mA LONDON. May 31. The “Yorkshire Post” commenting on the test match, says only in fielding can England lie said to have hold their own moderately well, and even there the Australians showed better judgment in field craft, and blocking of runs. There was a wild outcry against Gregory, but it was nothing new for fast bowlers to pitch short on bumpy wickets. Tf England had Howlers equalling Gregory’s, and McDonald s pace, they would do the same. Tt is apparent that several English players have lost their confidence, through their defeats in Australia. Newer players might he given a further trial and others introduced, with the certain knowledge that they could not do worse than those supplanted. Obviously new bowlers should supersede Howell and Richmond. The “Guardian” says some of us had warmed ourselves with the belief that the loss of five tests in Austrab was explicable by factors which would not function so painfully here. The real reason seems to have been that the Australians were, and still are, the better side. The Selection Committee might call back Ery and MacLaren who have not forgotten the wonderful fast, bowlers of other days, or throw in a- handful of young, daring amateurs. Tt is not really a solemn matter. No cricket team on earth was ever worth a wrangle, but it is a pity to lose without the fun of trying a few new ways.

, PPP j VPfl TH« Dev at 11.30 n.m.) LONDON, May 31. Correction. —Tost cricket; Richmond howled McDonald ,whose average was b for 32 and Gregory’s 2 for 45. THE. CAMBRIDGE TEAM. (Received This Day at 9.45 a.mA LONDON, May 31. The following team will represent Cambridge University against the Australians—Ashton (three), Gibson, Marriott, Chapman, Doggart, Bryan, Hake, Howry, HiUwood.