CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1924, Page 3

CRICKET.

FIMST TEST MATCH. AUSTRALIAN'S BAT WELL. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. OAIILD ASSOCIATION SA'DXEA", December 10. The weather was fine and bright for the first test match. Australia against England. The wicket was in good oiler.

The attendance was thirty-five thousand. The teams were as cabled. Andrews and Kilner were the twelfth men. Collins won the toss, and he elected to hat. opening with himself and Bardslev. ’Fate was in splendid condition, and the batsmen took few liberties with him. Bowling with a silght wind, he maintained a good pace. Freemaii. also, was puzzling, and kept an excellent length. With Bardslev 12. Collins was nine. It was one of Freeman’s slow ones that Bardslev, when 21, smacked into Woolley’s hands at line slip, and was caught. The scoring was slow, the half century taking 50 minutes to compile. Collins hatted nicely, scoring mostly oil the leg with singles. The fieldsmen let little past them, and Chapman, Samlham and Freeman made some specially fine returns. Ponsford. who was making his first appearance in test cricket, hatted forcibly, hut Tate kept him thinking. He played Freeman and Hearno more freely. however, and made his 50 in 117 minutes, displaying nice judgment in placing his strokes.

Collins also played cleanly. He passed fifty in 150 minutes. Be left the off halls mostly alone, hut got many off Tate, to square h'g. till Cilligau placed Freeman there. The century appeared in 1.11 minutes. Tate was temporarily relieved by Gilligan. after howling nineteen overs for l(i runs. With the score at 105, Collins. who then was 12. gave a difficult chance for a catch to llendroii. When the score was one for 11.1. Collins was if 7 and Ponsford .18; and when 172 was up. Collins was 7!) and T’onsford 01.

Just before tea, the hatting became more vigorous, and plav livened up, and Woolley .seemed unahe to get the halls up. Hearno caused no trouble. Both Collins and Ponsford showed skill in pulling the fast howlers to square leg. This stroke, and drives to mid-on, probably produced most of the runs. Two hundred appeared for 210 minutes’ play. Collins reached the century with a drive to the boundary ofi' IlchUs, after being 215 minutes at the crease.

Twenty minutes later Hendren caught Collins in the slips. The Australian skipper hit nine fours, and his partnership with Ponsford lasted 180 minutes.

Tin* hoard read 1 for If!; then 2 for 210. Collins bail ail enthusiastic reception on returning to Lie pavilion. The running of Ponsford and Collins between the wickets was a little uncertain. hut it improved as the game went on.

Ponsford made one or two flukey strokes, hut the ball landed in open spaces. His timing was excellent. Tic

' laved carefully. .••nil took no risks. Freeman’s first ball after tea narrowly missed bis wicket. The Englishmen’s picking un was exceptionally good, and frequently evoked hearty applause. Struilwiek was in good form behind the wickets.

Uonsfnrd reached tin- hundred with a single alter being 200 minutes batting nud retired bowled by Cilligau twenty* two minutes later. His wore included eight fours. A. Hichnrdson was batting attractively, but the lidding was pretty sound. The score when stumps were drawn was 282 for three wickets, the details being:

AUSTRALIA- Ist. Tunings. Collins e. I leinlrcn. h. Tate ... H I Bardsley c. Woolley h. I•'rcenlan ... 21 I’niislord h. Gililgan lld Ri. haul .on. "ol out Taylor. m>t out ' Extras 1“ Total for it wickets 282 “PLUM” WAI!XF,R’S ORIXfOX. (Received this day at 9.1 A a.m.t LONDON, December 10. Warner in the “Morning Rost” says England has justification to hone for success in the first tost match as she has the best howler in the world in Tate, and an array of batsmen, who, on a good wicket Mill cause the Australians to toil hard and long: but the Australians also have nine men capiiUe of making a century. Freeman is the most likely to help Tate, wlnt fortunately has the stamina to howl all dav. Sandham’s inclusion is justified as he is an outliehler and good thrower and runners are needed with so many slow howlers. Given eijim.l conditions. 'England will win. keen use Tate is the best bowler on either side. The howling of Gregory. Mnilev. Kella.wa.v and Hendry, on paper is good enough to get Hobbs and company out under lour hundred.