CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1925, Page 2

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION FOURTH TEST. ENGLAND 2 FOR 282. MELBOURNE, Feb. 13. The wicket and weather condition,! were perfect for the opening of the fourth cricket test match. Gilligan’s luck changed, and lie won the toss, sending llobbs and Sutcliffe in to Lat. Five thousand spectators were present at the -start. Gregory and Ivellewa/ opened the attack. Sutcliffe was lucky at the beginning an uppish stroke off Kellcway nearly costing him bis wicket. He marked his escape by following up with three beautiful late cuts,, Hobbs early in the innings, was struck on the hand by a rising hall. 'When Sutcliffe was 12, he swung one from Gregory high to leg, but Ponsford dropped an easy catch. This batsman was severe on sluggish ones from Mailc.v, but Kelleway’s deliveries he treated with respect. The masterly Hobbs created a sensation with a faulty cut, the ball, however, going just out of Kelleway’s reach. Gregory was unlucky in not securing .both wickets. Half an hour yielded 23 runs. These concessions gave the batsmen heart, and they plugged along, mostly by singles. At 59 a double change was made in the howling, Ryder and A. Richardson taking tbe ball. After lunch Hobbs reached 50, Gregory following through, but he dropped a fast one off his own howling. Both Hobbs and Gregory were bewildered, and the crowd were disappointed. One hundred runs appeared for 10-lmin. play. Taylor in the outfield and Andrews at cover, were safe, but Australia was paying for their mistakes in the air when the first wicket partnership exceeded a century, it lieing the fourth time in this series of tests. The scoring now became faster, and Sutcliffe reached the half century. Ryder’s second over after lunch brought Hobbs’ downfall. He played forward, and Oldfield had the bails off like lightning. Hobbs had played a brilliant innings, characterised by perfect timing. His score included five fours. I—G6 —12G. Hearne was the newcomer. His great display against Victoria made him the cynosure of ail eyes. Ho opened carefully. and Mailey spread the field out, in anticipation of a catch, but Sutcliffe passed Hobbs’ tally, and then Hearne reached 20 in 47 minutes. Sutcliffe found it difficult to get out of the seventies. At the tea adjournment the score was 1 for 185, Hearne being 32. The attendance was now 12,000. "When play was resumed after tea, Sutcliffe opened out briskly, and swung into the nineties, adopting aggressive tactics towards Ryder. When lie reached the century, after two hundred minutes’ batting in the glaring sun, Sutcliffe was accorded a rousing s cClnmation. A quiet period followed. Then he got going again, using his customary square cut. He ran to forty. 1 hen play slackened once more., and the crowd were awaiting something roncttional. It occurred in A. Richardson’s next over, when Hearne drove one straight to Bardsley at midon. Lie retiring man bad given a sound exhibition, though lie was inclined to lie cramped. 2—44—232. At tiffs time A. Richardson’s avenge was I for 14.

The next mail, "Woolley, the Kentish left-hander was a long time breaking his duck. Ho showed no inclination to touch A. Richardson’s soft stuff, and took 25 minutes to make three. Oldfield’s keeping was a special font uro. , Mailey went on at 247 and \Yoollcy spectacularly drove him to the pickets. The interest had now lapsed, and there was a complete absence of barracking, but tbe crowd signified its approval when Woolley drove Mailey twice to the fence in an over, costing fourteen runs. Collins took tbe ball at 2i4. When stumps were drawn. Sutcliffe was unconquered after a masterly, confident display. ENGLAND—First Innings.

Hobbs st.. Oldfield, b. Ryder 60 Sutcliffe- (not out) I’ll Hearne, c. Bardsley. b. Richardson 44 Wool lev (not out) Extras 6

Total for 2, wickets

l it ESS COMMENT. SYDNEY. Fob. 14. The ‘‘Herald'’ commenting on the •Ticket says the wicket was good and very few balls got uji unduly high. Generally the easy pace of the pitch deprived them cf much of their hostility. The occasion thus provided Hobbs and Sutcliffe with the opportunity to he associated in another prolific partnership. mi opportunity, which in a customary businesslike way they readily turned to the advantage of their side to the extent of another three figure opening partnership. The play of the pair though marred by a couple t)f hleinslies was characterised by its .supreme soundness in technique am cl tactics, in its delightful running between wickets and its success. Sutcliffe played magnificently. He. is entitled to the highest commendation for his unprecedented feat scoring four centuries in Ills ii.st four Anglo-Australian tests. The outstanding feature of his batting display was the studied soundness and patience allied to a remarkable capacity for getting the full value out of everything in the howling. Sutcliffe is 'a charming personality, modest to gentle mannered and easy of approach. His batting is just a reflection of his temperament. There is nothing aggressive about it. He is a very thoughtful cricketer who in consequence as a batsman gets the maximum value of his ability. It was a day of triumph for English hatsmanship. Hobbs played in his customary masterly manner. The: Australian out cricket can scarcely I 3 ivg-HcVdl c« satiisiactc)w. Mali ley gave the batsmen most trouble. Ho bail them all on the defensive and they were disinclined to take the slightest risk. The fielding with the exception of Andrews and Taylor was patchy, and not up t:> iiiteiiiatiiomal require-