CRICKET,

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1926, Page 1

CRICKET,

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) COMAIENT ON PLAY. LONDON, June 28. When England went in, everyone was saying: “They are playing the right game for England,” hut the speed of the scoring was more due to loose balls than to forcefu) hatting. Few people could recall more lull tosses Lilian those given in the early overs, all of which were hanged to the ropes. Gregory and Alaeartney were both offenders.

Collins then made a double bowling change to Alailcy and Richardson, and thereafter the old snail pace of batting set in. It was a reflex of admirable bowling, especially by Richardson, who sent down only two over-pitched balls all day. Richardson was again bowling at 3.13, and he was not taken off until 5.17. He kept all the men quiet with a perfect length and a tricky spin. He howled Sutcliffe all the way. Gregory at times was utterly commonplace, being both loose and erratic. Even Ryder was his superior. In fact, Richardson and Ryder were the outstanding pair of bowlers of the day. though Afailey’s 35 minuted bowling before lunch was as good as anything lie lias ever howled.

It was surprising, late in the day, to see Gregory, the terror of 1921, being smacked all round the wicket b.v Woolley and Hendren. who did much to allay England’s “ Tisn’t good enough!” cry, that was heard wlien Hobbs took thirty-five minutes in getting nine runs, and. when England from 2.15 p.m. till 5.30 p.m. added only 142 runs.

Hobbs, who exactly repeated Oldfield’s stroke to the ball from Alaeartnev, but (unlike Oldfield) escaped, was sometimes the old Hobbs, but there was littlo of his old daring. Hobbs generally waited for loose balls, the number of which only served to emphasise the impoverishment of the Australians’ attack.

AUSTRALIAN SCORE. LONDON, June 28. Commenting on the play, “ The Sketch” says: “The Australian score was n handy total, but tlie best reflection of Australian supporters was neither Root nor Tate had played the havoc which everyone predicted. The water which overshot the wicket in the night almost disappeared under the heavy roller, hut later on Ilohbs and Sutcliffe did a lot of patting, though it was well clear of the pitch of tlie ball.

BARDSLEY’S BIG SCORE. LONDON, j u ne 28. The “Sketch” says: “ Bardslev can ascribe bis failure to reach Mie second century to Oldfield’s lack of inches, The Australian -wicket-keeper shaped like playing the part of a fort-holder. He was batting more crisply and certain than most of bis predecessors. The ball was always taken by him in the centre of the bat. Everybody was admiring his stylishness and vigour, but the coup do grace came in a most tragic way. Kilncr sent down the worst ball of the match, a full toss which would have gone over Strudwick’s head, but bis lack of inches and a lack of judgment combined converted Oldfield’s swipe for a sixer into a skier to square leg, where Sutcliffe had the simplest of catches. “Ohs'” of sympathy resounded everywhere.” “ Mailey also seemed a safe prop for Barcislev’s feat, but a wicked shooter struck his ankle dead in front of the wicket, everyone then standing up and cheering. Bardsley’s great feat was made more meritorious by the fact that in the second over of to-day his left middle finger was squashed by n rising hall from Larwood. The only real chance lie gave was a hot high relinn to Kilner, which wriggled out of both his hands. Otherwise Bardsley’s glances and cuts were even more sparkling than those he made on Saturday.”

M.C.C. ON ALEUT. LONDON, .Tune 28. The Narylobone Club is holding an enquiry into the hose-pipe incident. The sodden patch not only hampered 11,e fieldsmen’s running, hut caused the hall to bounce deceptively.

A strong police guard lias now been placed inside as well as outside of the o-rouud all night, long. Watchers gazFng through the gates _ notice flash lamps continually flickering and moviurr over the ground. Obviously the Marylcbone Club is not- taking any chance of a second attempt.

VARIOUS VIEWS. LONDON, June 28. Air P. F. Warner, in the "Morning Post.” pays a tribute to Richardson’s

accuracy, but says Mailey was more dangerous and Ryder was hard to score dif. Oldfield, he says, has confirmed his opinion that he 'is the best Wicket-keeper in the world. Colonel Trevor, writing in the “Daily Telegraph,” dwells on the after-lunch check in the scoring, “especially,” lie says, “ when Richardson and Ryder made two great [est batsmen look impotent. Richardson was Shaw and Attewell rolled into one. Ryder has never before shown such a spell of accuracy. In other conditions I don’t think Hobbs should have allowed this. I rather fancy our great batsmen would, had tilings been otherwise, have ‘gone and fetched them.’ Our fielding was good but that of the Australians was better. Their howling was admirable as to length.” Kelleway, in the “ Daily Express,” says: “I have never before seen such poor bowling in a test match.”

ENGLISH HOPES RISE. LONDON. June 29. "Sporting Life” says: “England’s score is a sufficient reply to those Jeremiahs who consider the Australians to be super-men and English cricket to be decadent, but it also proves that the three-day test is an impossible proposition. If our days are insufficient,'the International Board must consider having three games, all to be played out.” The “Daily Express” says: "The test match piles argument upon argument in favour of increasing the number of days allotted. It may. indeed, be necessary to devote one week each to the tests, in order to- avoid the futility and disappointment over the drawn- games.”

N . 7. TEAM FOR, ENGLAND. CHRISTCHURCH, June 29. A special meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council was held to-night to consider a cable received from. Mr Arthur Sims relative to an invitation from the Marylebone Club for a New Zealand cricket team to visit England, stating that the only seasons suitable l for England would be 1927 and 1931, and the matter was an urgent one, in view of the fact that the secretaries of the county clubs in England meet in London on July Ist to arrange the 1927 programme. The Council decided to accept the invitation for 1927. > It is proposed to play 24 matches, including most of the leading counties and Universities, and some of the minor counties. With regard to the financial terms of the tour, negotiations are still proceeding and the results should he made known in a few weeks.