CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1926, Page 1

CRICKET.

TEST MATCH. CRITICS AT WORK. ’Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, July 27. Tho “Daily Telegraph” says:“Those who- prophesised a succession of draws have been favoured by the weather anil the tactics of the Australians, which we do not blame, though we cannot admire them, in refusing to take oven the faintest risk. What conceivable risk could they have run had they declared at Manchester late Alonday afternoon, and sent in England for an hour’s batting, on the strength of getting onoor two valuable wickets? But their first and main consideration has been not to lose.” .

Commenting on a demand not being made in Australia that the last test match shall be played out, whether it takes a week or a fortnight, the “Telegraph” remarks: “ AYe suggest that Australia is bent on demolishing once and for all, the three-day tradition here. Tf their effort is successful, wo fear it will soon bo regretted. It would set test cricket even more than now in a class apart, and lead to unspeakably tedious batting and bowling, that would be so designed not to much to get wickets as to avoid runs.”

GAAIE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY

LONDON, July 27.

Tiie “Daily Sketch” says:—“lt was impossible to treat to-da.v’s cricket seriously. . Hobbs seemed to be always struggling with a yawn. The Australians just kept awake, allowing the batsmen to amble singles. It was whispered that the players wanted hammocks instead of drinks at tea time. The sun peeped through the clouds occasionally, and then disappeared through sheer boredom. Yet it was not all comedy to the eleven thousand Lancastrians who paid their good half-crowns to see real cricket.” The “Daily Mail says : “The Australians’ non-declaration in the morning was justifiable diplomacy, as the wicket was bound to play easy, and a draw was a certainty. It also is alleged that half the Australian bowlers were tired, crocked or home-sick. Nevertheless they sacrificed an outside chance of winning.” OTHER. VIEWS. LONDON, July 27. The fourth test has fashioned another clinching argument for the abandonment of the strangling time-limit. Knowing that there was only two days’ play, both sides set their stride accordingly. A story is going the rounds that Hobbs on Alonday morning said to Root: “How long can you bowl ? We want to keep the runs down!” Root replied: “All day, if you like!” Thus it was that he kept his end going for the greater part of the Australians’ innings, but when it was England’s turn, there was nobody on. the Australian side to bowl negative, olf-thc-wicket stuff. Hence, ITo-bbs and Sutcliffe once again began with labouriously safe tactics to give .England a start. They, seemed to be influenced by the despairing note struck by the many sporting writers, who wrote: ‘ 1 Can England save the follow on?” ATailey tied Sutcliffe up, and soon bad Tvldesley guessing, with the fieldsmen close in as if fora, novice, but the Lancashire idol got through the rough water till lunch, after which flic interest of the public and vim of players appreciably waned. After the Leeds test, it was an uninspiring, hopeless sort of test.”

Mr P. F. Warner in the “ Morning Post,” does not conceal the disappoint meat which is general at the indecision of the tests. He says: “It will be partietarly interesting to see what happens when a test match is played to a finish in this country. My feeling is that, after the Oval match, the cricket public will demand, in no uncertain voice, that the test matches should have more than three days. My impressions of the Manchester test arc, firstly, that England did splendidly to dispose of the Australians for 355, after the great stand at the second wicket by Macartney and Woodful. Secondly, the Australians at the moment seem to rely to the largest extent upon the hatting of Macartney and Woodful. Thirdly, the introduction of a leg-break howler strengthened the English attack. Fourthly, England again proved themselves a reliable hatting side. LONDON, July 21. Mr M. A. Noble says: “Hobbs deserves to be congratulated on his captaincy. He did splendidly. He changed the bowlers well, kept an eye on the necessity for contrasts, and did not overbowl anyone.”

The “Evening Standard” says: “ One wondered why the Australians continued batting in view of the state of the game. Why did not the visitors force the pace last night, and declare their venture closed. Apart from Macartney, there was not a single note of distinction in the batting. One cannot repress the feeling that the English attack has not been quite satisfactory, although the pitch was not favourable to them.”

The “Star” states: “.The reason that Australia’s Inter batsmen failed yesterday was that they were ordered to force the pace when Woodful went out. Bardsley intended to declare, but the bowling was so steady that runs were difficult to get.’-’

ENGLISH COUNTY RESULTS. LONDON, July 27. Against Surrey Kent in the first innings made 303 (Ashdown in 150. Shepherd taking 5 for 84). Surrey in the first .innings made 305 (Joacocke 61. and Jardine 85). The match was drawn. Notts against Yorkshire in the first innings made 265 (Payton 63. Li Hey 61) and in the second 155. Yorkshire in the first innings made 245 (Holmes 77, Larwood taking 4 for 54) and in the second made 53 for one. The match was drawn.

For Worcester against Warwick Fox made 122 not out. The (match was drawn. For Lancashire against Derby Hallows made 100 and Watson 109. R. T’-ldc'lev took 5 for 17 in the first innings and 5 for IS in the second. Lancashire won. For Hampshire against Gloucester, Newman in the first innings took S for 61. and in the second 0 for Si. Hampshire won. For Somerset against Glamorgan White took 6 for 44 and Ryan 4_ for 03 For Glamorgan Arnott took 5 for 29, including the hat trick. Mercer in the first innings took 5 for 27 and in the second 5 for 23. Glamorgan won. For Sussex against Northants, Cox took 5 for 32. For Northants Jnpjp took 6 for 48. The match was drawn, Rain interfered with most games,

N.Z. CRICKET TOUR. DUNEDIN, Jtdy 2S. At tho meeting of the Committee of the Otr*go Cricket Association, The financing of the New Zealand team foi\ tho Horn© tour was considered, and a motion carried; “That, the Association is of the opinion that before such an important move was decided upon, the associations should have been consulted on the advisability of arranging the tour and on. the season selected. The Association considers that if the tour is proceeded with, the most satisfactory method of finance would he for the Council, to register itself as an incorporated body, and issue debentures free of interest to the value of £l, £5 and £50.” A further motion that the Association considered a solo selector for the team was inadvisable; was also- carried.

INTERESTING FIGURES. Scorej in the earlier tests were: First test —England 32 for no wick ets. ATatch abandoned. Second test—Australia 383 and 310-1 for -5 wickets. England 475 for ft msichets (declared). ATatch drawn. Third test—Australia, 494; England 294 and 254 for three wickets. Match drawn.

In tho first test. Australia did not bat; in the second, Alacartney made 39 and 133 not out. and AYoodfull T 3 and 0; in the third. AVoodfull made 141 and Alacartney 151 ; and in the fourth AYoodfull made 117, and Alacartney 109.

The centuries made l>y AYoodfull and Alacartney in the Fourth Test bring tTto total for the tour up to 25, Including the double century made by AA’oodfull. Of these Wood full i and Macartney have scored six each, Barsley four, Gregory, Ponsford, Ryder and Andrews two each and Richardson one. Seven of the centuries have been made in test matches, Alacartney having scored three, AYoodfull two and Bardsley and Richardson one each. Following are tho centuries scored for the Australians on the tour to date: 1 AYoodfull, 201, 118. 100. 102*, 141, 117. Alacartney, 148, 160, 130*, 151, 106, 109. Bardsley 127, 193*. 112, 156. Gregory 120*, 130*.. Ponsford 110*, 109.. Ryder 108*, 105. Andrews 164, 122. Richardson 100. *Not out. Only three centuries have been made against the Australians so far. G. T. Stevens made 149 for ATiddlesex, J. B. HohJ:>s 119 in the second test, and E. Hendren 127 not out in the second test.