CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1926, Page 2

CRICKET.

GLAMORGAN MATCH. [Reuter Telegrams.) LONDON, July 31. Tlie match, between Australia and Glamorgan was begun to-day. The conditions were good. There were 18,000 present. The weather, though hot, was glorious. Bardslev won the toss. The wicket proved fast. Ryder and Ponsford opened Australia’s innings. Ryder went after making 13. Bardslev was caught off the first ball he received. Ponsford opened aggressively, scoring freely without effoi-t, and making his runs at a fast rate. The wicket, later on. commenced to-crumble, and the howlers took command, easily dismissing the visitors.

At lunch the score was 4 for 122. A rot then set in, the batsman apparently being unable to play Mercer or Davies. The fielding also was very keen, and this greatly reduced the runs. In the afternoon the score was mounting only in singles. Grinunett opened well, doing some powerful cutting, hut then he misjudged an inswinger from Ryan. Ponsford meanwhile was all tlie time hatting most confidently and brilliantly, not giving the semblance of a chance. The howling was good throughout, and it was helped by the crumbling top dressing, causing the ball to keep low, which was responsible for most of the Australians getting out. Ponsford’s effort for 143 not out, was not only his best, but one of the best of the tour. Ho hatted brilliantly throughout, powerfully driving and cutting. He gave no chances. Australia made 283. '

Glamorgan opened uncomfortably. Mailey was turning the ball and lie had the batsmen in difficulties, hut Bell, hatting soundly, tackled all the lose ones, and made 42 before being caught. Glamorgan had on 85 for three wickets at the end of the day. Following are tlie scores :■— AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Ryder, c Sullivan, b Arnott 13 Ponsford (not out) 143 Bardslev, c Sullivan, b Mercer ... 0 Andrews, e Davies, b Ryan .a. ... 23 Richardson, b Davies ... 2 Taylor, c Sullivan, b Mercer 18 WoodfulL b Mercer 8 Ellis, b Mercer -•> Grinunett, c Davies, b Ryan 12 Mailey, b Mercer 9 Everett, c Clay, b Ryan 17 Extras .* 22 Total 283 Bowling analysis: Mercer. 5 for 74; Arnott, 1 for 42; Ryan, 3 for 100; Davies. 1 for 27; Bates, 0 for 10; Clay, 0 for 8. GLAMORGAN. —First Innings. Bates, c Ellis, b Mailey 9 Bell, c Ellis, b Grinunett 42 Tyson, b Mailey 8 Turnbull (not out) 24 Walters (not. out) © Extras - Total for 3 wickets. 85 FOURTH TEST RECEIPTS. LONDON, July 31. The official figures show that at the fourth test match, 52.881 persons paid for admission. The gross receipts were £10,814 and the nett receipts £8,882.

MUCH ENGLISH CRITICISM. LONDON, July 31. In cricket circles, interest now chiefly centres in the final test matdli at the Oval. In many respects this tour can. he written down as tlje most disappointing one ever undertaken, unless something unusual happens at the Oval to retrieve the situation. Perhaps no tour has ever been the subject of sudh diverse comment, more provocative press criticism, or more dogged misfortune. At tlio beginning the general strike appeared likely to sound its death knell, and the entire tour has involved untold inconvenience, expense and travel. Then came a remarkable series of misfortunes to the teams’ personnel. which left practically only a bare eleven to select irom, culminating in the temporary loss of the captain, whose condition, at one time, was one of more or less concern. Happily, the lias now recovered. Added to this, the weather has been perhaps the most atrocious possible. The abandonment of the first test was a lianancial blow, as well as helping to minimise the subsequent interest. Furthermore, every subsequent test was responsible for a controversial outburst, which may have been magnified somewhat by the newspapers, but which was, nevertheless, distinctly unfortunate. It is soticeable that the Australians’ methods have been the subject of criticism, some people suggesting that they regarded the County matches as nothing more nor less than so much hatting practice. This may. or may not, he justified. Nevertheless, the fact remains that, with fourteen more matches to go, the Australians have a total of seventeen draws out of twenty-six. games. Many think that the policy of regarding the tests as the only vital matches detracts somewhat- from the purposes of international tours. The decline of interest in the matches where a draw has become obvious after the fii'st day has been strikingly indicated by the fact that on tlie second day at Manchester,, the attendance was thirty-four thousand, while on the third day it was only seventeen thousand. The public assuredly had no interest in the drawn matches, but whether it would lie correct to blame the Australians’ methods for the draws is a controversial point.

The publication of Australian comments has greatly heartened the critics who put in double columns the Australian denunciations, The Australians feel that the tour involves a big strain in travelling, and that more rest is necessary. This is said to read strange when the big distances in Australia are remembered, and the fact that the English teams have been required to cover them. The fate of the Ashes depends on the test - at the Oval. Adhere it is hoped that the final important game of the tour will he of such it nature as to remove all possibility of criticism.

It is interesting to note in this connection. that the revenue authorities have notified the owners of about thirty houses’overlooking the Oval that the money paid for the privilege of occupying the windows and balconies on the occasion of the test match will he subject to entertainment tax. This is the cause of the latest, if a somewhat subsidiary argument, which seems inevitably to be associated with the tour.