CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1926, Page 3

CRICKET.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.! LONDON, August 18. For Middlesex against Warwick. Mann made 195. Paine took 5 for 77. For Warwick, Bates made 141 and Howetson took a for >4B. The match was drawn. COMMENT BY HOBBS. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, August 19. Australia lost the match on Tuesday morning when they failed to break the first wicket partnership on a bad wicket, ■ said Hobbs. Richardson’s bowling was excellent but negative. He seemed not to be trying for a wicket, rather waiting for the batsmen to get out themselves. It would probably have been a different story if Macartney had gone on and bowled round the wicket, for which the conditions were ideal. During the whole of Saturday and Monday the wicket was an ideal one, the most beautiful he had seen. It was only had on Tuesday morning. It improved later hut was had again on Wednesday after the rain but even at the beginning of the Australian’s second innings it was not as bad as when Sutcliffe and myself were batting. The astounding feature of the game was the small scores in the first innings. Australia did wonderfully to get England out for 280. I expected we would get 400, hut have never seen Mai ley better. It was great captaincy on the part of Collins to keep on funny bowlers. England was lucky to get out four by Saturday night, but it was not then the match was lost. Collins. Gregory, Oldfield and Grimmett restored the fortunes by means of a typical Australian effort.

When Grimmett howled the first over to me on Tuesday, my spirits sank to zero. 1 managed to stick there, hut it is incorrect to say T was bluffing Collins in order to induce him to keep on Richardson. T thought Wednesday’s rain was the deciding factor because we bad the bowlers therefore, which resulted in getting Woodfull, Macartney and Collins out, after which the Australians did not fight as they ought. They seemed to give up. Had Collins stayed an hour longer on the improving wicket it would have been a different story. T was agreeably surprised at the public reception of the. played out test, and I never felt such electric excitement over a test in England before. It made an immense difference to players who felt it inspiring them to the liiglitest efforts. It was impossible to feel fatigued. I hope it means three played'out tests in future tours of England. He concluded: “If we retain the present form in 1928, we would not refuse to go to Australia if asked, but_ the prospect of more of those grim fights makes one think.” MATCH ABANDONED. LONDON, Aug. 19. The Australian-Leveson-Gower match fixed to start to-dav, has been abandoned. SOMERSET TEAM (Received tin’s dav at 9.0 n..m.' • LONDON. Aug. 19. The Somerset team to meet the Australians is as follows:—Daniel!, White, Macßryan, Lyon, Earle, Robertson, Glasgow, Bridges, Longridge, Young, Hant.