CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1926, Page 1

CRICKET.

COMMENT ON THE GAME. SYDNEY SMITH’S VIEWS. [Reuter Telegrams.] LONDON, August 18. Interviewed, Sydney Smith said Australia was defeated by a better side. The regaining of the Ashes will do an immense arnont of good for the game. The young captain was cordially to be congratulated on the manner wherein lie handled his side, and all parties on the way they battled for victory. The game was played in the best sporting spirit. CHAPMAN A PROUD MAN. LONDON. August 18. Chapman declared: “I am the proudest man in England to-day. I do not think I did very much towards the victory. The whole team pulled weight and did their best to get the Ashes back. Nothing could have been finer tliiln the magnificent batting of Hobbs and Sutcliffe, a;ul the superb howling of Rhodes to-day, when an early success put victory within sight. The match was fought out in the finest spirit of cricket. THE CROWD’S EXCITEMENT. LONDON, August 18. When tho crowd had practically disappeared, the demonstration ended and the police had gone home at eight o’clock, the news leaked out that many cricketers had not left the Oval. A crowd rapidly assembled and totalled several hundreds when Larwood, Geary and Tyldesley walked out of the ground. The crowd rushed them and the players sprinted for the nearest taxi and the driver managed to get away. Tate next appeared and tho crowd clamoured round him. Rhodes, was next, was mobbed before he reached a taxi. Several women frantically struggled to obtain autographs. One forced her way into the taxi and secured a. scribbled signature. Tt was nearly nine o’clock when Sutcliffe came out *he was surrounded and had to fight his way to a taxi. The crowd waited for Hobbs and eventually learned that ho had left the ground by another gate unobserved. AFTER MANY YEARS. LONDON, August 18. Tho “Daily Express,” in an editorial, says the might of Australia lias at last been laid in the dust, or rather mud of the Oval. England after years of eclipse has regained the Ashes but in the moment of triumph there wiO he no outburst of vain glorious mafficking. Rather the first impulse will he to pay a tribute of respect and admiration for the overseas’ men. Some day they will win again, and he as sportsmenlike in the hour of victory as they are magnanimous in the hour of theit defeat. Hobbs, Sutcliffe. Rhodes and Larwood were the chief executants of the victory nnd tho Selection Committee, its architects. It is only fair to confess that tho collapse of fiho Australians was duo to tho condition of the wicket, but tho fact that Rhodes was bore to seize tho opportunity was duo to the selectors.

HOW THE MIGHTY FELL. LONDON, Aug. 13. Nothing more sensational has happened in the history of tests than the collapse of Australia on wliat appeared a perfect wicket. It commenced at the very beginning, and continued dramatically to an ignoble cml. Faced with getting the formidable total of 415 runs to win— something never yet achieved in the fourth knock in England—the Australians provided an amazing procession to the pavilion almost before the innings had opened. It was scarcely believable. The heroic stand under adverse conditions in the first innings gave confidence to Australia’s supporters, despite the heavy handicap. The first thrill occurred with Larwood’s fourth delivery in the opening over. Ponsford snicked the ball into the slips, passing only two or three yards from Geary’s left hand, it could hardly be described as a real chance, but it was to foretell the doom of Wood fill I, Australia’s “bogey man.” A few minutes afterwards, Rliodes had been moved up to fourth slip, "hen Wood full touched Larwood's next hall right into Geary’s hands about a yard from the spot where Ponsford uns missed. The score stood one for one. This was a striking contrast to the similar stage iu England’s innings. The dismissal of the opening batsman was bad, but there was worse to come. Macartney replaced Wood full. He began characteristically. Rhodes, who had been put on, gave him no trouble, and the crowd began early to see a few of the hundred strokes of which this master is capable. Larwood was hit beautifully to the boundary twice. Then came the end. A Trail from Larwood humped heavily in the centre of the pitch, and Macartney snicked it to Geary, who had barely moved from the spot where he caught Woodfull. It was Australia’s suicide point. One wondered why batsmen of such experience nnd brilliancy did not leave it alone, but such is always the mystery of cricket. The uphill fight called for safety. Speculation shots, though worthy in themselves, were a danger to Australia in such a position. What looked like proving a brilliant, highscoring innings, ended at sixteen. Thcdainage of this, morally and otherwise, was almost incalculable. It can safely lie said that virtually the ashes were delivered to England when Macartney walked to the pavilion. Nevertheless, perhaps, none of the thousands of spectators were ready for the sudden succeeding blow, without another run being added. Ponsford, instead of endeavouring to make good this gaping breach, fiddled about with Rhodes, and was snapped up almost off the bat’s end by Larwood. The crowd here gave vent to its pent up feelings in almost wild excitement. Three of the Australian finest for a negligible score was beyond their wildest dreams. Meantime, Bardsley, the hero of many tests remained to greet the procession of his countrymen. He was cautious and careful .and seemed to Tenlise the importance of remaining. He was almost a pathetic figure characteristically holding up Australia’s end. Collins joined him at 31. The captain walked to the wickets with an air of determination, while “Cooees” from the Australian pavilion resounded all over the Oval, hoping that here was the hero of scores of uphill fights ready to stop one of the biggest rots in Australian test history. It looked as though he would i do so. but it was not to he! Only four had been added to the dismal total, when he was caught off Rhodes, who was turning the hall a good deal. Collins out. was too much for 'the crowd, but he it said it did not forget to cheer the captain when leaving the field of his defeat. Then Andrews failed, rattling Bardsley, whose own effort drew

to an untimely close a few overs after, wards, when he skied Rhodes behind the wicket. There were many feeling: of regret when Bardsley left the scene of his final test appearance undisgraced. There are .none in Australia whe would not have liked to see his outgo as they had seen Hobbs. Afterwards the story continued as mournful as it had opened. It became largely a question of whether Australia would even reach one hundred. This was not reached before Gregory and Richardson went. It remained for the heroic pair of the first innings, Oldfield and Grimmett, to bring the century. Both hatted ably and conscientiously, despite the hopelessness of it all. England remained as keen as over, and tightened the field, with' tho obvious desire to prevent a, three-figure score. Chapman tore after the ' ball frantically, as though the fate of the Ashes depended on a ninth wicket stand. Australia has to thank the imperturbability of Oldfield and Grimmctt for the final total, ignominous though it was. The Australian players arc of divided opinion regarding the state of tho wicket. The majority said it was not blameable for the collapse. Others considered the wicket was peculiar in the early part of the innings, but competent observers sum up the position by saying the collapse was due to deplorably bad batting. KELLEWAY’S VIEW. Jvellcway, in tho “Daily ’Express.” writes: “Early in the Australians’ second innings, it was apparent that there "'as a real sticky wicket. Unlike the tourists, who did not possess a bowler to use such a gift, England bad Rhodes, who knew how to howl on such a wicket. The result was not unexpected, for it was a duel between a well-balanced side, who lived up to their best form, and a team without the necessary batsmen or howlers to take advantage of the conditions ruling in such a big game.” WARNER’S JOY. Mr T. F. Warner writes: “We won on our merits. Tho crowd unmistakably interpreted the feeling of all interested in English cricket. This victory moans everything. Had we been beaten, despondency would have overspread the land. With victory, the game will be fortified and refreshed. For once the Australians did not light with that doggedness and persistence which have won them such wholesome respect.” Colonel Trevor says : “There was no luck about the result. Australia was routed. The Englishmen throughout the second half proved the better players.” Rhodes writes: “England had luck with her. The rain rather helped our bowling. It made the ball kick a little, often presenting difficulties. It was an agreeable surprise to dismiss the visitors so cheaply. I remember nn match played in'a, better spirit.”