CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1929, Page 3

CRICKET

FIFTH TEST. ENGLAND’S INNINGS. LEYLAND AND HENDREN SCORE WELL. (Australian Press Association) MELBOURNE, March 10. Play in the fifth test match was resumed yesterday in delightful weather, the wicket being excellent and the attendance very large at noon. Grimmett was not playing, owing to the injury to his knee sustained on Friday. When Duckworth had reached 12 runs, after playing 'for half an hour, he was caught at forward leg, after having previously given a difficult chance to Fairfax in the slips off Wall.

Hendren opened his innings confidently, but he quietened down after making several very vigorous strokes. Leyland was scratching at the start. There was a thrill when Hendren, in running a fourth run off a clever pull off Hornibrook, got to the same end as Leyland, who should have been easily run out, but Fairfax returned the ball to the wrong end. A’Beckett, who was playing as substitute for Grimmett, then made a wild throw at the far wicket, but he missed the wicket, and the ball went to the fence, giving Hendren eight runs for one stroke. Hendren reached 50 runs after hatting for 65 minutes. He had added 40 runs while Leyland was making

only 10. * “Patsy” was giving a nice exhibition of batting. In the last over before lunch, Leyland, when 13, was missed in the slips by Fairfax, off Ryder. Leyland became more vigorous after lunch, and 350 runs was brought up after 399 minutes’ play. Hie position was now becoming a very serious one for Australia, with its depleted bowling strength, Grimmett being sadly missed. Henden, when 70, gave an easy chance of stumping to Oldfield off Oxenham, who had been bowling well. It was an expensive

error. Hendren liad now become very quiet, and in fourteen overs he added only fourteen runs. Leyland reached 50 runs after batting (for tf.46 minutes. The fourth century was brought up after 476 minutes.

Off the fifth ball of the last over after tea, Hendren was caught in the slips. He hatted for one hundred and ninety-one minutes, and he hit one eight, and ten fours. He gave a chance at 70. The partnership had realised 141 runs in 168 minutes.

.Only eight runs were added after tea when AVall clean bowled Larwood. The huge crowd was now becoming very excited at this change in the fortune of the gum 6) as Geary next, played over a* “yorker” from Hornibrook, and was out. Leyland had been playing slowly, although attractively. Tate tried to force matters, and the inelegance of some of his strokes caused great amusement. Like Hendren, however, lie is very popular with the crowd.

The Australian bowling was accurate, and the scoring rate was kept down for some time. Tlie total was taken to 450 after 533 minutes’ play. Fairfax’s error in missing Leyland when lie was 30 proved a sad thing for the Australians. Leyland stood at 99 for some time, and Tate hatted 46 minutes for 15 runs. Great interest was displayed as to whether Leyland would reach his century when White, the last man, came in, as he had remained at 99 for seven overs. Leyland then reached his century in his first test match, after batting for 253minutes, .during which he made 14 boundary hits. Tlie Australian attack lacked vari-; ety, and the fielding was too slack at times. Wall, Hornibrook and Ryder bowled

well. Tlie attendance was 49,000, and the receipts were £4,080. The scores at the drawing of stumps are:—

ENGLAND—First Innings. Hobbs, l.b.iy., b. Ryder 142 Jardine, c. Oldfield b. Wall ... ... Hammond, c. Fairfax, b. Wall ... 38 Tyldesley, c. Hornibrook, b. Ryder 31 Duckworth, c Fairfax, b Hornibrook 1^ Hendren, c Hornibrook, 1) Fairfax fio Leyland. (not out) Larwood, b Wall 4

Geary, b Hornibrook 4 iaLo, c A’jX'ckett, b Hornibrook 16 White, (not out) 2 Extras 13 Total for nine wickets ... 485 THE MASTER BATSMAN.

LONDON, March 8. Heading his article, “Age cannot wither him, nor custom stale his infinite variety,” P. F. Warner, in the “Morning Post,” says that he saw Hobbs’ first test match century made at Melbourne in 1912. Seventeen years thereafter, at an age when mexorable time generally has laid its withering blast on a cricketer’s skill, ■'ebbs has scored his twelfth test centui’y. He has always maintained his variety on all wickets against every sort of bowling. Hobbs, lie says, is a master. He lias suggested that tlm I may be his last appearances in the tests, but though it is a question as to whether future selectors will agree to I this, Hobbs’s fame is for all time. “One of the ifew immortal names that were not born to die.” Though he has received more flattery, adulation, and hero worship praise than any other cricketer, he has always been most modest and most unassuming. MORE "COMMENTS. LONDON, March 9. Clem Hill wrote that lie was satisfied with the Australians’ position on the first day of the test. He cables a eulogy of Hobbs, who, lie says, knows more about the finer points of the game than any living batsman. With Jardine as a partner, Hill says, Hobbs is like a duck out of water and would not attempt short runs. Hill adds:— “Why Jardine, with his natural forcing shots, does not: attempt to score, is lievond me. None of the others attempted to make runs, even Hammond sitting splice.” Woolley, in the “Daily Chronicle,” says: Despite Hobbs’S great innings, the score on the first day was not large enough for optimism, If the week-end weather is sympathetic, the Australians will bat when the pitch is at its best, hut if it rains the Englishmen ought to win. Woolley says that Wall has already justified his trial. He will do still better on English wickets, and so will Hornibrook.

SYDNEY CRICKET

SYDNEY, March 10

In the grade cricket, batting for Western Districts against Paddington, Rose made 65 not out; for Marrickville against Northern Districts, Locler made 68 not out; for Glebe against Manly, Donnelly made 73 and Gray 80 not out; for Balmain against University, Wheatly made 80 not out. Bowling for North Sydney against Mosman, Eaton took 7 for 81; for Northern Districts against Marrickvillo Cleray took 3 for 60 and Russell 5 for 61 : for St George against Waverley. Wall took 4 for <l.