CRICKET.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 429, 10 January 1912, Page 6

CRICKET.

The second test has been lost and won, and the English team may be said to have justified all the good things that were said about it when starting on the hunt for the ashes. The feature of the game was undoubtedly the manner the English bowlers dominated the position in both innings. Australia's crack batsmen were dismissed for paltry contributions, and it was left for the tail to get sufficient runs to makea decent fight at all. Armstrong's performance with the bat stands out as a great effort under trying circumstances, and stamps him Still as one of the world's best allround players. The result of the game indicates that the visitors possess great bowling strength, which will keep the Autralian batsmen cuiet throughout the tour. When such an artist as Trumper is forced to adopt the stonewall game in order to stay at the wickets we may reasonably look forward to slow cricket in the remaining tests. The only alternative to defensive batting by the Australians appears to be the inevitable triumph of the English bowlers The succeeding tests will be looked forward to with abundant interest. "Driver," in the West Australian, Bays: "In a recent issue of the Referee it was suggested by 'Not Out' that if there were a better mediumpaced bowler in Australia than R. J. A. Massie (left-hand) he would like to see him brought out for the test matches if Whitty be not in the old fettle. Up to the present Whitty Has been far from his old form, whilst Arthur Christian has been bowling better against admittedly stronger teams than he did last season, and as a bowler of experience his claims for inclusion in test matches are undoubtedly much stronger than any of the left-handers in the Eastern States. Following arc his complete averages in Western Australia from 1907 to date: Pennant batting, G8 innings, 2029 runs, average 35.5. Bowling, 353 wickets for 2991 runs, average 8.4. Inter-State matches Batting, 14 innings, 532 runs, average 38. Bowling: 49 wickets for 99(5 runs, average 20.3. international matches: Batting 4 1 innings, 38 runs, average 9.5. Bowling, 8 wickets for 271 runs, average 33.8. Totals for all matches: Batting, 86 innings, 2599 runs, 11 not outs, average 34.6. Bowling, 1403 overs, 255 maidens. 410 wickets, 4258 runs, avreage 10.3 runs per wicket." Inputting forward the name of R J. A. Massie, said "Not Out" in the Referee. I looked to the future. Young players of his stamp, as cricket in this country is played, must owe their higher development to first-ciasa cricket. No matter how rare may be the natural aptitude, the full development of their peculiar giftJ, and the general knowledge of the bowler's art, necessary for the making the fullest use of those powers, are to be obtained mainly in iirst-class matches. It was this view of the subject which culminated in the inclusion of W. J. Whitty in the last Australian Eleven to visit England. No comparison that may be made between R. J. A. Massie and A. Christian in this ennection can be adequate. Christian is a fullydeveloped all-round player who knows the game thoroughly, and whose powers have long since come to th»ir best. But what Australia needs in the th 3 event of W. J. Whitty's form showing that he has not yet thoroughly rceovered his snap, is a left-hander of exceptional natural ability, a man who is capable of doing something with the ball which his fellow left-handers cannot do. That man is R. J. A. Massie, and all he needs is the developing influence of first-class match experience. However good club cricket may be in Sydney and elsewhere, in nine cases out of ten there are matters which a young cricketer b-~ '°«-" when he finds

Thd result of the second test match | has evidently had some effect on Hordern, that player having intimated that he will be available for the third test. After the first test it wag announced that Hordern would not play in the third and fourth tests. It looks as though the Commonwealth will have to utilise every available atom of talent if her players are to win the rubber in the tests, and evidently Hordern realises this phase of the question. Clem Hill, commenting on Hobbs' remarks in the London News, complaining of the barracking of Australian crowds, considers that he had acted unwisely. Nothing could be fairer than the treatment of the Englishmen in the first test, as in the second; the crowd was only goodhumoured and in no wise hostile. The Australian players were barracked just as much as the Englishmen.