FOURTH TEST MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 61

FOURTH TEST MATCH.

GOOD SCORE BY AJSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, February 7. The fourth test match w,is commenced to-day. Jones acted as captain of the English team, Fane. Blythe. Young, and Hj^es. being omitted.

Noble won the to£6. and. with Trumper, opsneJ. Australia's innings on a sjood wicket. The batsmen began very gingerly, and treated with respect the bowling of Fielder and Barnes.

Noble bad a life very early in the proceedings, but the partnership did not last long, {« Trumper was taken at third slip

by Crawford to the great disappointment of the crowd. Trumper has shown in* s. different form in test cricket this season, and the disappointment was accentuated shortly after when Hill was clean bowled. Noble and M'Alister made a favr stand, though M'Alister gave a chance when he was 13 to Jones at square-leg off Braund. It was a stinging ball, which the English* man met left-handed. At the lunch hour they were both not out, Noble being 37 and M'Alister 20. After lunch the dullness of the morning play cqgtlnued. Noble was the first to go, Crawford skittling him. Noble had batted, stolidly for 113 minutes, but his runs included only four boundary hits. Gregory was cordially greeted on hi* reappearance in test cricket, and, with MAlister, brought up. the century in 135 minutes. Three runs later M'Alister was well caught at third man after batting 107 minutes, during which he hit three 4's. Gregory, to his disappointment, waa caught at point. Armstrong and Ransford played beauti-? ful cricket, and the partnership added 91 runs" before Ransford, who was in for • 100 minutes, hitting six 4's, wa6 caught at - slip by Braund. Armstrong was immediately afterward* | bowled by Crawfoid. ! The remaining batsmen did but little, . and the innings, which lasted 274 minutes, > closed for 214. Gunn and Hobbs were associated for the

few minutes remaining to "stumps." [ The dullness, of the day's play was relieved only by the brightness of Ransford and Armstrong. The former was in excellent form from the time of entering. • until bis dismissal, but he appeared tired. Hia cutting was superb and his timing' perfect. Armstrong was more useful than brilliant, one clipping iixer off Braund evokj ing enthusiasm. • The bowling was magnificent, Crawford " j especially. He mixed his pace, disguising ix, well, and the fielding was capital. The attendance was nearly 10,000, and the wicket was good. February 8. The fourth test match was continued to-day. England were exceedingly uri- > fortunate in having the worst ,of the weather, and general regret was expressed that the match should not hay« been contested on equal conditions ot wicket and weather. ! It is felt now that Australia must win, and, that being so, the rubber becomes. Australia's. Rain fell early in the morning, and consequently the wicket waß soddened, the match not starting till 2.20 p.m. Hobbs and Gunn continued England* innings in bright sunshine. The wicketwas all in favour of the bowlers, and Saunders and Noble had a feast day. Hobbs immediately began to bit, and obtained five, successive 4's. Gunn was the first to go, being caught and bowled l by Saunders. His score of 13 occupied 55 minutes. Hardstaff and Hutchings did very little, bui/ the latter saw Hobbs clean bowledt by Noble's first ball of the day. He had batted for 71 minutes in a highly meritorious style on a bowler's wicket, and - had put on 10 4's. Braund saw the speedy departure o£ Rhodes, who was caught in the slips, and; of Crawford, who was clean bowled. He was then joined by Jones, who went in for hitting — the proper gam© on such a wicket. Braund was very cleverly Tun out. Jones played Noble to mid-off, and started running, but Noble followed up his delivery and threw down Braund's wicket. The others put on 9 runs between them, and the innings, which lasted for 125 minutes, closed for 105. Both Saunders and Noble were unplay-' s able. Noble opened the bowling \\ : i3T O'Connor and Macartney, but lie" soon changed them to himself .and Saunders, with the best result. — Australia's second innings was opened by Noble and Trumper on a much-im-proved wicket, but the spectators were dismayed to -see that Crawford's fourth ball provided Trumper with a pair of spectacles. ' Hill and Noble showed a good front to the bowling, but Noble had the misfortune to play Crawford on to his leg and" thence on to his wicket. M'Alistcr d'd not last long, but Gregory and Hill got going beautifully. They. stole many runs, and rattled the fielding by their daring in this regard and roused the spectators' enthusiasm. They played out time in good style. Provided no more rain falls the wicket should roll out in a perfect condition on Morxlay. Present appearances ind ; cat» fine weather. The attendance was 19,797, and thf takings £757. February 10. The fourth test match was resumed today. The weather was beautiful, and tha wicket rolled splendidly, being slow an<| eas-y. The day's work on the whole placed! Australia in an excellent position, and! though for the greater part the play waa dull «md of a stubborn and patient chaTacter the last half-hour was • tremendously lively and enthusiastic. Hill and' Gregory played cautiously i Tho former was the first to go, through i piece of magnificent work. With machinelike precision Barnes, at cover, fielded Hill's stroke one-handed, and leturned the bah to Humphries. ' Hill fell in endeavouring to .repaid his crease. An uaunyal

1/htog in Hill's score iras that there were iko- boundary hits. Gregory was joined by Armstrong, but tike Sydney player soon departed after playing stylish cricket and hitting three Armstrong and Ransford then became associated. The latter quickly got going, and 100 runs were scored in 135 minutes. Rhodes bowled well, keeping a beautiful length. After lunch Fielder and Rhodes took up the bowling. Ransford, when 26, gave a chance to Crawford in the slips off Reldcr. Ransford was batting in*highclass fashion when he was caught at the Wickets after an innings lasting 103 Iftimites, but including only three boundiry strokes. The partnership of Macartney and ArmStrong proved a fast one. They scored 54 in 33 minutes, of which Macartney made 29. In the first over after tea, bowever, Macartney was dismissed. Play so faT had been dullish. Carterpnlivened the proceedings by scoring five successive., 4's. Armstrong gained 88, •which constituted his highest teet score, amid cheers. The partnership yielded 112 rime, and when Carter was caught in the slips he i received an ovation from the Spectators. His score included 11 4's. O'Connor and Armstrong played out lime. The concluding half-hour was full of excitement and enthusiasm. Armstrong up to his fifties played completely defensive and wearisome cricket, but be afterwards opened into a dash of brilliancy. The wildest enthusiasm prevailed "when he twice successively drove Braund for 6's in magnificent style. This was a thrilling termination of the day's play, completely lifting it from one of practical dulness. Armstrong received an ovation on returning to the pavilion. He batted for 555 minutes, and hit 12 4's and two 6's. The wicket is lasting well. The attendance to-day was 12,000; Crawford, who has bee% feeling unwell, has consulted doctors, who state that he has strained his right side and heart. The doctors recommend him to consult a London specialist. If England loses the present match Crawford will not play again in Australia; otherwise he will play only in the last test match. To-day's fielding was supeTb. Australia iought for every run, and many couples were made into singles by the brilliance »f the Englishmen. The bowling was good. Scores: — England. —First Innings. Gunn, c and b Sannders .. .. 13 Hobbs, b Noble .. •• •• •■ 57 Harastaff, c Carter, b O'Connor 8 • Hutchvngs b Saxmders .. .. 8 • " Bhodes, o M'Alister, b Ssunders 0 Braund, run -out * Crawford, .b Saunders ! Jones, h Noble 3 Barnes, c O'Connor, b Noble .. 8 Fielder, st Carter, h Saunders .. 1 Humphries, not out 3 Er'~>- ' •• * 105 )oy.*i/ty<i Analysis. Saunders, 5 wickets for 28 Tuns. •Noble 3 wickets for 11 runs. O'Connor, 1 wicke-t for 40 runs: Armstrong, no wickets for '4 runs. "Macartney, no wickets for 18 runs. The English team's wickets fell as follows: —One for 58, two for 69, three for 88, four for 90, five ior 90, six for 92, seven ior 96, eight for 100, nine for 105. Austeaxia.—-First Innings. Trumper, c Crawford, b Fielder. 0 Noble, b Crawford ... 48 Hill, b "Barnes 7 M.'Alister, c Jones, b Crawford . 37 Gregory, c Fielder, b Crawfoid . 10 -Hansfoid, c Braund. b Fielder . 51 Armstrong, b Crawford 32 Macartney, c Hardstaff. b Fielder 12 Carter, c end b Crawford .. .. 2 Saunders, not out . .. .., 1 Extras . „'. 12 Total ' 214 -The wickets fe!l as follows* —One for 1, Two for 14, three for 89, four for 103, five ior 105, six for 196, seven for 196, eight tax 198, nine for 212. Bowling Averages. Pieider, 4 wickets \for 54 runs. Barnes, 1 for 37. __^ Braund, nil for 42. ' Crawford. 5 Jor 48. Rhodes, nil far 21. Second Innings. Trumper, b Crawford .. .. „ 0 Noble, b Crawford 10 Hill, ran out 25 M'Alister, c Humphries, b Fielder 4 Gregory, lbw, b Fielder .. .. 29 Hansford, c Humphries, b Rhodes 54 Armstrong, not out 114 Macartney, c Gunn, b Crawford .. 29 Carter, c Braund, b Fielder .. .. 66 O'Connor, not out .. 12 Extras .. „. 15 Total for eight wickets .. 358' The wickets fell as follows :—One for 4, two for 21, three for 28, four for 65, five for 77, six for 162, seven for 217, eight for 329.