Cricket.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 280, 21 March 1929, Page 8

Cricket.

THE LAST TEST. Australia deserved its win in the last Test. Losing the toss and Grimmett being incapacitated in the Englishmen’s first innings more than balanced the staleness of the Englishman after a hard tour, i The match was remarkable for the length of time it occupied. The cricket for most of the time must have been frightfully tedious. It almost resolved itself into a test of endurance powers. It will probably lead to a limit being determined for Tost matches. A lively drawn match would be preferable to the stodgy slow tactics of the recent game. The alternative would be to abolish covering the wickets. Anyway the fifth Test probably creates a. world’s record for slow scoring.

The match is another triumph to the young players. Wall, the young South Australian fast bowler, has come right into the lime light, and supplies what Australia has long needed—a reliable fast bowler. If Alexander, the Victorian fast bowler, who performed so well against the Englishmen in his State match, improves, Australia will have two express trundlers to consider for their tour in quest of the Ashes. Fairfax, the New South Wales colt, was not successful with the ball, but proved himself a fine bat. Jackson has proved his value as “n opening batsman, and the question arises if Ponsford regains his form who will' accompany Woodful to the wickets? It has been shown that Australia has plenty of young batsmen. But the bowlers are scarcer. Neither '’’Beckett nor Fairfax have been successes, though both, with Homibrook, might be more dangerous on the English wickets. But so far no bowler is in sight to replace Grimmett.

It is almost certain that Hobbs will never play in another Test match ; n Australia. It is only fitting that he should score a century in his last game. It was a brilliant finish of s brilliant batsman in Australia.