ON THE HILL

Shannon News, 13 January 1925, Page 4

ON THE HILL

TEST MATCH SIDEIAGHTS AUSTRALIAN CROWD’S BANTER “On the hill." That is the answer given by thousands to the question asking from what part of the Sydney Cricket Ground they intend to view the Test match. • The reason is two-fold. The hill, sloping gently from the level of the turf of the oval to the base of the huge scoring board, provides an uninterrupted view for perhaps ten thousand people. Another reason is that the wit and humour of the Australian cricket crowd has its genesis in the habitues of “the. hill.” Every international cricketer has, at some period of his career heard some candid advice levelled at him from the grassy slope, to which admission may be had for the modest shilling. The Sydney newspapers never fail to tell off a descriptive writer to depict the temperament and humour of the hillites. ,

Although there was comparatively little “barracking” in the first Test match, there was plenty of goodhumoured banter directed at the players. Collins, the Australian captain, who opened the match with Bardsley, slowed down when he lost his famous partner, who mistimed a ball from Freeman that went gently into Woolley’s hands at first slip. Some of the crowd became restive.

“We’ll send Trumper and Duff to show you how to do it,” yelled one man of stentorian voice on the hill. But Collins knew his game, and his responsibility, for he and the youthful wonder performer of Victoria, Ponsford, set a new record for the second wicket of 190 runs, to which Collins contributed IT4. So strong indeed did his partnership with Ponsford prove that some groups on the hill thought it wise to make a few suggestions to the Englishmen. “Get a move on,” exclaimed one man to a fieldsman; "you know you have to go home in March.” “Get a bag, Gillie,” came floating across the ground as the English captain just missed a skimming drive. Gilligan smiled in recognition of the gentle rebuke. As the rays of the sun beat down piteously on the hill, the masses < dark grey on the slopes became broke* in all directions with white, as men took their coats off, until at last the whole picture looked as if it had been slashed with snow.

On the Saturday, when the attendance was 47,500, and broke all x-ecords, every seat at the pickets and ev,ery inch of grass on the hill were packed early--in fact, some time before the match commenced. Tate’s bowling average at the luncheon adjournment stood at 1 for 100, the Australians’ score at three for 282, and the hillites commenced to forecast at least 600 as the total for the innings It was not long before glum faces looked out across the stricken field. Tate’s f&urth delivery was followed by a long-drawn “Oh-h,” and then swift applause for the fine catch taken by Strudwick. Taylor had gone. Kelleway stalked to the crease amid a storm of applause, and turned Tate to the fence for 4. But the longdrawn “Oh-h” had been-a rehearsal. Richardson soon departed, and with him hope seemed to vanish. Kelleway, Hendry, Gregory were soon accounted for by Tate, and four wickets had fallen for 24 runs. Each of the departed batsmen was capable, in the opinion of the hillmen, of a century in a Test match.

The gentle barracker felt the joy of life stirring in him once more as Oldfield and Mailey put up their lastwicket stand. A few hours among the crowd on the hill during the Englishmen's innings left a dominant impression of their fine spirit of sportsmanship. If criticism occasionally did* not altogether suggest the exemplary conduct of the knightly Bayard, the crowd manifested that spirit of impartiality, generous appreciation of England’s play, and its stalwart players, worthy of the best traditions of the game, their enthusiasm -about' Hobbs’ seventh century in Test matches must have been as thrihing to him as it was deserved. The crowd was sensitive to every movement of the Englishmen. When Gill.gan waJod to llie pitch umil « volley of cheers, he looked uy at the sky. The crowd knew. He was noting the direction of the sun. There good-natured laughter, but it was only for a brief soace that the sun poured its rays oh him. He walked in—and then walked out again, amidst more cheers. And so the great match Proceeded. It was not all ba i'er, for ’h-y gave a t'*mendov3 dem j nu r iUoa of sympair as Coii'-vs reappeared. ailer hay ng to laa e the hold iho (lay before. through thi death of his.sister. After all, wifcno it criticism arid the merr'ment of the ••hill," which sentences its favoH.'ites of yesterday to outer darkness to day, a Test mat-'ll in Sydney would lose half its charm.