THE THIRD TEST MATCH.

Shannon News, 20 February 1925, Page 3

THE THIRD TEST MATCH.

SHANNON CRICKETER'S IMPRESSION. Mr Ju, Randall, of Shannon, who is weii-knQwn throughout" the liorowheuua district as a cricket enthusiast, has just returned from a visit to South Australia. While at Adelaide he was present at the third test match between Australia, and England- Mr Randall has very kindly supplied the “News” with his impressions of the game and the players, which will be / read with interest by district cricketers. He writes;A PERFECT GROUND. Adelaide is noted for its wonderful cricket ground and what a ground it Is! One often hears the expression “As level as a billiard table.” To sit in the stand oh the " Adelaide Oval one appears to- be gazing) upon a huge billiard table—no-t a blemish of any 1 description to be seen on any portion of it. Such was the ground—-with a perfectly prepared wicket in the centre—on to which GUligan and Collins led their teams for the third and most important of the test series. AN EVEN GO.

The two captains had a great reception when they came out on the grouhd in front of the stands to spin the coin. Gilligan’s disappointment was evident when the result of the toss went against him. The misfortunes of the English team in this particular match are well known in all parts of the cricket world to-day, but in my opinion the luck was well evened up by the Australians having to bat on a wet wicket against such bowlers as Woolly and Kilner. I do not think there is a batsman in any part of the world who could stand against these two trundlers on a wet wicket for any length Off time. . Collins and A. Richardson, who opened the batting for Australia, are a fine pair of cricketers. The former is brilliant on cutting and off driving. The latter's display of all-round cricket makes him* a certainty for the Australian tour to England next year. MAILEY’S SAMPLE BOX.

J do not think: it would be possible for me tot do justice to Gregory or Mailey in trying to explain what they are like in big cricket. They are a wonderful pair and without them I am afraid Australia would be lost. Mailey is undoubtedly a cricket expert who takes- into consideration when he is bowling every slightest change in the elements, also the different styles and methods' of the various batsmen. It is possible for him when trying to trap great batsmen such as J. B. Hobbs or Sutcliffe to send down eight different kinds of balls in an over. He is a great favourite with the public. I think this is chiefly because, when Hobbs, Sutcliiffe and Co. get going and are putting on huge scores, Mailey is usually the one to bring about their downfall. Apart, from his bowling he is a wonderful slipfteld. ' GREGORY ENJOYS THE SUN. Reading of Jack Gregory in cricket gives one no idea of just what he is like on the field. Standing about 6 feet, or perhaps a little more in height, with long legs and arms, he is a conspicuous figure. For seven days m Adelaide in the baking sun, he played without a hat and his sleeves rolled to his shoulders. He has a most peculiar and ugly delivery when bowling, but the ball fairly flies once it leaves his hand. Two of his catches, Stmdwick in the slips off Kell.away, and Whysall off his Own bowling, had •the spectators holding their ibreath wondering just how it was done. A striking 'feature about this great cricketer is the unassuming manner in which he goes about his work. SOCKS FOR RYDER.

Jack Ryder’s 201 not out in tide first innings was tlie finest display of batting it has. ever been my lot to witness and had time permitted I ah l quite sure he would) have beaten Forster’s world record Qf 213 in test cricket. It is not generally known that he received 101 pairs of socks for the score as a Collingwood firm had offered a pair of socks for every run, made over a century in the match. In the second innings he made 88. When s.tumps were drawn on Wednesday night, his score was 80 not out. Thursday was very wet, and only about 40 runs were made 'by the rest of the team. AUSTRALIA TOO GOOD. Lunsford, another Victorian, is a very spectacular that. Unlike his countryman, Ryder, he does all his work with iiis wrists and / crouches for every stroke. The Australian team, generally speaking, is. a great batting and bowling team, and 1 think I am quite justified in saying that it is just a little hit too good for tfie English eleven. TIME LIMIT TO* ENLIVEN PLAY. . The outstanding batsmen in Hie English team are Hobbs and Sutcliffe. Hobbs has the reputation of. being the greatest bat in the world and I tnmk rightly so, but although he made 119 in the first innings, I was greatly disappointed in him on account of the time it took him to get them. It is a gi eat.pity that players like he. is., cannot go to. the wicket and show their true form. This in my opinion can only be remedied by a limited time for the matches. I do not think that any match should exceed five days and. the feeling in Australia is such ttiat unless something of this description is done test cricket is going to lose a good deal of its support. TATE’S ROWLING. Tate is no doubt a great) bowler and the faster the wickets fall the better be bowls. Hei is also a most spectacular bat. There is nothing brighter in either team. His off driving.is 'beauti/ful to watch.

WORLD’S BEST ALjLrRQUNDER. Woolley, I think, is the best allrounder in the world to-day. He is a player who takes the eye immediately he comes into action. He wastes n o time in getting runs and has no fear of any of the bowlers. You would never get tired of Woolley’s cricket. Patsey Hendren is probably the most " popular of the English cricketers. He is, always happy no matter how the game is going, lie is a fine bat and a magnificent outfield. Strudwick’s fame behind the wickets Is world-wide. Oldfield is a great

wicket keeper, but Strudwick is. the moire finished. ENGLISHMEN’S WONDERFUL FIELDING.

A <ureat feature of the Englishmen’s plav°is their magnificent fielding. They are all that a team could possibly be. There was not one weak spot in any part of the field. Chapman, Woolley, Kilner, Gilligan and Hendren may have been a shade better than the others. The Australian team as a team are not in the same class in the field. CAPTAIN GILLIGAN. As regards the two captains, Gilfigan did not strike me as being perfect, and as a bat be does not give his side much assistance in making changes, in his bowling or fielding. It I was rarely he made a move without) a conference took place on the ground . with the crowd wanting to know. why the game was held up. He is a | great sport and his team appear to | stick to him to a man. i THE AUSTRALIAN SKIPPER. Collins is probably the best captain , thev have in Australia at the present ( time, but I do not think he handles | his team with the same confidence that Warwick Armstrong does. He is an exceptionally quiet man, but there seemed to me to be an undercurrent of nervousness about, him. I could not understand why he did not use Ryder more in the bowling in the first innings. He had bowled about eight overs for one wicket and 15 runs and he did use (him after that. Consequently Ryder finished with bowling iiverag®.