THE FIRST TEST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 104, 29 May 1909, Page 5

THE FIRST TEST.

ENGLAND v. AI'STRAUA. BAD WKaTHKK. London, .May 21. Australia commenced its lira., test test iiiulcii wiia bnglaiiu at iiirinuigii.iiii 10-iuii, Kii'iicuni-i rain leli up t .< one o'clock. Inspcctiuas 01 tliu p.u-n were made a I -1 oclocK, and again at 4. : .u octocU, and arrangement-* were made lo stui'L tue maun at a uclock II no rain fell in ilie interval. Nooie woa the toss and decided to bat, play commencing shortly after u o'clock. Ilie nnal selections resulted ia -\lacalisler, Laver, Hopkins, Carkeck and Hartigan being omitted from the Australian team; anil Haywun!, Ken, ifrcarley and Gilbert from tnc English team. Following are the teams:—

Australia.—Noble tcaptain), Hansford (Baidsley, Gregory, Macartney, Aijnstrong, Trumper, O'Connor, Wliitty, Carter, Cotter.

England.—MacLaren (captain), i-'ry, Jones, Jessop, Lillcy, Hirst, Thompson, Tyldesley, Biythe, Bobbs, Rhodes. Hirst and Biythe opened the attack against Cotter and Bardsley.

Cotter, after making a couple in the second over, was dropped. Subsequently lie put an easy catch into Hirst's hands at mid-olf from Biythe. The ilrst wicket fell for 5. The wicket was oi me, sottest, and a plentiful supply of sawdust had to be requisitioned. Armstrong filled the vacancy. In the fifth over Bardsley was taken nicely by MatcLaren in the slips. It was a lefthanded catch off Hirst. Two wickets were down for 7 runs. J

After being in progress for a short time, play was stopped owing to the dusky condition of the weather. The players came out again at 0 o'clock, but at fi.ls an appeal was made against the light, and play ended for tlje day.

Except for the bad light, the weather towards the close of the day was fine. The wicket was soft, and the attendance numbered 4000. London, May 27.

When stumps were drawn Australia I had two wickets down for 21. Arm- | strong is not out for 10, and Trump'er not out for 7. A DISASTROUS START. THREE WICKETS* DOWN FOR 30. •Received May 30, 1.5 a.m. London, May 28. The weather is sunny and the wicket .soft. Three wickets arc down for 30. Trumper was caught by Hirst off Biythe for 10. Armstrong is not out with 15. Trumper sent up an easy eatck at mid-off in the third over.

GOOD BOWLING. London, May 27. Blythe, playing against Northampton, secured fourteen wickets for 75 runs.