The English Eleven

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 18 November 1911, Page 5

The English Eleven

MATCH AGAINST VICTORIA. CAREFUL BATTING BY THE ENGLISHMEN. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 17, 7.15 p.m. Melbourne, November 17. There was perfect weather and a good wicket for the match against Victoria, which commenced to-day. The attendance was moderate. Warner, Barnes, Gunn, Strudwick and Vine were omitted from the English %eam. Warner is still abed, but is recovering. Douglas, who captained the visitors, won the toss from Armstrong, and sent Hobbs and Kinnear to the wickets to the bowling of Mat-row and Laver. Hobbs fcpored quickly with clean, crisp and well timed cutting, but in attempting to drive Matthews, who had relieved Mlacrow, he mishit and Laver made a magnificent catch at point, one-handed. Rhlodes succeeded, and scoring slowed, 50 occupying an hour. Kinnear, in seventy minutes, only scored 19. Rhodes scored 19 in twenty-eight minutes. At luncheon the score was 70 for one wicket. Steady, cautious batting, keen attacks and smart fielding were features otf the play. Kinnear gave a chance when 28 off Mat-row to Carkeek behinu the wickets. The century occupied lfio minutes. Rhodes, beaten by Laver, got his leg in front. Mead soon lost Kinnear, who had batted carefully, scoring mostly on the leg. Hearne opened diffidently. Foster had only made a single when he was badly missed by Macrow at mid-on off Kyle. Mead was batting freely, a feature being his fine placing, chiefly on the on side for seventy minutes, including four fourers. Kyle bowled excellently, and at one stage his average was twelve overs, eight maidens, eleven runs. He is a fast, medium bowler, with a fine length. On resinning the batsmen were watchful. Foster, with a lovely back cut off Laver for three brought his score t'o 35, the top score so far. One hundred and fifty occupied ISO minutes. There was nothing attractive about the batting for ft long period. Foster reached 50 in ninety minutes, when he was badly missed at mid-on by Smith off Kyle. He then livened up slightly, and with some pretty cuts and glances 200 went up in 240 minutes. Douglas in seventy-four minutes reached double figures, and the spectators cheered ironically, but Douglas was unperturbed. Foster, who was now playing attractive and stylish cricket on both sides of the wicket, reached his century in 134 minutes. His Bcore included twelve fours. He was caught in the slips next ball. The attendance was (5000, and the weather and wicket are still perfect. On the whole England's batting was unimpressive, and at times tedious, lacking enterprise, especially before tea. An expert's opinion is like MacLaren's, that older players are preferable to so many young ones for the tour." England has lost six wickets for 247. Following are the scores:— Hobbs, c Laver, b Matthews 21 Kinnear, c Kyle, b Macrow ,52 Rhodes, 1.b.w., b Laver 28 Mead, c Carkeek, b Kyle .........' 34 Hearne, b Matthews " q Foster, c Armstrong, b Laver .....'. 101 Douglas, not out \% Smith, not out 1 Extras ' ' g Total for six wickets jj47 Fall of wickets.—One for 32, two for Bt, three for So, four for 113, five for 180, six for 247. A MATCH ABANDONED. Sydney, November 17. The Maitland match in the English cricketers' itinerary has been cancelled, as it involves too much travelling. <