CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 198, 19 February 1912, Page 7

CRICKET

ENGLISH TEAM'S TOUR. RESULTS. Nov. 17 and following days—v. Victoria, «.t Melbourne, won by 49 runs (England 318 and 234, Victoria 274 and 229). Nov. 24 and following days—v. New South Wales, at Sydney, *bandoned e\vin» to rain (England 238, N.S.W. eight, wickets for 198). Dec. 1 and following days —v. Queensland, at Brisbane, won by 7 wickets (England 275 and 140 for 3 wickets, Brisbane 290 and 124). Dec. 6 and 6—t. Toowoomba, at Toowoomba, won by an inniigs and 134 runs (England 340 for 0 wiekeU, Toowoomba 96 and 110). j December 8 and following days—v. Australian Eleven, at' Brisbane, drawn England 267 and 279 for four wickets; Australia 347). • Dec. 15 and following days—v. AUSTRALIA, lost by 146 runs (Australia 447 and 306; England 318 aild 291). Dec. 27 and 27 —v. Bendigo 15, at Bendigo, drawn (England 176 and mine for 188; Bendigo 1<53). Dec. 30 and following days—v. AUSTRALIA, second test, won by eight wickets and t runs( England 265 and 220 for two wickets, Australia 184 and 290 L Jan. 5 and <1 —v. Geelong, at Geelong, drawn (England 285 and four for 118; Geelong 277). Jan. 12 and following days—v. AUSTRALlA'(third test), at Adelaide, won by 7 wickets (England 601 and three for 112; Australia 133 and 476). Jan. 19 and 20, v. Ballarat, at Balla'" ■ drawn (England four for 350; Brlarat 312). Jan. 23 and following days, v. Launccs ton, at Launceston, won by eight wickets (England 332 and 56 for two wickets; Launceston 217 and 165). Jan. 26 and following days—v. Hobart, at Hobart, won by an innings (England 574 for four wickets; Hobart, 124 and 324). February 2 and following days—v. Victoria, won by eight wickets (England 407 and two for 43; Victoria, 195 and 314). February 9 and following days—v. AUSTRALIA (fourth test), won by an innings and 225 runs (England, 589; Australia, 191 and 173).

REMAINING FIXTURES.

feb, 16,17, 19, 20.—t. New South Wales, at Sydney. Feb. 23, 24, 28, 27—r. Australia (fiftk test), at Sydney. March 1, 2, 4, s—y. South Australia, at Adelaide.

NEW PLYMOUTH v. UNITED SERVICE.

At the Recreation Grounds New Plymouth were again badly beaten by United Service. Batting first the former eleven compiled 76 runs after about an hour and .three-quarters' play. They left practically all their scoring to Arden, who got more - than half their runs. Monk,.who also made a stand, secured 11 runs, and was the only other man to run into double figures. Bain as usual was the shining light in, tHe Service ranks,' contributing 84 runs and securing eight" wickets for 26 runs. His innings was not chanceless. Napier • also hit freely to the tune of 85 runs, and generally Service had a'good afternoon' 6 sport. Scores:—

NEW PLYMOUTH. Williams, b Bain 4 Mason, b Bain 0 Goddard, b Bain 5 Arden, b Bain 42 Ward, b Bain 6 Moyes, b Bain 1 Monteath, run out 0 Kempthorne, b Bain 0 Clarke, b Bain 5 Monk, c and b Newell t 11 Colson, not out 0 Extras - 8 Total 76 Bowling analysis.—Bain, eight for 26; Dinniss, none for 16; Colville, none for 16; Newell, one for 10.

UNITED SERVICE. Mackay, c Monk, b Williams 0 Bain, b Williams 84 Osborne, c Mason, b Monteatli 0 Colly ns, b Mason 1 Colvile, b Williams 14 Perham, c Arden, b Williams .... 9 Napier, st Arden, b Goddard 65 Sullivan, c Kempthorae, b Monteath 0 Simpson, b Moyes • 21 Newell, b Moyes 1 Dinniss, not out 9 Extras 15 Total 219 Bowling analysis.-—Williams, four for 59; Mason, one for 45';* Monteath, two for 27; Moyes, two for 53; Colson, none for 15; Goddard, one for 9.

LAW v; INGLEWOOD.

The match Law v; Ingle wood, at Inglewood, on Saturday, resulted in an easy win for the visitors, who nearly doubled their opponents' score. Inglewood went first to the wickets, but opened badly, six wickets falling for 36, »f which McKae (18) was the only one to obtain double figures. The two last men, however, Bell (14) and Scholfield (26) made a good stand, rather surprising the visitors, who by that time were somewhat inclined to take things easily. The partnership brought the score from 47 to 87 before Scholfield was caught and bowled by Anderson. Law also opened badly, two wickets being disposed of for 19, but Lawry (31) and Greatbatch made a good stand, bringing the score to 106 before Greatbatch was caught, after rattling up 65 runs by dint of strenuous hitting. The Law tail refused to wag, the score remaining unchanged after the fall of the sixth wicket until the advent of the last man in, E. Lash, jun., who carried his bat for one not out, and hit in a style which showed' promise of more runs if lie could have found a man to stay with him. The fielding, especially that of the home team, was good. Scores: — INGLEWOOD. Rnmball, b Lash 3 Therkleson, c Lawry, b Lash 1 Mcßae, c Bewley, b Lash 18 Pullen, c Harding, b Anderson 4 Stratford, c Lash, b Anderson 2 F. Brown, b Anderson 1 Codd, b Lash 2 W. Brown, b Paton 11 Thomas, st Quilliam, b Lash 5 Bell, not out 14 Scholfield, c and b Anderson 26 Extras 9 Total 9« Bowling analysis.—Lash, five for 43; Paton. one for 11; Anderson, four for 13; Greatbatch. none for 19. LAW. I Lash, c Brown, b Scholfield 7 1 Be nicy, b Scholfield 7 Lawry, p Codd, b Pullen 31 Greatbatch, c Stratford, b Mcßae .. 65 Paton. lbw, b Rumball 23 Quilliam, c Brown, b Bell 29 Hardinsr. c Scholfield, b Bell fi Anderson, c Brown, b Mcßae 0 Johnson, c Pullen, b Bell 0 Reid. b Mcßae 0 Lash, jun., not out 1 Extras fl Total 175 Bowling analysis.—Scholfield, two for

21; Thomas, none for- 21; Bell, three foi 46; Pullen, one for 33; McKae, three for 20; W. Brown, none for 9; Rutt.ball, one for 19. The fourth test match has been decided, and with it I'. F. Warner once against takes the ashes to England, repeating the performance of 1906, when the team won three matches out of the five. This time, however, lie was unfortunately unable to be an active participant ir the matches, being incapacitated bf illness after the • first game, much tc the regret of all true sportsmen. Still, it is pleasing to note that he has been well enough to witness some of the crushing defeats that his men have inflicted on the. Australians.

The first test, as is well known, went to the Australians by 146 runs. Since then they have never had a look-in, and were beaten by eight wickets,, then by seven, and lastly by an innings and 225 runs. What a debacle!

The Australians were out - general led and out-plaved in every department of the game. Douglas has proved worthy to fill Warner's shoes as captain, and has once more show'n that it is a fallacy to state that a bowler does not make a good captain. He has handled his team well and has worked in harmony with them. He also showed his bowling w'orth by taking five wickets for 4C in the last match. The came out determined to take the ashes back. Most of them are young and enthusiastic cricketers, and were said to be lacking in experience. That cannot be said now, as the tour is drawing to an end. In utilising young players, lies Austra-, lia's hope. There are many coming on and only need trying to prove their worth.' In view of the triangular tests, it is strange that the selectors did not infuse some fresh blood. j

j.hs selectors, however, are by no means a happy family, and some of them would be more at home in the stadium that picking test teams. There seems a fine chance for Hugh Mcintosh here. If he could have stage-managed the HillMcAlister scrap he would have drawn a big house. It is particularly unfortunate that the English national game of cricket should be brought to the level of a public-house brawl in Australia at the present juncture. Australia hopes to figure largely in the triangular contests. So she will figure in the eyes of the public as the place where the selectors settle their grievances by fisticuffs. The disorganisation in the- ranks has' no doubt helped to prevent some of the local team playing up to concert pitch. The appointment of a manager has been a bone of contention, between six of the prominent players and the Board of Con-, trol. Hill, of course, is one of the six. Then on top of that he received a wirn | from McAlister previous to the third ' test, informing him that if he wanted to play Macartney to leave himself out. Referring to the fracas, the Sydney correspondent of the Auckland Herald wrote, inter alia.—Now wha]t did happen? The selectors (Messrs Iredale, Hill and McAlister) met last, Saturday night to select "certainties" for England, and the team for the fourth test match. The secretary of the Board "of Control, Mr. Sydney Smith, j'um\, was also present. Being unable to see into the futureeven the near future—only a small room was used. It was certain that the meeting between Hill and McAlister would not be a friendly one, but it was not anticipated that they would come to blows. However, they seem to have lost no time in exchapging opinions as to what they thought of each other, in good, round, vigorous terms, too.

The famous telegram was, of course, early referred to. The Kaiser's telegram to Kruger has been superseded in notoriety by McAlister's stinging message to Hill on the eve of the third test. Hill wanted Macartney on the side. McAlister telegraphed, "If you want Macarney, leave yourself out." ' A good deal depends upon what McAlister meant. If he i-eally thought that Hill had been shoeing such poor form that;lie might stand aside for Macartney, then, much as you may differ from''his 'opinion) he was entitled to express it. If, however, he sent the message to annoy Hill, then it was injudicidu* and reprehensible. However, it provided an excellent subject for bellicose debate. Then the nowfamous ultimatum, signed by six players, who hare perhaps over-estimated their importance, provided another pretext for hot exchanges. Finally they got to the real biisifiess of the meeting, and it was so fertile in provocative material that' it ended in real war.

As the story goes, Hill wanted Laver in the test team.

McAlister would not havetaver, and spoke ill favor of Kelleway and 'MiriHett. Hill responded, it ig said, in a wa!y that suggested tliat he was not bubbling over with enthusiasm about either of them. McAlister' touched Hill fairly on the raw when he retorted that he had not used' them to the best' advantage in the third test. McAlister i-i not the only brie' >vlid has ( vigorously commented -on Hill's csiptairicyj'and all the talk about Noble's etc., has riot tended to soothe tha' South Australian.

However, the debaters ywere past all restraint now, and the discussion became downright personal and bitter. Hill, snorting with indignation, asked McAlister what he knew iibout captaincy anyhow, McAlister replied that Hill was the worst captain he had seen for years, • and that he knew more about the job than Hill. That was the end of the talk. The Australian captain leaned across the table, and struck McAlister, who was sitting on the other side, with his arms folded, or at all events, in anything but the attitude the sailor in "Pinafore" sings about—"Ever ready for the knockdown blow." McAlister was struck under one of his eyes, and the wound bled freely. The force of the blow knocked him backwards, land in falling his head struck the telephone box. The Victorian was dazed by the blow, but lie responded as gamely as he could under the circumstances. For a few minutes there was "skin and hair" flying. Mr. Smith and Mr. Iredale, who had all the alleged. "fun" to themselves, tried to separate the combatants, the secretary having some of his' wearing apparel disj figured by spots of blood. Eventually they were got apart, Mr. McAlister being I marked about the face as the result of the encounter.

Hill immediately resigned his position as a selector of the Australian eleven.

But the world must go on, even if cricket selectors resign. Mr. Smith called together what members of the Board he could, and it was agreed that the wounded McAlister and Iredale should pick the team, a third selector from the Board to arbitrate if they disagreed.

Neither Hill nor McAlister was interviewed before they left Sydney on th« Sunday night following the Saturday of the struggle. They travelled by the same train to 'Melbourne, but presumably they were not in the same sleeping compartment. However, the story of their unfortunate squabble had leaped out before they reached Melbourne. McAlißter had several marks. His nose was cut, there was a bruise under one eye, and several scratches on his face. Hill left the train before it reached the Melbourne terminus. Hill carried no outward signs of the combat.

At first Hill declined to talk about the matter, buE eventually he told his story. As soon as he entered the room, he said, an argument ensued, and McAlister repeatedly insulted him. "I told him," said Hill, "that if he kept on insulting me I would pull, ln's

j nose. He said that I was the worst S I captain lie hud ever seen, and as he had i aggravated me beyond endurance I gave ' him a gentle slap on the face. He rush- I ed at me like a bull, and then, I admit, | I fought him. Messrs Iredale and Smith held him back, and as I went out he called out that I was a coward, but as ' others prevented him from leaving the room, the matter ended." McAlister was equally disinclined at first to speak, but on being pressed, hq said that Hill attacked him without any warning, punching him heavily with his right hand on the face, before he had time to shape up in defence. "I would not have minded so much," said the Victorian, "if he had invited me to come outside, as I woukl have known what to expect. Yoi* see that <ny fa«e is scratched in several places. It must have been knocked against the table and the walls. No doubt the secretary of the Board, who was present at the disturbance, will report the matter officially."

The Plunket Shield, like the "ashes," also changes its resting place, the northeners taking it back to Auckland, where it is their intention to affix it firmly to the wall of the pavilion, from whence visiting teams will find it hard to remove it. The Aucklanders nearly had v,ictory torn from their grasp at the last minute. Oliff and Thompson disposed of Canterbury for 86, to which Auckland responded with 20, and hopes rose high, when Canterbury were dismissed for 1!)2 by the same bowlers, and Aucklamj were left with 59 to get to win. Canterbury sadly despatched a man to pack the j shield ready for transport. So well, J however, did Reese and Bennett bowl, that it was for a time doubtful whether the removal would not be postponed for I a year. Ultimately, however, Auckland annexed it, losing eight wickets in the i effort. The fact that RSese went in on 1 a drying wicket after winning the toss ! appeared to contribute somewhat to the result. Carter put up a performance in the fourth test that will take a lot of beating. He was behind the wickets for 9 hours 28 minutes, during which 589 runs were scored and ho only allowed two byes to pass him. He also caught both Hobbs and Rhodes, the two big scorers. Then, as if he had not done enough, he went first to the wickets and stopped there 1 hour 43 minutes, hitting up top score, viz., 38. This must rank t as a unique example of stamina. The fourth test was a great recordbreaker. First, Hobbs and Rhodes put up a, record for the first wicket, viz., 323, each scoring over a century, Hobbs making 178, his third century in this series •» of test matches. Rhodes went one bet- j ter, viz., 179, and scored his first test J c

! century. The innings also provided a record score—sß9. When one score board showed two wickets for 426 it looked as though the team were about to provide a four-figure innings. Hill, the Australian captain, magnanimously acknowledges that the better team won. The figures show that. He also declares that Barnes and Foster are the two best living bowlers. Australian bowling lacked variety, ' Will Whitty be given another trial next test? Though he went off, no one. else seems to have come on. Why was not McLaren given a trial last test ? He proved very successful in his two matches in Queensland. ■ / <