FIRST TEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1920, Page 5

FIRST TEST.

AUSTRALIA MAKES 581. ENGLAND WANTS 'd39 RUNS. ARMSTRONG'S FINE INNINGS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 21, 7.15 p.m Sydney, Dec. 21. On the fourth day, play in the test match again commenced in hot weather. The attendance was' 15,000, making 104,000 for the four days. Armstrong, joining Kelleway, faced the bowling of Parkin and HeaAie. The Australian captain applied the wood vigorously, Douglas and Parkin both preferring his carpet drives to travel to the boundary rather thin intercept them. Facing Hearne he scored three successive fours by superb drives to the off boundary, rapidly approaching within four of Kelleway's total. The latter emulated his captain, and used his feet to reach Rhodes, and notched an occasional boundary. While in the thirties Armstrong placed Rhodes to mid-off a close brace. Waddington, thinking 'the batsmen were only running a single, casually tossed the ball to Parkin, who shied at the wicket, Strudwick missing and being compelled to chase the ball, resulting in a fine leg overthrow for three.

Armstrong's display was in marked contrast to that of the remainder of the team. Always confident lie attacked the bowling like a true artist, placing his shotrf with rdmarkabijs precision, notwithstanding an excellently placed field. By luncheon the bowling, though repeatedly changed, was completely mastered, which was not to say the batsmen could afford to take liberties. Any occasional short length deliveries were promptly pulled to the wickets by Armstrong, who. nevertheless, refrained from the touching off theory, or being tempted by wiley fieldsmen'pretending to fumble the ball when* the batsmen were running singles, ■' Kelleway, still playing correct cricket, though a little more enterprising than the previous day, was satisfied with singles where his partner went for boundaries. When 70 he off-drove Hearne to the boundary, his second four in three and a half hours' batting. The next over he attempted a straight hit from Woollev, and was caught in tho slips by Rus'sell. Armstrong, meanwhile, notched 120. Six wickets were down for 521. This partnership yielded 187, and its rupture was inexpressibly welcome to the English bowlers. Neither batsman at any stage looked like retiring. Douglas tried every method of attack, but° he was unfortunate in not having the services of Hitch, who was suffering from a slight strain from the previous, day. Ryder joined Armstrong, who set out for his second century in a steady man. nor. but was soon sparkling again. The weather continued exceedingly hot. necessitating hourly refreshments. Ryder after shaping in a promising manner, played Rhodes to Hobbs at outside, mkl-off. and lie foolishly ran halfway down the pitch and was run out. (,'regory followed suit, attempting an impossible run from a stroke to slip, and was also run out. Roth wickets were absolutely thrown awav.

The Englishmen were now breathing more freely, as these two incidents changed the complexion of the game. The fielding was spiritless compared with the previous displays, though Hendren. as usual, was a glutton for work in the outfield, Fender, fielding for Hitch, dropped Oldfield off Parkin at third man. When Ir>R Armstrong, slowing down, was howled by Parkin. Oldfield was caught by Strudwick off

Ip same bowler a few" overs later

The total score of 581 is just eight short of the test record established during the last tour of Warner's team. Few regretted the termination of the innings, for the bowlers were tired, and the fielding was becoming listless. The slow bowlers felt the absence of a fast bowler. Parkin, at times, commanded the utmost respect, but his attack generally was without "dovil."

Hobbs and Russell faced Gregory and Kelleway with G.lO required to' win. Russell glanced Gregory to Oldfield, who accepted a smart *ateh. Hearne and Hobtp played out time. Scores:— ' I AUSTRALIA. First Innings t .., 207 Second. Innings. Collins, p. Waddington,b. Douglas 104 Bardsley, b. Hearne 57 Macartney, b. Douglas 69

Taylor, c. Woolley, b. Parkin .„ 51 Pellew, 1.b.w., b. 'Woolley ......' 10 Kelleway, c. Russell, b. Woolley 73 Armstrong, b. Parkin 158 Ryder, run out ~ o Gregory, run out ' ., 0 Oldfield, c. Strudwick, b. Parkin 1(1 Mailey, not out o Extras v 20 Total The wickets fell as follows: 1—123, 2-234, 3-241, 4—282, 5-332, 0-519, 7—538, 8—540. 9—57(1. Bowling analysis: Parkin 3 for 102; Douglas, 2 for 7fl; Woolley. 2 for BO; Hearne, 1 for 124, one no ball; Hitch, 0 for 40; Waddington,' 0 for 53, one no ball; Rhodes, 0 for 67. ENGLAND. First Innings , 190 Second Innings. Russol, c. Oldfield, b. Gregory ..• 5 Hobbs, not out , '. ]$ Hearne, not out ....- 23 Total for one wicket : . • 40 j —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A MATCH ABANDONED. Received Dec. 22, 12.5 a.m. Sydney, Dec. 21. The English cricketers have abandoned the match at Bathurst, which sftouM commence on Wednesday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.