CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1920, Page 3

CRICKET.

-XHE FIR3T TEST MATCH. COMMENT IN ENGLAND. TRIBUTE TO AUSTRALIANS ! By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyriglit. ' London, Dec. 22. , Though: the result of the match against' New South Wales was regarded In England; as showing that Australia's cricket strength! had been under-rated, both In Australia and; England, the play in the test match surprised and disappointed followers ot the game, but they are by no means down-heart-ed. It is pointed out that the last team, after losing- the' first game, won the remaindor. Critics are especially struck by the batling consistency of the Australians. They consider the team has quite eight dependable bats, and, though England comparatively talis off, the side contains great batsmen who only need to strike form to give a very good aoount cf themiselves. Australia's victory Is accepted ungrudgingly, and (many tributes paid to the dogged patient hatting ihlch is the historic Austalian game In matches without a time limit,' and was thoroughly Justified la '.bis match. This feature is regarded as lessening the disappointment over the English bowlers' seeming weakness In the second Innings, but there is seme comment on the missed chances. Armstrong's display and Collins' century in the first test match are the subject of many eulogies. The progress nf the match was watched with the greatest Interest ali over the country. The newspapers unite In a chorus of praise for the Australians' batting, particularly Armstrong's, which The Times describes as the most brilliant of the match and the greatest lie lias ever displayed. Other papers liken Armstrong to Dr. W. G. Grace. Despondency Is expressed as to England's prospects in the remaining tests on account of the Australian batting strength. In Its cricket comments the Guardian says the English team was absurdly below its true form. An ordinary county eleven could hardly have fared worse. - The Evening News says that the Australians "•(>'''> superior in every department, except fielding. COMMENT IN AUSTRALIA. VIEWS OF THE PRESS. Sydney, Dec. 23. The attendance at the five days' cricket totalled 112,000 and the gate £10,386. The Telegraph states that England's innings wa*s .not worth discussion, Rhodes alone playing enterprising cricket. Judged by the standard nf his colleagues his innings was a masterpiece. The best we can say of the Englishmen is that they foughl to the end, but not In a generous mood, several disputing a decision, which went on to the end nf the match. They did not show flrst-cl«ss cricket and forced the opinion that England is not worth 300 ruus in any one Innings. Parkin was a. failure and never looked rke bowling anyone. The Herald says •Australia collectively and Individually outplayed England this time, but though the margin of victory was tremendous it Is not to be taken as a. criterion of the remainder of the series. It has previously happened that an English team has been outplayed in the first match and won the rest. England lost the match on Saturday, when her batting got Into difficulties with Mailey, ibencc the victory. Collins, Macartney aad Kelleway were allowed to compile scores which should have been reduced 50 per cent. The writer pays a fine eulogy to Hobbs, who ranks with the greatest players of the past and prophesies renown for Gregory and Mailey as flrst-clsisn bowlers. The bent team on the day won all along the line. Douglas' toam is yet below its proper form and neither side is as good as in 1911-1!. All have deteriorated, which is due to the absence of serious cricket, during the war. The Australian batsmen gave a good sound defensive display. Armstrong's innings was the most finished display of the match. Seldom, if ever, has been seen a better performance.

Wilson, the. vice-captain, who cabled to London criticising the decision re Wnddlngton's run-out, apologised to the umpire (.Tnnesl for the severity of his comments. Waddlngton was run out in the first innings of the English team and the Incident has led to much comment. Waddlngton disputed the decision with the umpire, Jones, whose ruling has been widely questioned. Mr. Wilson's cable described the decision as shameful. REMAINING MATCHES. December 27.—v. Bendlgo. December 31.—Second Test, at Melbourne. 1921. January 7.—v. Ballarat. January ll.—v. Stawell. January 14—Third Test, at Adelaide. • January 21—v. Geelong. January 25—v. Tasmania. January 28—v. Tasmania. February 4—V. Victor:;;. February 11—Fourth Test, at Melbourne. February 18—v. New South Wales. February 25—Fifth Test, at Sydney , March 6—v. Albury. March 7—v. Renalla. March 11—v. South Australia, at Adelaide. DOMINION TEACHERS' TEAM. TOUR IN AUSTRALIA. Received December 2';, 10,55 a.m. Sydney. Dec. 23. The New Zealand teachers' cricket team, with 215 runs (Worker 113) defeated the Education Department's head office, team, who made 198. Hargraves tool; 4 wickets for 50 runs, and Worker 3 for 39.—Aus.-N.Z. CaWo Assn. on Monday is the Manawatu R.C. Summer gathering. The Cup has only attracted a moderate field, and if It Is a true run race the veteran Client will be handy at the finish. It Is whispered that Molyneaux is likely to show wonderfully Improved form, and Dusky Eve is another that may be dangerous. Acre Is remarkably well treated In the open sprint, and will be very unlucky If he goes through the meeting without a. win. CMmera and Bonnie Briar should also be heard of In the short races. Manlahera is not a certain starter in hurdle events at the .meeting, and Old Gold and Hautawa should have something to say In their settlement In the absence of Tommy George's much boomed gelding. Taiparu'and Creme do Menthe will carry big money In the juvenile handicaps, and other horses that recent form suggests as likely to bo heard of before the gathering closes are Namur, All Cerise, Isabel, Top Dog and Lord Ashlea.

Gasbag's form since his arrival in Auckland has been tip-top, and every gallop brings him more friends. He must be hard to bent 111 whatever distance events he starts. Buckeye has been scratched for all engagements at tic Manawatu meeting. The well-known Australian jockeys. K. Bracken, M. Connell and J. Pike, will be seen In the saddle—boats and seamen permitting —at the Auckland meeting, but they will have nothing on Gray and Deeley. Though Prince Willonyx has gone cut of favor for the Auckland Cup, punters should not drop him altogether. Over a. shorter distance be looks likely to show winning form before the meeting closes. "Mnuirnji" takes this opportunity of heartily reciprocating to good wishes nf fellow pressmen and fellow sports for the festive Season. Kla Ora.