CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1921, Page 3

CRICKET .

TEAM FROM AUSTRALIAOTHER PLAYERS SELECTED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan- 19, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 19. Hornebrook (Queensland), Hartkoff (Victoria), and Waddy (New South Wales) repl eace Steele. A. Richardson, and Hendry in the New Zealand cricket team. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE TEST MATCH. BAT HOLDS MASTERY. Sydney, Jan. 19. The Herald states: “No title is more appropriate than a see-saw game, with the plank tilting in favor of Australia. It is a very keen struggle between bat and ball, with the bat just holding the mastery. It was an interesting day in a remarkable match.” The Telegraph says: “Armstrong’s century ranks among the great deeds of a great career. He has done nothing finer. To take hold of the game at such a juncture and retire only when he has routed all foes is worthy < inscription on the treasured annals of the game. The greatest praise is also due to Kelleway, Whose innings after the initial mistake, was blameless.”—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn. ARMSTRONG’S PERFORMANCE. Sydney. Jan. 19. The Adelaide correspondent \of the Sydney Morning Herald comments on the fact that earnestness rather than incident was the dominant feature of the game yesterday, the Australians playing up to their traditions as a hard side to put into and keep in a hole. Both Kelleway and Armstrong batted throughout for safety, realising how much hung upon their stand at this critical juncture. The further they went the better they batted, but always with a prudent trend towards the safer side.

The Telegraph says that Armstrong’s century will rank among the great deeds of his great career on the cricket field. He never gave a semblance of a chance He never did anything finer than take hold of the game when he did and joust with all the knights of English bowling. Kelleway, after his initial mistake, when he gave a chance for a catch, played blamelessly for the better part of the day. The pair were absolute masters of the situation. Both coitrespondents pay a tribute to the doggedness of the English bawling and the keenness of the fielding. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

ENGLISH CRITICISMS. London, Jan. 18. The Westminster Gazette commenting on Tuesday’s play at Adelaide, says: “Play ,as slow as this will inevitable kill cricket as a spectacle. We shall develop a new race of who, by stonewalling and giving nd chanees whatever, i will keep their wickets up for a week, but will be minus spectators.” The newspaper black-type headings of i yesterday, featuring England’s commanding position were displaced to-day I by “England’s Third Test Hopes,” backed by a complete change in the aspect of the inatchi which came as an unpleasant shock to the critics. They do not attempt to forecast tKe result, but devote their attention and considerable praist to Armstrong and Kelleway.—United Service. TO-DAY’S MATCHES. The North Taranaki fixtures set down for to-day are as follows: Urenui v. Inglewood, at Urenui; and New Plymouth v. Tikorangi, at New Plymouth. Owing to the cricket ground at Pukekura Park being unplayable, however, the New Plymouth-Tikorangi fixture has been cancelled. AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. TO TOUR NEW ZEALAND. STRONG AND WELL BALANCED / TEAM. NOTES ON THE PLAYERS. The Australian Team chosen by the Board of Control to tour the Dominion is a strong and well balanced side, and admirably fitted for the task before it. Practically speaking, all the players are young, with their careers still before them, although they have already made their mark in the cricket arena. They have no doubt been chosen with the twofold object of being strong enough to win matches, and at the same time develop as players for future use In bigger company. All the men have at one time or another represented their States, and some of them have played against the Englishmen. THE PLAYERS. In Ellis and Ratcliffe are two of the most promising wicketkeepers in the Commonwealth. The ’former /ills this important post for Victoria, and is also ' a reliable batsman. Just before the ' holidays he scored a century for his club (Prahran) against Richmond. Ratcliffe is unfortunate in being opposed by two able competitors ’in Sydney. He was, however, considered good enough to receive a tempting offer from the Melbourne Club to cross the border and play in the Southern State. He is a sound left-handed batsman, and was chosen for his batting alone to play against the A.I.F- team. Vernon Hansford, the crack Victorian left-handed batsman, is well-known to the New Zealand public. He was considered well in the running for the Test ’ | Matches against the Englishmen. Although he opened with a score of 93 this • season against South Australia, he did not get a place owing to an accident to himself. He is one of the best outfields f Australia has produced, and is reported ; to be as good as ever. In Test cricket his figures are:— , Innings, 29; not out, 6; run®, 893; . average. 38,82. - The other tWo Wheatfielders amongst J the tourists are A. J. Richardson and - L. V. Pellew. The former is a steady ■ batsman who scored 7 and 11 for his } State versus the present English team, j He is ako a fair leg break bowler. t Pellew belongs to a well-known Adelaide 1! cricketing iamily, and learned his cricket j>t St. Peter’s College. In his first ap-

pearance this season for his State against Victoria he scored 69 and 53. His off play is very strong, and he is a very fine fieldsman. A.T.F. REPRESENTATIVES. With the visitors are two members of the Australian Imperial Forces combination which toured the Old Country in the 1919 season, viz., C. B. Willis and A. U. Lampard, and both are Victorians. In that team the former had the highest aggregate, viz., 16'52 runs with an average of 41.30. He scored four centuries, 156 not out, v. Leicester, 130 v. Notts, 129 not out v. Worcester, and 127 v. Sussex. On his return he played a fine innings of 11l for the A.I.F. against Victoria. He is a free and dashing batsman, and drives well. He is also a good outfield. Lampard is an all rounder of great merit. He at one time gave promise as a wicketkeeper, but afterwards went in for googly bowling. He was one of the most useful men with the Australian Military Team, notching 821 runs with an average of 25.65, and bagging 69 wickets for 23-57 apiece. This season he made a fine stand with Liddieutt for Victoria against Douglas’s team, the partnership realising 142 runs. Lampard made 111 and Liddieutt 56. Lampard’s leg glancing is splendidly executed. Liddieutt has made the most of his trial in the Victoria team, as in addition to the above score he has put together a century at the expense of South Australia. He is a sound and reliable batsnyin and a medium pace bowler, who generally secures a few wickets.

A DANGEROUS BOWLER. H. Ironmonger is probably the most dangerous bowler on the side. He first played for Queensland, but afterwards became a member of the Melbourne Club staff. He is a medium phee left hander and on his day most difficult. In the 1914-15 season he performed excellently in the big matches, securing 36 wickets at an average of 18 runs. He is not much of a bat. Q. P. Asher, of the Sydney Club, is a useful all round player. Last season he topped iboth batting and bowling averages for his club. He is a slow and tricky bowler and a batsman of orthodox methods. Altogether the visitors are a strong combination and should provide some attractive and interesting cricket for lovers of the great summer pastime.