TEST CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1921, Page 5

TEST CRICKET.

COMMENT IN ENGLAND. LORD HAWKE INTERVIEWED, t PLEA TO BE SPORTSMEN. Bj Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Received Jan. 21, 8.20 p.m. London, Jan. 20. Lord Hawke, interviewed, said: “England did not have the best of luck in the test matches. Ido not say we have got an old side, but our players are not young. Australia discarded most of her old players, and her youngsters are evidently pretty good. I am afraid our youngsters are not quite of the same character.” He declined to be drawn into the controversy regarding the English captain’s tactics, but added: “I have something to say regarding players writing criticisms of the play for newspapers. Just you wait until Tuesday, when I shall speak at the annual meeting of the Yorkshire Club. My mind is made up on this point, and when the test match teams are selected in England this summer it will not be forgotten.” ‘‘Another thing,” he added, “is that we must put an end to this disputing of an umpire’s decisions. When a man is out leg before he must not stand in the crease and argue, but take the decision as final, and retire as a true sportsman. On this point, too, more will be said on Tuesday.”—Aus.-N- Cable Assn.

LOSS OF THE ASHES. HOW ENGLAND RECEIVED NEWS. London, Jan. 20. The loss of the ashes is rceived calmly. Disappointment is tempered by England’s record fourth innings and Hobbs’ brilliant effort, while the Australian appreciation thereof is generally eulogised. The Westminster Gazette comments that to create a record fourth innings of test matches was something, but was not enough. Hobbs might fairly claim that he did all that one majti could in a nerve testing situation. The paper, hopes that the remaining matches will provide an opportunity of showing that? English cricket is not outclassed to thq degree it appears to bk. The Pall Mall Gazette says: “Nobody will deny that the victors played strong, sound cricket. The visitors did not have the best of luck, but we would be the last to make that a ground for. depreciating Australia’s success. Eng-’ lish cricket will be on its mettle next summer. There could be no better stimulus than the way Australia maintained its traditional standard in every branch of the game.” The Evening News says: “Australia won because their’s was the better team. Throughout the history of Australian cricket there has been nothing finer than this victory, snatched after the game seemed lost, but England were not disgraced, thanks to Hobbs’ and Russel’s recovery of form. England , needed a larger leaven of young men to stand the strain of such a tour. Australia bad a great all-round side with no batting tail, and a variety of bowling. We had a painfully long tail and needed new bowlers.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PLAY FOR THE ASHES. A CONTENTIOUS POINT. Sydney, Jan. 21. The Herald states: “It was a remarkable match, England having a winning chance till Hobbs lost his wicket after an innings in which he gave a masterly d-isplay. He is without doubt the master among the many centurions of the match, Bardsley and Armstrong being given in. Australia won the rubber but not the ashes, which are in England, and must be won there by an Australian team.” The Telegraph states: “The ashes are ours, although the English manager has a queer idea that Australia must win them in England. The match was the greatest of the series, Douglas being hopeful till Woolley’s dismisall.” Armstrong stated that it was anybody’s game to a certain point. Hobbs equalled Trumper’s record for six centuries in tests. Also, the aggregate was smashed, 1451 being the previous best for a test. England fought to the very last and lost all save their honour, which remained with embellishments. PLAYERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. Melbourne, Jan. 21. Ellis is unable to visit New Zealand. Ransford, Lampard, and Iremonger have accepted.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.