FOURTH TEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1921, Page 5

FOURTH TEST.

ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA. VISITORS AT THE WICKETS. SIX LOST FOR 270. By Teleigraph.-rPreas Assn.—CopyrigHt. Received Feb. 11, 8.45 p.m. Melbourne, Feb. 11. The weather was hot and the wicket splendid for the fourth test match between England and Australia. The attendance was good. Douglas (England) won the toss, and Armstrong, on entering the field, had a tremendous ovation, which lasted till he reached the wicket. Hobbs and Rhodes opened for England to the bowling of McDonald and Gregory. Rhodes began batting freely, scoring ten while Hobbs was getting one, but he was caught by Carter, off Gregory, in the third over. —1 for 18.

Makepeace followed, and Gregory’s bowling rising, gave him a nasty smack. Hobbs made two misshits in Mailey’s second over, but fortunately for him no one was near. The board showed fifty up in forty minutes. Hobbs was then brilliantly caught by Carter, off McDonald. Carter had to run some yards and his effort was cheered for a minute.—2 for 61.

Hendren had a great reception. He began'cautiously, and he drove McDonald straight for three. Armstrong replaced Mai ley, only one run being got off his first over, but runs kept coming steadily, mostly by the smart running of the batsmen,, between the wickets, and at the lunch adjournment the score was 2 wickets -for 89.

Gregory resumed bowling after lunch, six being hit off his first over. Armstrong brought-Mailey on at the other end, and Hendren drove his first ball for three. The scores had reached 104 when Hendren was caught by Carter, off Mailey, for 30. \ Woolley came next, and was obviously cautious, Mailey’s bowling being tricky. Makepeace reached fifty in 102 minutes. Off Mailey’s thirteenth over Woolley and Makepeace scored thirteen runs. Then McDonald came on in place of Gregory, qnd Makepeace welcomed him by hitting six off his first over. Kelleway replaced Mailey, whose average read one wicket for UO. One hundred and fifty appeared on the board in 129 minutes. Carter’s wicket keeping was a feature of the game, he frequently being applauded for his smart work. Woolley made a beautiful four through the slips off Kelleway, but almost immediately after was out leg before to the same bowler -for 29. The Woolley and Makepeace partnership added sixty to the score. Douglas followed, and Armstrong brought Mailey on again, but the English captain delighted the spectators by clouting a full toss to the fence. Armstrong then made a, double change of bowling. Douglas drove Armstrong for four, and Makepeace, who was batting steadily, now raised his score to 72. At the tea. adjournment Douglas was 17. and the total was 4 wickets for 192 runs.

After tea Ryder and Mailey resumed fowling, and 200 was reached in 196 minutes. Play then became slow. Taylor was absent from the field for some time owing to a nail in his boot, Andrews fielding for him until after tea. Makepeace, who was in since 12.25 p.m., was batting carefully and playing mostly for singles, while Douglas was extra careful. Gregory came on at 4 wickets for 219, the ball still rising high. Mailey, who promised to be troublesome to the batsmen, proved un. successful, his average going up to one for 101. Makepeace varied the monotony by scoring two off Gregory. The game at this stage became so slow that the crowd began to leave. McDonald, whose average was one for 34, came on again. Makepeace, with an off stroke, reached his century in 230 minutes. More careful play followed, and Makepeace then hit Kelleway to leg for three, the score showing 250 in 255 minutes. Makepeace drove Kelleway to the off for four, and next over he was caught by Collins, Mailey, after making 117 in 257 minutes. His partnership with Douglas brought the score to 4 for 264. Douglas, who was batting carefully for 124 minutes, was now 50. Waddington, who came next, was bowled by Mailey without scoring, the last two wickets -falling in eight minutes.’ The fielding throughout was good. The attendance was 20,000 and the gate £1286. Following are the scores:— ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs, c Carter, b McDonald 27 Rhodes, c Carter, b Gregory 11 Makepeace, c Collins, b Mailey .... 117 Hendren, c Carter, b Mailey 30 Woolley, lbw, b Kelleway 29 Douglas, not out 50 Waddington, b Mailey 0 Extras 5... 6 Total (for six wickets) 270 Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.