FOURTH TEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1921, Page 5

FOURTH TEST.

ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIA’S GOOD POSITION 1 . MAILEY’S BOWLING FEAT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Received Feb. 15, 9.15 p.m. Melbourne, Feb. 15. The weather was cool and the wicket good to-day for the continuation of the fourth test match between England and Australia. The overnight position was that Australia had made 389 in their first innings, and England had replied with 284, while they had 123 up for the loss of one wicket in their second innings. On resuming to-day the Australians took the field under Collins, Armstrong being compelled to stay in bed. Rhodes (66 not out) and Makepeace (40 not out) resumed to the bowling of McDonald and Mailey. Makepeace began by cutting McDonald for two, and Mailey opened with a maiden over. Owing to a bad throw in by Collins, Rhodes added three to his score. Makepeace then beautifully snicked McDonald to the boundary, bringing his -score to 51 in 140 minutes. In the next over McDonald bowled a no ball, and then Mailey got Makepeace leg before, his average at this stage being two wickets fqr 55. Makepeace had put up 54, but in a rather crouching style. England’s score was now 2 for 145.

Hendren followed, and a fast low one ■from McDonald went to the fence. Four 'byes were run, and then Rhodes was well caught in the slips by Gregory, off Mailey, after making 73 in 182 minutes. Woolley was stumped in his first over by Carter, off Mailey, whose bowling was well nigh unplayable, he having taken three wickets for 10, his average being 5 for 5’6, with one maiden over. Douglas began by slipping Mailey for three, and then Hendren drove him to the off for three. Hendren, who was cutting and running briskly, soon ran his score to 20. Pellew was applauded for smart fielding. At 4 for 199 Gregory replaced McDonald, and Douglas, tapping the first ball, brought up 200 on the board in 222 minutes. Kelleway gave Mailey a spell, and clean bowled Hendren in his first over.—s for 201. Fender joined Douglas, and played up to the lunch adjournment, when the score was 5 for 212.

After lunch Kelleway and McDonald continued bowling. Fender confidently drove Kelleway to the boundary. Douglas scored five owing to a bad throw in by Pellew, which was responsible for four. Mailey relieved Kelleway, and Fender pleased the spectators by hitting him over the fence for six. Douglas reached his fifty in 103 minutes, and Fender in 73 minutes, while 300 came up on the board in 309 minutes. Fender, taki'ng risks with Mailey, whose bowling generally was very deadly, hit one hard and high, and was caught by Collins on the boundary. Then Douglas, reaching out to Mailey, was stumped by Carter. Waddington, Dolphin, and Parkin were disposed of quickly, and at the close of the innings Mailey, who had taken nine wickets for 121, was loudly applauded. Mailey’s great bowl, ing feat is widely discussed, it being unequalled in test cricket. Australia, requiring 211 to win, opened after tea with Collins and Bardsley to the bowling of Howell and Douglas. Collins’ luck was again in evidence, he being missed by Douglas in the slips, off Howell, when four. Collins hit the first ball from Douglas to the boundary for four, but generally the scoring was slow. Woolley and Parkin replaced Douglas and Howell’s attack, but Bardsley cut Woolley for a beautiful four, and fifty came up in 53’'minutes, and just later the batsmen were running neck and neck. Collins was then tempted by Parkin, who sent down a full toss, and he hit it round to Rhodes, who accepted the catch very neatly.—l for 71.

Ryder opened his score with a neat stroke for four, off Parkin. Bardsley was just beginning to show something of his old form, when he started running, but was unable to get back before Dolphin lifted the bails. —2 for 81. Gregory opened by placing Parkin to leg, and Ryder, who was playing cautiously, reached double figures by a similar stroke, he being 12 and Gregory 6 when stumps were drawn. The attendance was 12,785 and the “gate” realised £5994. Following are the scores:— ENGLAND.

The wickets fell as follows: 1 for 32, 2 for 145, 3 for 1'53, 4 for 153, 5 for 201, 6 for 305, 7 for 307, 8 for 307, 9 -for 315, 10 for 315. Bowling analysis: Gregory 0 for 31, McDonald 0 for 77, Mailey 9 for 121, Kelleway 1 for 47, Ryder 0 for 25. AUSTRALIA.

Total (for two wickets) .... 92 -—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ARMSTRONG EULOGISED. MANY PRESS TRIBUTES. London, Feb. 14. The British public unstintedly eulogise Armstrong. He seems to have an eleven who are not only inspired by his genius, but willing workers for him to the last ounce of stamina. The Manchester Guardian says: “We are doing well; then the old, old story. Just when we are safest there’s an Armstrong touch. What a man he is in moments of trouble, and resnoasi*

bility. The severer the ordefcl the mightier he is. The Star, commenting on Armstrong, says in our losses he had. the biggest hand. He seems to have his eleven inspired by his genius. They are willing workers for him to the last ounce of their stamina. History will tell the full story of the unfortunate squabble in Australian cricket management by the Board, of Control. Suffice it to say that had certain people prevailed Arm. strong would have been excluded instead of leading Australia to victory. The voice of the Australian people has been heard in no uncertain tone, and we may have heard the last of the Armstrong vendetta. Sydney, Feb. 15. The Herald says that Armstrong, by making his third century in tests this season, has proved himself a leader in every sense, on each occasion, at a time when runs were sorely needed. He has completed 1000 runs in first-class matches this season, also 2000 in test record equalled previously only by Gregory, Hill, and Trumper. The Englishmen’s inexplicable stonewalling on a good wicket against slow bowling seemed ridiculous.

The Telegraph says that Armstrong’s performance was a triumph, for he, as a sick man, should have been in bed, and he was compelled to retire eventually. The remarkable feature of the match was the absence sundries. Dolphin allowed none, and Carter only one, which he thought had bowled the batsman. Rhodes, though still at the wickets, had no right there, for a more fluky innings is not imaginabla-

284 Second Innings. Hobbs, lbw, b Mailey 13 Rhodes, c Gregory, b Mailey 73 Makepeace, lbw, b Mailey . 54 Hendren, b Kellewav 32 Woolley, st Carter, b Mailey 0 Douglas, st Carter, b Mailey .... (iO Fender, c Collins, b Mailey 59 Waddington, st Carter, b Mailey Dolphin, c Gregory, b Mailey ■6 0 PUrkin, c Bardsley, b Mailey .... 4 Howell, not out ..• 0 Extras .... 14 Total .. .TT. . . .vr.-.v... . 315

First Innings ... 389 Second Innings. Collins, c Rhodes, b Parkin ... 32 Bardsley, run out ... 38 Ryder, not out ... 12 .... 6 Extras ............... . 4