TESTS OVER.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1921, Page 5

TESTS OVER.

AUSTRALIA WINS THE FIVE. EASY VICTORY IN THE FINAL, MARGIN OF NINE WICKETS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received March 1, 5.5 p.m. Sidney, March 1. The last chapter of the fifth and final test match between England and Australia was spiritless and uninteresting. With Australia wanting 68 to win and all wickets intact, the result was a foregone conclusion, though the heavy rain overnight might easily have found Australia scratching for runs on a sticky wicket. The outfield was heavy as a result of the rqjn and the wicket damp, but not troublesome, excepting to bowlers, who required sawdust to ensure a secure foothold.

Bardsley (17 not out) and Collins (7 not out) resumed to the bowling of Woolley and Parkin, both batsmen adopting astonishingly cautious methods to the surprise of the few hundred spectators. The first fifty was registered in fifty-four minutes, Bardsiey’s quota being two to one. Rhodes and Wilson then endeavored to effect a separation, but the batsmen watched the ball carefully as if “the ashes” hung in the balance. With five runs to win and two for half a century Bardsley hit Wilson to square leg for a brace after ninety-two minutes’ play. Both batsmen pottered about for three overs, endeavoring to register the necessary runs, until Collins snicked Wilson into Strudwick’s hands for thirty-seven, made in hundred minutes. Macartney scored two singles, one each from Wilson and Rhodes, and Australia won by nine wickets. Australia lost one wicket for ninety-three runs. Following are the scores:— ENGLAND. First innings i...... 204 Second innings 280 Grand total ........... . . 484 AUSTRALIA. First innings .. . 392 Second Innings. Collins, c Strudwick, b Wilson ... R 37 Bardsley, not out 50 Macartney, not out .-.tw; 2 Extras 4 Total (for one wicket) 93 Grand total 485 Bowling analysis: Wilson, I for 8; Rhodes, 0 for 20; Woolley, 0 for 27; Parkin, 0 for 32; Fender, 0 for 2, one no ball—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMENT IN ENGLAND. WRITING BY PLAYERS OPPOSED. REGRET AT THE INCIDENTS. Received March 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 28. The fate of the fifth test match was lost sight of in the interest displayed in the cabled reports of barracking. The opinion is emphatic that players should be debarred-from cabling to newspapers. The Star says a little tact on Wilson’s part would have saved much.

The Guardian refers to “this unfortunate tour,” adding that it is a consolation to know that the team will .shortly be on board the Osterley. Warner said: “I feel it very much. After all, such incidents, however regretable, are trifling compared with the glorious history of Anglo-Australian cricket.” He always found the Australian crowds the best of sportsmen, and they invariably gave the English players a most hospitable and affectionate welcome. “You can rest assured the Australian team will be most cordially welcomed in England, and any misunderstanding forgotten,” he added. —United Service.

Wilson’s cable to the Daily Express merely says: “When Wilson was stumped he had a memorable reception, even members hooting him. Hobbs had a wonderful welcome, with three cheers both when walking out and walking in.”

The Daily Express, in a leader entitled “A Testy Match”, says good sportsmen will regret the scenes which marred the final test. Firstly, a section of the crowd jeered at Hobbs’ slow movement, due, as all must know, to an injury. When Wilson made criticism of this conduct the crowd retorted by subjecting him and Fender to violent barracking. The whole thing is wretched, and the explanation probably is that the attack upon Wilson masked a sense of shame which the crowd would not confess. The ovation to Hobbs in the second innings bears out this interpretation. It is important that the Maryle-bone-Australian Board should concert measures against a display of temper. We were well and deservedly beaten, and it is a thousand pities that our sincere congratulations to the winners should be mixed with any bitterness. If test matches are to continue, and if cricket is to keep? its place as a clean and wholesome game, the decencies of sportsmanship must be preserved all over the not only 'inside the boundaries. CRITICISM SUPPORTED.

The Daily News says it is unfortunate that the last test match, which nothing but a miracle can prevent ending in the complete dfiscomfiture of the Englishmen, should be accompanied by an exhibition of ill-feeling towards members of the English team. Fender and Wilson have once or twice mildly criticised, by implication, umpires’ decisions, and they also stated that the spectators rather senselessly barracked Hobbs, who was lame and in pain, for inactivity in fielding. The Australian cricketing public, while not exactly fastidious in its own attitude, seems surprisingly sensitive when a little plain speaking is directed against itself or its favorites. We do not think Fender has been unfair or one-sided in his criticism. He bestowed ample praise on the Australians. and besides there is no rancour in his remarks upon umpires’ decisions. They are honest, and such as appeal to the daily English Press during the season. One would have imagined that even the Australian papers occasionally allow themselves the liberty of saying the umpire made a mistake. The barracking of Hobbs is jn another category. It is impossible that Fender and Wilson made such a complaint if it was unjustified. Moreover, at least one Australian paper admits there was some jeering. We need not take such incidents too seriously, for Australian barrackers are usually good humored and

not be judged by its less sporting elements. The Australians won fairly and squarely, because they are the better side. AMATEUR JOURNALISTS. Apart from the Daily News and the Daily Express, which support their correspondents, .Fender and Wilson, the morning newspapers give little prominence to the Sydney barracking. In several cases the regular local correspondents see the events in different perspective to the Daily News and the Daily Express. Several, including the Sporting Life and the Sportsman, urge the Maryle’bone Club to forbid cricketers commenting on their own games. The latter suggests tiliat the Marylebone board of control should hold an inquiry when both teams arrive in England.

Fender, cabling to the Daily News, says there were extraordinary scenes. Frequently one section of the spectators were barracking hard, while the remainder, who were the larger part, provided a sympathetic demonstration, though even a certain section of the members barracked Wilson when out. Hobbs had a great ovation, as also had Douglas. The Daily Chronicle does not refer to the scenes editorially, but alludes to Fender and Wilson in its news columns as amateur journalists. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRALIA v. WAIRARAPA. HOME TEAM’S POOR DISPLAY, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Master ton, Last Night. The cricket match Australia v. a Wairarapa sixteen commenced to-day hi fin-j weather and on a good wicket. Wairarapa batted first, and made a deplorable showing. At the luncheon adjournment it had ten wickets down for 56, Liddicutt and Forssberg doing damage with the ball. The Wairarapa effort was practically a procession and the innings closed for 81. The Australians, in their first innings, opened well, and knocked up a century in 55 minutes, and the second century in 1 hour 45 minutes. After five wickets had fallen a rot set in, and the lastfive fell for 60, the innings closing for 293. The Australians’ scores are: Bogle, b Dacre Richardson, run out 24 Asher, c Collins, b Dacre H Kippax, c and b Dacre 55 Liddicutt, c Henderson - 61 Pellew, c Buckley, b Henderson .. / 21 Lampard, c Miles, b Torrance ...... 36 Waddy, b Henderson 6 Ransford, not out Ratcliffe, run out ... .t. 13 Extras ...-v..-. 7 Total 293