CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1921, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA v. SURREY.

FIRST DAY’S PLAY. AUSTRALIA 6 FOR 325. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 8, 5.5 p.m. London, May 7. The weather was dull and showery and the wicket slow "but hard underneath for the opening of the Australian’s match against Surrey. The attendance was eight thousand. Oldfield, Mayne, Ryder and Pellew were omitted from the Australian team, and Harrison, Shepherd and Hobbs were omitted from the Surrey team. Bardsley and Collins opened to Rushby and Reay. When Bardsley was 3he was brilliantly caught by Hitch low down and close in to leg in Reay’s first over. The latter is a fast to medium righthander. Maoartney filled the vacancy and scored quickly behind the wicket,' getting more of the bowling than his partner. When eighteen, in trying to drive Rushby to the on, he dropped one near Knight, at midwicket, at twentysix, and he got five, all run out. The slips were fielding deep, four men on the off side. Macartney got an ovation for’ scoring fifty-one out of seventy-seven. A shower fell but the wicket was playing easy. Naumann here replaced Fender and Reay was superceded by Hitch, who kept a good length. Collins put one dangerously near Abel at second slip. Four bowlers were tried in the last twenty minutes before lunch, when the score was 1 wicket for 111.

On resuming the weather was brighter and there wete fifteen thousand present. The Prince of Wales also attended. Hitch and Rushby were now bowling and the first extra came off Strudwick, from a left-hander. Macartney then played Hitch on to the wicket. He was replaced by Taylor, who played late to the third ball from Hitch. Armstrong, who was next in, had an immense reception, and caused amusement by borrowing Hitch’s wajst sash. Hitch, like Naumann,. of|en -bowled short and Rush-, by was erratic.

When Collins was sixty-four Armstrong’s wicket fell and Gregory took; his place. Fender was bowling steadily while the ground fielding and were capital. Collins was stolidly. Peach was applauded for a brilliant effort to catch Irim at cover;, when seventy-six. With the score at four wickets for 194 a shower caused a' stoppage for twenty minutes. Two hundred was hoisted after nearly three hours’ play. Gregory was dismissed when the score was 226 and Andrew# took his place. Collins reached his century in 190 minutes and was ap-. plauded, the players joining in. A drizzle preceded a stoppage for half an hour, when the score was 261, the last 29 occupying eleven minutes, including two boundary byes. When play was resumed saw dust was used at the wicket. Andrews was out second ball from Collins and he was replaced by Hendry. Strudwick was hit on the face by a rising ball when Fender resumed. The third hundred was signalled after about four hours’ play. Hendry made ten in thirty-five minutes and Collins hit eighteen fours. Both teams were presented to the Prince of Wales at luncheon. Surrey protested against stumps being drawn at four o’clock to enable the Australians to travel to Bradford. Scores:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Bardsley, c Hitch, b Reay 3 Collins, not out 15® Macartney, played on, b Hitch .... 87 Taylor, b Hitch 0 Armstrong, b Reay Gregory, c Strudwick, b Fender ... 17 Andrews, c Strudwick, b Reay .... 8 Hendry, not out 22 Extras <...•• 18 Total (for six wickets) 325 COLLINS’ GREAT DAY. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. A TOUR OF BUSTLE. Received May 9, 12.40 a.m. London, May 8. The cricket in the Surrey match was uneventful. The cold day took the sparkle out of the Australians' batting. Macartney displayed wonderful skill. Collins hit hard and high to the on, at times driving the full length of the Oval, but little else varied the general dullness. Hendry showed the best form among the new brigade. The others were disappointing, and never looked like getting runs. Incidents were few and far between. When stumps were drawn and rain suddenly descended, crowds of newsboys appeared among the departing chowds bearing contents bills announcing “Collins’ great day at the Oval,” which practically sums up the whole. The differences regarding the hours of play were settled by a conference at the Oval this afternoon, at which Smith and Armstrong met the Surrey officials. Smith subsequently made a statement regarding the severity of the programme and the difficulties of travel. He said the team arrived in London at eleven last night by the only available train, and must close the match at four on Tuesday in order to catch the last Bradford train. They must close early at Bradford to catch the last available train, arriving in London at midnight, and they then catch an early train to Portsmouth, starting play soon after arrival. Similar difficulties will be experienced throughout, and concessions in the matter of hours were absolutely necessary, otherwise the team would be fatigued' Leicester agreed tb a reduction of hours immediately. Smith has written all counties with the same object, and he also insists on a full day’s rest prior to every test match. United Service. NOTES FROM ENGLAND. HOBBS COMPELLED TO REST; Received May 8, 5.5 p.m. London, May .6. Hobbs, who is consulting a Ixmdon specialist, states he has torn the same Uftuscle ai he injured while in Australia.

It is not serious, but requires complete rest. T. C. Lowry, a New Zealander, playing for Cambridge freshmen, batted for three hours foi 183, including nineteen fours. This is the highest score in a freshmen's match for twenty years. Jupps’ thumb was badly injured, but not broken. The Australians attach no special importance to their batting collapse, which they allege was due to a most tricky wicket. McDonald and Hendry bowled better than their averages indicate and repeatedly beat the batsmen, but they were unlucky.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONALS. A DISTINCTION REMOVED. Received May 9, 12.40 a.m. London, May 7. The Prince of Wales lunched with the Australians and Surrey amateurs at the Oval. Several newspapers have been advocating the abolition of distinctions between amateurs and professionals, especially the traditional custom which ordained that amateurs and professionals enter the field from the pavilion by separate gates. Cheers greeted the innovation at the Oval, with which Fender marked his captaincy of Surrey amateurs and professionals by using the same gate.. MacLareu, commenting in the Sunday Express on the Leicester match, says it was not generally known that Macdonald would be a better bowler here than in Australia. Macdonald may easily be treading on the heels of Gregory throughout the tour. MacLaren says the cold rather than the wicket affected the Australians at Attleboro, and adcLs that one ought to be chary in weighing up Australian form on cold days.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.