POOR CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1921, Page 5

POOR CRICKET.

FINAL TEST MATCH. ENGLAND AT THE WICKETS. FOUR WICKETS FOR 129. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received August 14, 5.5 p.m. London, August 13. Tpie final test match between Australia and England commenced to doy in dubious weather conditions and fifty iminutes late, owing to the rain in the early morning. The weather was bright «nd the wicket wet on top and hard beneath when play started. Tennyson won the toss and Brown and Russell opened the batting aggressively against Macdonald and Gregory. Both played Gregory, who was rising well over the wicket, freely, but neither was at home with Macdonald, who sent down fast, low stuff. His first over was a maiden and the next three only yielded two runs. Half an hour’s play produced 27, when Russell just touched a leg-sider from Oldfield and was cleanly caught. Tyldesley was next in. The batting was quiet, though Brown made occasional vigorous carpet drives and Tyldesley pretty shots behind the wicket. At 40 Mailey displaced Macdonald. Perfect fielding checked the scoring. Collins at point missed Tyldesley off Gregory when the batsman had five on. Mailey continually beat Tyldesley. Fifty was hoisted for an hour's play and then Macdonald took Gregory’s end. Brown was uncomfortable before Mailey’s mixed deliveries. He alternated stepping back and driving, but failed to penetrate the field. Finally he- impatiently lashed out and missed the ball and his stump was broken.

i After lunch the weather was sunny. ■ Woolley joined Tyldesley, who was unI comfortable facing Mailey, but with a [lucky shot he, drove Macdonald to the ! boundary—the second one of th j day. Woolley started by driving Mailey to the fence and sent Macdonald tw«cc to the boundary. At eighty-thre«i heavy rain stopped play. During the interruption, which lasted 160 minute.-, the captains several times inspected the [wicket, the crowds barracking Arm- : strong unmercifully and hooting the i Australians, but they cheered the batsi men when they took the field again, j Tn the first over Woolley sent one from Macdonald to slip. Bardsley fielded the ball brilliantly and as Woolley was attempting a second run Bardsley knocked his middle stump out. Woolley batted twenty-five minutes in his customary classical style. Tyldesley was now 14. Mead joined Tyldesley, who continued shakily, getting an occasional lucky single. Mead was not aggressive and altogether it was a painful exhibition of test batting. . Whenever Armstrong, {fielded a ball he. was ironically cheered, i The century appeared for 116 minutes’ I play. The crowd had a further excuse • for barracking when Macdonald struck [ Tyldesley on the jaw as the latter was :making a wild effort to pull the bowler behind. Tyldesley then twice sent Macdonald to the boundary, this departure from cramped batting being loudly I cheered. Gregory relieved Macdonald ]at 116. After batting 110 minutes ; Tyldesley drove a ball to long-on and was easily caught. Macdonald went on at 128. Mead took an hour to get eighteen, mostly sneaked singles. Sandham, who filled the vacancy, stone-(vail-ed for half-an-hour, getting only a single. It was a dull day’s cricket. At no 1 period was the bowling mastered and the fielding was superb. The batting emphasised the fact that England has never recovered from the ignominy of the Australian tour. Details of the play are:— ENGLAND. First Innings. Russell, c Oldfield, b Macdonald .. 13 Brown, b Mailey 32 Tyldesley, c Macartney, b Gregory 39 Woolley, run out 23 Mead, not out f. 19 Sandham, not out 1 Extras 2 Total (for four wickets) 129 The wickets fell as follows: 1 for 27, 2 for 54, 3 for 84, 4 for 121. AN UNFRIENDLY CROWD. THE HOOTING OF ARMSTRONG. Received August 15, 12.5 a.m. London. August 13. During the stoppage in the test match the crowd invaded the ground, but the police kept them from the pitch. Several thousand assembled in front of the pavilion, demanding that play bo continued. They blamed Armstrong when he was inspecting the wicket.—United Service.