CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1921, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA v. ?IG SCORING BY AUSTRALIANS. By Telegraph.—PreM Asan —Copyritht. ■ Received August 21, 5.5 p.m. Loodou, August 20. There was glorious weather and the wicket was good and easy for the opening (ff the match between the Australians and Gloucestershire to-day. The Gloucestershire team is: Robinson, Rowlands, Barnett, Keigwin, Dipper, Seabrook, Parker, Mills, Bessant, Smith, Hammond. DMHeld, 'McDonald, Taylor and Andrews are no< playing for Australia. Armstrong won the toss. At the outset th* scoring was easy and vorsatile. Bardslej made low skionuilng strokes through th« slips. Collins went out from an easy chanet at mid-on. Macartney immediately becamt aggressive, but made a feeble stroke ofr Skills soon after be started, but Milla was unable to reach the ball. For some time the bowlers kept the batsmen quiet, though Pjurker lacked variety. By the tea adjournment the bowling was very tired and runs Whro made rapidly. Macartney’s Innings was a spectacular effort. Bardsley was often on the defensive. Gregory was caught off a no ball before he scored. The batting was quleur though OKgory lifted Mills out of the ground, sad Afterwards made a couple of mishits. Parker and Mills bowled unchanged from tea till stumps were drawn and kept the batsman comparatively Quiet. The fielding was never slack or loose, and no palpable chances were missed. When stumps were drawn Australia had lost eight wickets for 425. Details of the play are:— AUSTRALIA. Pint Innings. Collins, c Barnett, b Bessant 15 Bardsley, lbw, b Bessant W, Macartney, b Parker .....»*•••«**»«• IXI Pellew, c Mills, b Parker •«.*»»»•••.<>•»«> 1 Gregory, b Mills T 8 Armstrong, lbw, b Parker 22 Mayne, b Parker Ryder, not out 3* Hendry, b Mills 0 Carter, not out M * Extras •«>••• IB Total (for eight wickets) »•*••»«••• 425 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP. AN EXCITING FINISH. Received August 21, 5.5 p.m. London, August 19. The county cricket championship promises an exciting wind up with a neck and neek struggle between Middlesex, the present champions, Surrey and Yorkshire. To-day Somerset beat Middlesex on the first innings, giving Surrey a lead with a percentage of against Middlesex’s 75 and Yorkshire's 71.81. BATTING AND BOWLING. THE LATEST AVERAGES. Received August 21, 5.5 p.m. London, August 19 Mead has made 2747 runs, an average ot 68.17; Macartney 2090, .63.33; Bardsley 59.93; Hardinge 2078, 53.28; Sandhmn and Ducat 51; Bryan and Russell 50; Armstrong 44; Mayne' 39; Collins and Gregory 36. Rhodes took 114 wickets for an average of 13.10; Armstrong 81 for a 3.69; Gregory 105 for 15.89; White 138 for 16.10; McDonald 117 for 16.12; Maiiey 108 for 20.78. TIME FOR TEST MATCHES. PLAYING OUT URGED. Received August 20, 5.5 p.m. London, August 19. Mr. Sidney Smith, In an interview, said the Board of Cricket Control had for yeara urged the playing out of tests without avail. He added: “We in Australis cM>»uier that iw these visits are mainly with the object of deciding which is the better cricketing oqunify, it Is only right that, finality «houid be reached." He was hopeful tbat when the next team comes the matches will be played cul COMMENT ON THE AUSTRALIANS. HAPPIER CHOICE ASKED. Received August 21, 11.5 pxn. Londuu, August 20. The Observer's cricket correspondent slates the Australian tour in some ways has been disagreeably remarkable. He idds: “It is a pity the majority oi’ the team should suffer the reproach of unpopularity through the faults of a few. Australia never sent more delightful fellows than Macartney, Gregory, Pellew, Collins, Oldfield and Taylor, with whom may lx\ coupled Bardsley, McDonald, Mayne, Hendry, Hyder and Malley, but every* one hopes the Australian Board of Control nlll make a happier all-round choiea next The correspondent calls attention to Armstrong's suspicious inspection of the Wicket in the fifth tbst before England declared. He says: “Twice ho walked up from his place in slips to point out spike marks the batsmen had unavoidably made In running and turning. Apparently he does not know that such a thing as intentionally cutting up the surface of the wicket in the good length zone is among the things not done In English cricket." It is announced that Oldfield remains in England. He is negotiating to play for Lancashire as an amateur, provided a suitable appointment is found.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.