CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9004, 14 December 1907, Page 6

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA v. ENGLAND. ENGLAND OUT FOR 273. AUSTRALIA 1 WICKET FOR 50. BY .TETiKOIiAI'U—IT.KSH ASSOCIATION. Received December 13, 8.15 p.m. SYDNEY, December 13. The. weather was fine with a fresh breeze for the test match England v. Australia. The wicket was in excellent order. Fane, the visiting skipper, won the toss from Noble and elected to bat. Gunn replaced Humphries, Young taking the latter's place at the wickets. Young and Fane faced Cotter and Hazlett. The fast bowler had eight knocked off him in the first over, bat had his revenge in the third over, when Trumper snapped Fane up in the slips. One for 11. Cotter was again successful in the following over, Carter making a brilliant 'catch behind the' wickets, dismissing Young, who bad done the only-bit of scoring to date. Two for 18. With the score at 26 Saunders relieved Hazlett. Hutchings scored with freedom, and made some clean, hard strokes. Fifty appeared on the board after 40 minutes' play. Gunn was playing cautiously. At this stage Armstrong replaced Cotter, and as he kept an excellent length the batsmen did not appear at home with him. Gunn, who had been at the wickets some time, began to gain confidence, and the score crept up steadily. Although tht cricket was not of a brilliant order it was sound. Then Hutchings mishit one back to Armstrong. Three for 91. MacArtney relieved Saunders, and Armstrong, whs was mixing the pace, was treated with great respect. The century was hoisted as the result of 120 minutes' play, and this brought Cotter on again, who took MacArtney's end Noble at the same time, relieved Armstrong. The double change, huwever, had no effect, and then'the luncheon adjournment was taken.

After lunch Gunn played fine cricket, and brought his half century up after being at the wickets for eight minutes over the hour. Braund appeared content to leave most of the work to his partner. The scoring was not brisk, chiefly due to the excellent fielding of the colonials. At 126 the local skipper gave way to Armstrong, and as the Victorian bowler was difficult to negotiate the 1 batsmen devoted themselves chiefly to Cotter, Gunn in particular scored freely off the fast bowler, who eventually gave way to Hazlitt. Gunn continued to make some beautiful strokes, many on the leg side. Armstrong meanwhile had Braund completely "tied up," and the batsman narrowly escaped being stumped in

playing forward to the Victorian. Gunn continued to play with the utmost freedom and confidence, driving and cutting the leather to the boundary in rapid succession. Braund was scoring painfully slow, and had at this time been at the wickets 66 minutes for 16 runs. At ISO Saunders relieved Hazlitt, and off the former's first ball Gunn by a boundary hit brought, amid cheers, his century up for 122 minutes' play. His late cuts were brilliantly executed. Noble again came on, taking Armstrong's end, and then Gunn gave his first chance, his total being 112.' Clem Hill had the chance in the slips, but he failed to get under the ball, and as a result four were scored. The second century then appeared on the board, at which stage Armstrong went on again in place of Noble, and Cotter took Saunders' end. The change, as it usually does, brought about the desired effect, Gunn putting up Cotter in the slips, and Hazlitt made a clever catch. Four for 208. The retiring batsman's score included 20 fourers. Hardstaff then partnered Braund, but the latter was almost immediately bowled by Cotter. Five for 221. Rhodes filled the gap, but in attempting a risky run a smart return to Carter terminated his career, and the sheet read 6 for 222.

After the tea adjournment Crawford joined Hardstaff, but still tie runs came slowly. Armstrong and Cotter were well on the spot, and could not be trifled with. In fact they "tied up" the batsmen time after time. After a deal of cautious play Armstrong got a beauty into Hardstaff, which completely beat him, and he retired with a dozen to his credit. Seven for 246. tfarnes had a very short shift. He scored a single, and then one of Cotter's 'lightning jerkers" broke his leg, stump in half, and the tally was eight for 253. Blythe joined Crawford, and the latter hit three boundaries in succession, but before he could renew the attack Armstrong beat him. Nine for 271. Then Blythe succumbed easily to Cotter, and the innings closed with the score at 273. Scores :

ENGLAND. First Innings. Fane, c Trumper, b Cotter ... 2 Young, c Carter, b Cotter ... 13 Gunn, c Hazlitt, b Cotter ... 119 Hutehings, c and b Armstrong... 42 Braund, b Cotter ... 30

Hard3taff, b Armstrong ... 12 Rhodes, run one ... 1 Crawford, b Armstrong ... 31 Barnes, b Cotter ... 1 iJlythe, b Cotter ... 5 Fielder, not out ... 1 Sundries .-• 16 Total ... 273 Bowling analysis—Cotter, 6 for 101; Saunders, 0 for 42; Armstrong, 3 for 63; MacArtney, 0 for 5; Noble, 0 for 14; Hazlitt, 0 for 32. About 15,000 were present when Australia began their first innings. Trumper and MacAlister opened for the colonials to the bowling of Barnes and Fielder. With four on the sheet MacAlister placed Barnes into Hutehings' hands in the slips, and the board showed one for four. Hill then partnered Trumper, and both scored freely, the latter particularly playing stylish cricket. A separation had not been brought about when time was called. Scores:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. MacAlister, c Hutehings, b Barnes 3 Trumper, not out ... 31 Hill, not out ... 16 Total for one wicket ■ ... 50 A match will be played at Masterton on December 25th and 26th between teams representing the Wairarapa. Thursday and Wellington Wednesday Associations.