CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9050, 8 February 1908, Page 6

CRICKET.

FOURTH TEST MATCH. AUSTRALIA ALL OUT FOR 214. ENGLAND NO WICKETS FOR 9. Received Feruary 7, 10.5 p.m. MELBOURNE, February 7. The Fourth Te3t match between England and Australia commenced to-day. Jones captained the English team. Fane, Blythe, Young and Hayes are standing out of the visitors team. Noble won the toss and, with Trumper, opened the Australian innings on a good wicket. The batsmen began very gingerly, and treated with resnect the bowling of Fielder and Barnes. Noble had a life very «arly in the proceedings, but the ' , partnership did not last long, as Trumper was taken at third slip by Crawford, to the great disappoint- ' ment of the crowd. Trumper has shown indifferent form in test cricket this season. The disappointment was accentuated shortly after, when Hill was clean bowled. Noble and McAlister made a fair stand, though* McAlister gave a chance, when thirteen, to Jones at square-leg, off Braund. It was a hot stinging ball, which the Englishman met with his left hand. At lunch hour both were not out, Noble having 37 to his credit and McAlister 20. After lunch the dullness of the morning's play continued. Noble was first to go, Crawford "skittling" him. Noble had batted stolidly for 113 minutes, but his runs included only four boundary hits. Gregory was cordially greeted on his re-appearance in test cricket, and with Macalister brought up the century in 135 minutes. Three runs later Macalister was well caught at third man after batting 107 minutes, during which he hit three fours. Gregory was a disappointment, and was caught at point. Armstrong and Ransford played beautiful cricket and the partnership added 91 runs before Ransford, who was in for 100 minutes, hitting six fourers, was caught in the slips by Braund. Armstrong was immediately afterwards bowled by Crawford. The remaining batsmen did little, and the innings, which lasted 274 minutes, closed for 214. Gunn and Hobbs were associated for the few minutes remaining to the drawing of stumps. The dullness of the day's play was relieved only by the brightness of Ransford and Armstrong. The former was in excellent form. His cutting was superb, and his timing perfect. Armstrong's innings was a more useful than brilliant one. He clipped a sixer off Braund, and evoked enthusiasm. The bowling was magnificent, e? pocially that of Crawford. He mixed his pace, disguising it well. The fielding was capital. The attendance was nearly 10,000. Scores:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Trumper, c Crawford, b Fielder 0 Noble, b Crawford 48 Hill, b Barnes 7 McAlister, c Jones, b Crawford 37 Gregory, c Fielder, b Crawford 10 Ransford, c Braund, b Feilder 51 Armstrong, b Crawford 32 lvieArtney, c HardstafT, b Fielder 12 Carter, c and b Crawford 2 O'Connor, c Fielder, b Crawford 2 Saunders, not out 1 Sundries 12 Total 214 The wickets fell as follows:—One for 1, 2 for 14, 3 for 89, 4 for for 103, 5 for 105, 6 for 196, 7 for 196, 8 for 198, 9 for 212. Bowling analysis:—Fielder 4 for. 54, Barnes 1 for 37, Braund 0 for 42, Crawford 5 for 48, Rhodes, 0 for 21. ENGLAND. First Innings. Gunn, not out 0 Hobbs, not out 9 Total for 0 wickets 9 I

The following will represent Masterton A against Masterton B on the Park Oval this afternoon :~Perry, Parton, Bewley, Redmond, Crookendon, Esson, Mackellar, Rawson, Logan, Richards, Moorehouse. The following will represent the B team : —Morris, Thompson, Hebenton, Claughton, Minett, Lyttle, Winter, Monro, Baker, Chapman, Iggulden, Miller, Sutton, Martin, McKenzie, Phillips. The match will start at i 2.15 o'clock sharp.