CRICKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3201, 29 May 1909, Page 5

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA V. ENGLAND. VISITORS AT THE WICKETS. Received May 28, S.lO a.m. LONDON, May 27. Drenching rain fell till 1 o'clock. Inspections of the ground were madc at 4 and 4.30,. and it'was arranged to start at 5 o'clock if no rain fell in interval. Noble won the toss, and decided to bat. Play commenced shortly after 5. The Home team was composed as follows:—McLaren (captain), Fry, Jones, Jessop, Lillev, Hirst, Thompson, Tyldesley, Blythe, Hobos, and Rhodes. McAlister, Laver, Hopkins, Carkeek, and Hartigan were omitted from the Australian team.

Hirst and Blvthe opened the attack against Cotter and Bardsley. Cotter, after making a couple in the second over, dropped an easy catch into Hirst's hands at mid-off from Blythe. The first wicket fell for five run 3. The wicket was of the softest, and a plentiful supply of sawdust was requisitioned. Armstrong filled the vacancy. In the fifth over Bardsley was taken nicely by MacLaren at slip, lefthanded, off Hirst. Two for 7. Trumper succeeded Bardsley, but after a few more runs had been added play had to be stopped for the day owing to duskiness. Scores : AUSTRALIANS.—First Innings. Cotter, c Hirst, b Blythe 2 Bardsley, c MacLaren, b Hirst 2 Armstrong, not out 10 Trumper, not out 7 Total for two wickets 21 After the match had been in progress a short time play had to be stopped owing to the dusky condition of the weather. The players cams out again at 6, but at 6.15 the light was appealed against, and play ended for the day. Except for the bad light, the weather towards the close was fine, but the wicket was soft. The attendance numbered 4,000. Received May 29, 1.5 a.m. LONDON, May 28. The weather was sunny when the match was resumed, but the wicket was soft. Three wickets are down for 30. Trumper was caught by Hirst off Blythe for 10. Armstrong is not out with 15. Trumper sent up a easy catch at mid-off in the third over.