FOSTER IN FORM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10561, 17 February 1912, Page 5

FOSTER IN FORM.

j SEVEN. FOR THIRTY-SIX I THE NEW SOUTH WALES MATCH. j ANOTHER FAILURE. (Received Last Night, 7.20 o'clock). SYDNEY, February 16. The return match between the English - team and New Soutih Wales opened to-day, in fine weather, the wicket being good. The English te-am is: J. B. Hobbs, W. R. Rhodes, J. W. Hearne, G. Gunn, F. R. Foster, J. W. H. T. Douglas, F. E. Woolley, C. P. Mead, J. Vine, H. Strudwick and S. F. I Barnes. I The New South "Wales team was not I its best, A. Cotter, H. Carter, Dr H. \ V. Hordern, and R. B. Mirinett not | being available. V. Trumper won tho toss, and elected to bat. The Englishmen received a great ovation on taking the field. Bardsley and Collins opened to the bowling of Foster and Barnes. Barnes' fourth ball badly heat Collins, who was f clean bowled, which proved a disappointment to those advocating the claims of the colt. In Foster's next over, Bardsley tipped the ball to Gunn at slip, and was caught.—2 for 7, Gregory and Macartney then became associated. Barnes was bowling with five men in the slips. Gregory, after five singles, tipped to Foster at second slip, and was held.: —3 for 16. On Trumper- joining Macartney, Douglas relieved Foster, and at 38 'Woollfey relieved and bowled Trumper with an off-ibreak, and another veteran had failed. Macartney soon\followed. He had looked like staying, 'but, stepping out to Douglas, missed, and Strud^ick had the bails off like a flash, the cleverest piece of stumping seen for a long while. j Wi th five wickets down for 41, New j South Wales' chances looked siok. Fifty appeared as the result of 77 minutes play. After luncheon, Barbour passed Macartney's score of 18 by hitting Douglas for 4. The next ball he also hit brilliantly in the same way, making the only bright spot in the dtill innings. Kelleway played forward to Foster, and was easily caught by Hobbs at mid-off. Hnzlitt, the next mail, after scoring 7, rashly hit one of Foster's leg balls, which went straight to Douglas.. Foster's record at this stage was 4 for 34. This was improved after .getting Emery caught after two mwe^ifills. Barbour soon follw-ied, -being^yorlced by Foster, who ended the innings a few minutes later by lifting* McKew's bails with his first ball.

Foster's 'bowling was most remarkable, his swerving balls cfoing the most damage. He finished with 7 for 36, out of 106 scored by New South Wales. The fielding of tho Englishmen was cleaner and crisper than when thoy last played at-Sydney. Scores: —

XEW SOOTH. WALES First Innings. -

W. Bardsley, c Gunn, Foster ... 2 -H. L. Collins, b Foster ............... 0 19. E. Gregory,'c-Foster, b Barnes 5 C. G. Macartney, st Strudwick, b Douglas ....A 18 Y. Trumper, Woolley • 7 C. Kellewa-y, c Hobbs, b Foster ... 9 G. R. Hazlitt, c Douglas; b Foster 7 B. P. Barbour, b Foster 29 S. H. Emery, c Woolley, b Foster ■ 4 J. D. Scott, not out 13 0. McKew, b Foster 0 Extras 12 Total 106 Bowling analysis: —Foster.7 for 36, Barnes 1 for 2D, Douglas J for 34, Wool ley 1 for 4. MORE LEATHER-HU NTIN G. It waa a different, story with England batting. liobbs and Rhodes started to emulate their Melbourne tactics, and the crowd settled down to watch the scoring. ' Scott and Hazlitt opened the bowling. The home team seemed demoralised, and the fielding was'shocking. Before reaching double figures, Hobbs should have been run out, but the wicket-Keeper (McKe.w) tripped, and let the ball pass. The batsmen then started to hit out, and fifty .appeared in 33 minutes. Macartney and Emery then bowled, without better success. At 90 in 68 minutes, Kelleway relieved Macartney, and off the second ball Hazlitt- in the slips brilliantly calight Hobbs, who had ontril rated. 38.

Gunn joined Rhodes, who was playing a. slashing innings, his _ forward cuts and drives being especially attractive. The. hundred appeared in 75 minutes. Gunn scored 27 in 40 minutes by careful play, and then snicked an off break from Hazlit-t t° Kelleway, at second slip, wlio took a good catch. The partnership yielded 63 runs.

1 Hea-rno gave* a cluuict- to Soott a-fc | fine slip, and in the same over was badly fu-mlblcd. Tho 'batsmen then slowed, seeming determined to play out time, which they did, with, a total of 183. Scores: —■ ENGLANI).—-First lunings. ?IT. B. Hobbs, « Hazlitt, b Kelleway 38 G. Gunn, c Kelleway, >b Haalitt... 27 * W. R. Rhodes, not out 88 J. W. Hearne, not out 16 Extras 14 Total for 2-wickets 183 THE ENGLISH VICTORY. DUE TO SUPERIOR BOWLING, j (Received February 16, 9.51 a.m.) j SYDNEY, February 16. J. \y. H. T. Douglas, captain of the : English teani, attributes their victory in tho Test matches to their superior bawling, but chiefly to tho fact, that the team is a happy family. TEAM FOR ENGLAND. ONE PLAYER ACCEPTED. (Reeivp-d' February 16, 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 16. W. A. Carkeek, tho Victorian wicket keeper, lias accepted tho invitation of tho Board of Control to make tho trip to England this year.