England v, Australia.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6205, 27 February 1904, Page 3

England v, Australia.

The Fourth Test Match.

The attendance was very large. "Wat nor won the toss, and elected to bat. Cotter, the new bowler, bowled the first over as a compliment to New South Wake, Noble following him. Tholatter's tiffch ball proved fatal to Warner, who returned to the pavilion foe a duck. One wicket tor 4. The play wrs very tedious, the excellent bowling of Trumble and Noble, combiuud with the brilliant fielding, having its effect on the Englishmen's tutal. Tyidesloy joined Hay ward, and they brought LI on the board for half an hour's batting. Tyldesley had knocked up 16, when he lifted Noble to Gregory at mid-off, a fine catch resulting— Two wickets for 84. Noble's two wickets had cost 16. Foster, made home graceful and finished strokes, while Hay ward, batting stolidly, brought his career to a close by stepping forward to Trumble. He just tonched the ball, which went off Kelly into McAlister's bauds in the slips.—Three ■wickets for 42. The batsmen weve playing Trumble very oautiously, his first wicket being obtained for a couple, in fiveoveis. Knight joined Foster, and the former commenced some hard hitting, and played out to the luncheon adjournment. On resuming, Foster, without adding to his score, drove a hot one to McAlister, who made a great catch.—Four for 66. Noble's three wickets had cost 24 runs. Braund and Knight established a good partnership. The former was slow in getting off, but Knight scored freely, and a double change of bowling was made at 95, McLeod replacing Noble, and Cotter instead of Trumble. The latter had sent down 18 overs, for 9 maidens and 17 runs, for ono wickot. Braund fetched the century up with a fine boundary drive. 2hrs. 25mins. were consumed in achieving that figure. When Knight had scored 20 he was within an acre of beingl thrown out, Gregory's unerring throw iv shifting the bails. The partners were well set, Braund scoring rapidly, while Knight, wilh fine oil driving and late cutting, approached his half century. At the afternoon tea adjournment the partnership had added 76 runs. On resuming, Noble replaced Hopkins, and Trumble instead of Cotter. With four off Trumble, Knight notched his 50, and the long partnership terminated by Braund putting one in the slips, Trumble catching him low down. The batsman being in doubt, appealed, and was given out—Five for 155. A smart shower interrupted the play for a time. Trumble missed Knight at 156, off his own bowling. Hirst started flukily, but got in some hard boundary strokes and scored quickly. Knight Blowed down considerably, adding an occasional single. Hirst tried to pull Noble, and lost his wicket.—Six for 185. Noble had then taken five wickets for 6s. Bosanquet came next, and had made four when Hopkins dropped a catch off Noble. At 200, Cotter relieved Trumble, who had bowled splendidly. Hia and Noble's performances were the best seen on the ground for some time. Hopkins replaced Noble, and bowled Bosanquet just on time. The following are the scores ;—

Warner b Noble .. ... 0 Hayward, c McAlister, by Trumble 18 Tyldesley, c Gregory, b Noble ... 16 Foster, c MeAHster, b Noble ... 19 Knight, not out ... ... 64 Braund, c Trumble, b Noble .„ 30 Hirst, b Noble 25 Bosanqust, b Hopkins ... ... 12 Extras ... ... ... ]4 Total—7 wickets for ... 2)7 (Received Feb 27, 1.5S p.m.) Sydney, Feb 27

The weather is fine and cool. The Englishmen have lost 8 wickets tor 219; Knight, not out, 65 ; Arnold nil.

(Received Feb. 27, 2.22 p.m.) Nine wickets are down for 237 —Lilley 2-1, Knight (not out) £8.

(Received Fob 27, 2.36 p.m.) At 1 o'clock the Englishmen were all out for 249—Rhodes 10, Knight (not out) 70.

(Received Feb. 27,10.6 a.m.) Svdnrv, Fob. 27 No rain fell last night, and the weather is fine this morning.

The " Herald" says the wicket was favourabie to the English batsmen, although it was a shade on the slow side. l"her,e was plentiful lack of enterprise in ths batting. The partnership between Knight and Braund wa^ remarkably good. Effort in recovery, slow but still keen. Probably no finer or more heady bowling on such a •wicket has ever been witnessed as that by the Australian and ex-Australian captains, Noble and Trumble. They never looked like sending a loose ball down, nor did they unless with an object and there was a trap underlying it. Noble's old power of swerving returned to him with force to compensate him for his enforced absence owing to his injured arm. The wicket was against Cotter. With a faster wicket probably his confidence would return.

The " Daily Telegraph " says that allowing that the pitch did not prove as good as ■was thought the batsmen did not make the best opportunity. They were 4 1 hours in actual play, the average rate of scoring being in the neighbourhoad of 46 per hour. Several causes contributed to the funeral pace, one being the fine bowling and fielding of the Australians and another the dead ness o( the out field. There was no tapping the ball to the boundary. It had to be hit solidly. Even then it was apt to travel so slowly that the fieldsmen were able to overtake it. Probably the most important cause of all was the inclination of the wicket to kick. This frightened the batsmen who seemed perpetually looking for the ball to get up. The result was an esce3S of caution.

The result of the day's play in the Test Match will be posted at the Guardian office immediately received this evening.