FOLLOW-ON SAVED

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 158, 5 July 1921, Page 5

FOLLOW-ON SAVED

BY TWO RUNS. , ENGLAND OUT FOR 259. AUSTRALIA TWO FOR 143. TENNYSON'S PLUCKY STAND. DOGGED INNINGS BY DOUGLAS. (By Cable.—rress Association.—Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.i LONDON, July 4. The third test match was continued at Leeds to-day. The sky was overcast, and there was quite a cold nip in the air, the Australians wearing sweaters when play was resumed. The wicket was unchanged, while the attendance totalled 22,000. J. B. Hobbs, who was unable to field after the tea adjournment on Saturday, was again unable to play- A local doctor diagnosed his complaint as appendicitis, and Hobbs consulted a specialist, who decided to operate immediately. With two wickets down for 22 runs, against the Australians' first innings total of 407, the Englishmen resumed their innings, Hardinge (11) and Ducat (3) returning to the wicket to face the bowling of McDonald and Gregory. MoDonald opened at the northern end. A rising ball in his second over broke the shoulder of Ducat's bat and fell into Gregory's safe hands at fine slip. 6 Shortly afterwards Hardingo, who was joined by Douglas, had a lucky escape. He touched a ball from Gregory which went through his legs and rolled close to the off stump. Hardinge opened brightly with some nice off-strokes off McDonald, raising the crowd to such enthusiasm that they cheered wildly every single. Armstrong relieved Gregory after three overs, when the score was 41. There was great applause when Hardinge immediately got Armstrong past point to the boundary, but England's misfortunes continued to fall thick and fast. Within half-an-hour of the start Hardinge, who had shaped attractively, went out leg-before to a Armstrong. 4—47 —25. Jupp, who followed, was immediately struck on the leg by a ball from McDonald, and play was delayed for three minutes. After that came the inevitable duel between Armstrong and Douglas, thp batsman striking curious attitudes in playing forward. Juno- was more aggressive, and drove Armstrong to the off ropes. This gave the crowd an excuse to criticise Douglas, and one section maintained a running fire o.f comment. The fielding had lost none of its dash, while McDonald w-as getting plenty of life out of the pitch, and considering England's sad position it was no surprise that the play was mostly defensive. Gregory went in for McDonald at 63, and the change met with immediate success. Mailey did not hold a difficult chance off Jupn low down at second slip, but Carter brilliantly accepted a chance next ball. Three wickets and 55 runs for a similar number of minutes was the morning's record.—s—B9—l4.

Armstrong, bowling to Douglas, had a long straight line of six fieldsmen stretching from Hendry at third man to Taylor at long-off. Douglas pleased the crowd by pulling Armstrong squarely to the ropes, but proceeded cautiously. The advent of Brown, who is a lefthander, did not accelerate the rate of scoring, both waiting for loose balls, of whicii there were very few, while the field was placed with such genius that neither batsman could find holes. It was very quiet though interesting cricket, but hardly of the kind that appeals to the crowd, which found amusement in the most trivial incidents. CENTURY IN 125 MINUTES. Ninety minutes had produced 70 runs, making the total 92, when McDonald displaced Gregory, Brown immediately getting him to tne deep-leg ropes, sending up the century for 125 minutes' play. He repeated the stroke against Armstrong the following over. That was the only bright patch in an hour's cricket. Encouraged by his success Brown hit two fine boundaries at McDonald's expense, one to deep-leg and the other a straight drive, putting the crowd in the best of humour. Gregory's picturesque slip fielding was frequently applauded. Mailey went on for Armstrong at 109, and Hendry at the northern end at 127. The partnership realised 50 runs in 70 minutes, Brown playing a safe, steady game and making no mistakes. Off loose deliveries he pulled Mailey behind the wicket for four, and drove Hendry, who was making plenty of pace off the pitch and bowling a good length. He passed Douglas in the forties, and was justifying his selection in a plucky dogged stand, showing enterprise in stealing singles. Douglas was vainly trying to get Mailey past the field. Brown brought np his own 50 and the total to 150 after 180 minutes' play. MAILEY TEMPTS BROWN. After lunch, McDonald bowled in place of Hendry. Douglas, batting with remarkable oatience, reached 50 in 100 minutes, and shortly afterwards Mailey effected a separation. He tempted Brown to hit a alow off-break, Armstrong at extra cover, walking a yard to take an eaay catch. He batted 120 minutes. 6—164—51. McDonald, witli his first ball in fry Bet over, knocked White's middle stump back. 7 —165 —1. The crowd was surprised when Tennyson appeared, and gave him an ovation. He turned bis first ball almost to the ropes for two, and drove Mailey through cover for four. Tho bowler failed to accept a return next ball, and Tennyson, who was fairly comfortable, placed McDonald past cover, while Douglas got a couple of nice shots to fine-leg. Enthusiasm was keen when Tennyson got McDonald over the slips and pulled him behind the wicket, both boundaries, in the one over. Gregory displaced McDonald nt 195, and Douglas brought up 200 for 235 minutes' play, Douglas being 59 and Tennyson 26. Hendry tried a new ball at Mailey's end. After Mailey's mistake in dropping Tennyson came a period of bright batting, Tennyson freely cutting and driving Gregory, who was making the ball jumo, and placing him through the slips. The pair added 50 in 40 minutes, TeDnyson, from whom the least was expected, scoring faster than his predecessor. Douglas also livened up, getting several of Gregory's to fine-leg and turning Hendry crisply to the ropes. It was a gallant fight to avoid a followon, the crowd cheering every stroke, especially Tennyson, who on-drove Gregory to the boundary. Armstrong went «a in place of Hendry at 225.

Andrew-s continued confidently, though like Macartney he became more sedate as the afternoon was closing, but anything loose went to the boundary. He pulled Douglas high for four, and Macartney by pretty back play brought off some graceful cuts, Hardinge saving many on the edge of the boundary. Tennyson changed the bowling frequently, Parkin going in for Douglas at 122, ten minutes before the close. Macartney then made an easy return to Woolley. 2—130—20. Carter was "warmly greeted, and immediately cut Parkin nast point off two successive balls, playing out time, Andrews being 78, and the total 143 for two wickets. Following are the scores:— AUSTRALIA. First innings 407 Second Innings. Bardsley, b Jupp 25 Macartney, c and b Woolley 30 Andrews, not out 78 Carter, not out 4 Extras 7 Total for two wickets 143 Bowling: Douglas took no wickets for 38, White none for 25, Jupp one for 19, Parkin none for 42, Woolley one for 12. ENGLAND.—First Innings. Woolley, b Gregory 0 Hearne, b McDonald 7 , Hardinge, Ibw, b Armstrong 25 Ducat, c Gregory, b McDonald .. ..• 3 Douglas, b Armstrong 75 Jupp, c Carter, b Gregory 14 Brown, c Armstrong, b Mailey .... 57 White, b McDonald 1 Tennyson, c Gregory, b McDonald ... 63 Parkin, not out 5 Hobbs, absent 0 Extras 9 Total 259 The extras included six no balls, while Carter did not allow a single bye. Bowling: Gregory took two wickets for 47 runs, McDonald four for 105, Armstrong two for 44, Mailey one for 38, Hendry none for 16.—(A. and N.Z.) THE SEASON'S AVERAGES. AUSTRALIANS IN THE LEAD. LONDON, July 4. The following are the leading batting and bowling averages of Australian and English cricketers so far this season: — , BATTING. C. G. Macartney (Australia) 72.G0 C. P. Mead (Hampshire) 71.75 A. Ducat (Surrey) 65.83 W. Bardslev (Australia) 64.68 H. T. W. Hardinge (Kent) 62.67 J. W. H. T. Douglas (Essex) 54.69 F. E. Woolley (Kent) 50.00 V. H. C. Jupn (Sussex) 45.34 J. T. Hearne" (Middlesex) 44.92 J. M. Gregory (Australia) 43.68 C. E. Pellew (Australia) 35.94 J. M. Taylor (Australia) 34.11 H. L, Collins (Australia). 32.25 W. W. Armstrong (Australia) .. 32.15 G. Brown (Hampshire) 30.59 BOWLING. Wkts. Aver. W. W. Armstrong (Australia) 52 12.13 J. C. White (Somerset 89 12.69 W. Rhodes (Yorkshire) 68 13.92 J. M. Gregory (Australia) .. 65 14.24 E, A. McDonald (Australia) 71 14.03 J. W. H. T. Douglas (Essex) 80 16.02 F. E. Woolley (Kent) 02 15.15 C. H. Parkin (Lancashire) .52 18.76

AVERTING THE FOLLOW-ON.

Tennyson brought ut> 50 for 60 minutes play, during a "sensational over from Gregory, driving and cutting him past point and through the silos, all boundaries. This brought on McDonald at 239, of which Douglas was 70. The crowd cheered England's wounded hero, who was making big history. Fortune, too, smiled on him, numerous lucky runs coming his way.

"Wanting only five to avoid a followon, Armstrong got Douglas with a legbreak. The partnership had added S7 in 75 minutes. Douglas batted four hours, and the crowd rose and cheered him from the pavilion. 5—253—70. Parkin changed the test match atmosphere by his amusing antics in facing Armstrong, whom he pulled to the boundary, saving the follow-on, amid a scene of the greatest excitement. Then Gregory with a fine catch off McDonald, ended Tennyson's innings, and Hobbs being off the scene, the innings ended. 0—259—63. A follow-on had been saved by two runs.

England batted for 200 minutes, a remarkable day's cricket opening with a long period of defensive batting against great odds, and when the hour was blackest the play changed to, a dashing confident fight by England's two captains.

AUSTRALIA'S SECOND INNINGS,

Tennyson's hand was heavily bandaged, but he fielded at mid-on when Australia opened.

White took tlie pavilion end and immediately found length. When 8 Andrews drove him high and hard to the long-oii\ Ducat ran and got his hands to the ball, but failed to hold it. A little later Bardsley, at 13, gave Hearne a chance in the slips off Douglas, who was bowling excellently, and had the lefthander tied up throughout tlie over. Both batsmen attempted to knock White off his length, Andrews stepping out and driving powerfully, while Bardsley pulled him for a slashing four, and also made some elegant shots to the oil from both bowlers. Andrews w?s batting in sparkling style, hooking and cutting. He brought up 50 for 35 minutes, with a single off Jupp, who displaced White at 40, while Parkin completed the double change, the batsmen being each 24.

ANDREWS' VIGOROUS DISPLAY

Parkin was bowling fast and w-as not mixing his deliveries. Andrews made a smashing cut past point to the ropes, and also placed Jupp through the slips behind point, both artistic shots. Jupp, who was bowling above medium pace, quickly found a spot nnd sent back Bardsley with a clinking ball within an hour of the start. 1—71—25.

Andrews, who was joined by Macartney, brought up 50 shortly by pulling Parkin to the ropes, and then late-cut him to the boundary. Douglas relieved him next over. Macartney did not start as dashingly as usual, but, notwithstanding that his damaged linger was obviously paining him, he made some characteristic shots, including a glorious off-drive off Jupp to the boundary. Woolley relieved Jupp at 96, and set the field deepish on the off-side. Andrews sent up the century by vigorously driving Douglas past mid-on in 80 minutes, Andrews having scored 63.