FIRST CRICKET TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 305, 24 December 1924, Page 5

FIRST CRICKET TEST.

AUSTRALIA GOING STRONG. A. RICHARDSON'S 98. HIGH WIND STOPS GAME. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) ■ SYDNEY, December 23. Play on the fourth day of the first cricket Test match, England v. Australia, commenced in bright, hot weather. The wicket was on the hard side and the outfield was good. The attendance was 16.000. A. Richardson and Kelleway continued their interrupted innings to the bowling of Tate and Gilligan. Tate was in good form, but Richardson cut his off stuff nicely and piled up the score in good style, reaching 50 in 62 minutes. When the board showed 84 Richardson was nearly run out. He called on Kelleway, but the latter did not move. Richardson was then three-quarters of the way down the pitch and had to run hack. He just succeeded in beatine the ball. . Gilligan nursed his bowlers and made frequent changes, but Richardson played them all confidently. A favourite stroke of Richardson's is a hard drive down the pitch. Hearne, evidently remembering Saturday's painful experience, left them alone. Gilligan was bowling a nice length with the assistance of a breeze, and maintained a good pace. Kelleway scored slowly, his 23 taking 76 minutes. The second wicket yielded 75. WELCOME TO COLLINS. Collins, on going in to bat, received an enthusiastic welcome. He opened cautiously, and in the half-hour before lunch made two runs. Freeman's deliveries were pitched well up and dropped quickly, and, although Richardson wag stepping well out, he was usually unable to get properly under them. Tate sent down few loose balls. The runs against him were mostly stolen singles, with an occasional big cut or glance. The English fielding was excellent. Chapman, Gilligan, Freeman and Hendren were responsible for some sharp returns. The first century was signalled after 78 minutes' play. Gilligan's bowling showed a considerable improvement over last week's performance. After lunch he had the batsmen tied up. He sent down three successive maidens. Tate, who was suffering from an injury to his foot, was unable to reproduce his first day's form. Nevertheless, he was responsible for some good work. Richardson, when two off his century, tapped a ball back into Freeman's hands. Richardson has an unfortunate habit, when within striking distance of the century, of trying to pass it with a big hit. Just before he was dismissed he had a narrow escape. He occupied the crease for 169 minutes and hit nine fours. Collins now took upon himself the burden of scoring, and play livened up. The slow bowlers, Hearne and Freeman, were not proving very deadly, but smart fielding kept the runs down. Collins showed splendid judgment in placing his strokes, "and gained much applause from the onlookers. The second century occupied 1!>8 minutes. When the total was at 210 Collins put the ball into Woolley's hands in the slips, but the fieldsman dropped it. Collins' own tally was then 37. Woo Hey redeemed himself somewhat by brilliantly catching Ponsford. A HEAVY GALE. Heavy clonds made their appearance during the afternoon, and conditions became sultry at the tea adjournment. At 4.50 a heavy gale with a dust storm arrived, and compelled an adjournment with the ecore at 257 for five wickete, as it was almost impossible to see across the ground. A remarkable scene followed, the crowd scurrying for shelter while myriads of newspapers, which had been used to sit upon, were blown up in the air and across the ground. A little rain fell about five o'clock. Play was resumed at 5.30 in heavy wind,, but had to be abandoned for the day six balls later. Following are the scores: — ENGLAND. First innings 29S AUSTRALIA. First innings 450 Second Innings. Bardeley, b Tate 22 A. Richardson, c and b Freeman .. fIS Kelleway, b Gilligan 23 Collins, not out 58 Ponsford, c Woolley, b Freeman ... 27 V. Richardson, c Hendren, b Tate .. 18 Hendry, not out 6 Extras 6 Total for five wickets 258