DARLING-ON THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11151, 18 December 1901, Page 9

DARLING-ON THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

OPINIONS OF SYDNEY PAPERS. ! A CHANGE NECESSARY. United Prees Astociation—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. (Received December 17th, 10.14 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 17. Interviewed a/ter the first test match, in wliich the Englishmen scored such a decisive victory, Darling, who captained the Australians, said he considered that tlie English tesun had been underrated both in England and Australia. MaeLaren had brought out the rich* sort of bowlers for the hard Australian wickets, and hisr team had very etrontf batting powers. Several good authorities Lave expressed the opinion that the Australian t«am was badly chosen, and the captaincy was not good, but that the victory was well deeerred. The "Sydney Morning Herald" says tJie Englishmen wun by outplaying their opponents at every p:>int of the game. The result shows that the Knglksh side is much itronger than was tlwught by some English / oapew. Their play throughout was of the highest class, and the victory must be mainly , regarded as a result of MacLaren's judgment. But allowing for his skill as a bateman end as captain, and all the resources at his command in the team he led, the victory would have been discounted if the team -hosen to represent Aastralia hod been worthy of that proud position. If the match iejtehes anything it teaches that men should ba chosen on their immediate form, not on the form they exhibited some time back. Dowlere whose arms have lost their cunning und batemen who are plainly out of form should not be chosen to the exclusion of younger players of decided promise. The "Daily Telegraph" cays, after allowing that the; better aide won: —"All that can ■ be said is that the proverbial uncertainty of the game has once more vindicated itself; ! Wwt given all that, it is plain that alterations will have to be made in the Australian Eleven for the next test match. The team bad recommendations as containing seasoned and experienced players, but it betrayed weaknesses as the game proceeded. Perhaps the most pronounced weakness was the sameness of the bowling."