THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11152, 19 December 1901, Page 5

THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

DELIGHT AND SURPRISE OF THE ENGLISH PRESS. MAOLAREN INTERVIEWED. CRITICISMS AND SUGGESTIONS. United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph.—Copyright. (Received December 18th, 9.18 a.m.) LONDON, December 17. The English Press is delighted , and surprised at the result of tihe first -test match, which is considered to be a great vindication of MacLaren's selection of the bowlers. SYDNEY, December 18. MacLaren, on'being interviewed, said he was exceedingly proud of the victory of his team He considered tihe Australian team the best tlhat conld have been picked, excepting for Clarke, who was unable to play. They played the game as it ehould have been played, but fortune did not favour them. The con<£tionß were equal! to both sides. The members of "bis team were all in the very best condition, and won on the bowling. The Australian batsmen were dismissed, not because they batted badly, but because the bowling wae perfect.. Tine newspapers are flooded with criticisms and suggestions. It is generally admitted that tihe Australians were out-captained and oat-played in all departments. A re-selec-tion of the team is universally demanded. One authority thus sums up tihe defeat;— "The Australians appeared awed and. paralysed ; their nerve was gone. The only explanation ia tfoat'tiie sneer bacrb*atling was the result of something like a panic." Competent jndges highly praise, Braund's bowling. His ltg theoryJβ a comparatively recent innovation, and was a novelty to most of the Australian batsmen.