THE FOURTH TEST.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14275, 10 February 1912, Page 9

THE FOURTH TEST.

AUSTRALIA ALL OUT FOB 191. ENGLAND 54 "WITHOUT LOSS. Uniiod Pro* A**oc'Vt : on—Bv Electric Telegraph —Copyright Received February' yth, 7.50 p.m.) MELBOURNE, February 9. There was pleasant weather for the commencement of tho Fourth Test, and the attendance was fair for the start. McLaren was twelfth man in the Australian team. Strudwiek, Hitch, Kinncir and Iremonser (England), were omitted. Ragland won tho toss and sent Australia in on a soft wicket, Hordern and Kelleway opened to Foster and Barnes. Tho first score came from a no ball. Hordern glanced Foster to leg, and the ball cannoned off the wicket-keeper's pads to Barnes at slip, and Barnes made an appeal, which was disallowed, tho ball having touched the ground on its way to Barnes. Twenty was scored in half an hour, Kelleway being the busiest. Tho runs were obtained at the expense of Foster, who was bowling leg theory with three fieldsmen close in. At 32 Wonlley relieved Foster and Hordem leg-glanced his second ball to tho fence, reaching double figures in 3S minutes. Tho bowlers experienced difficulty in securing a firm foothold, and sawdust was used freely. Barnes had all tho fieldsmen, save square leg, close- in in the hope of a catch, tho wicket kicking frequently. Hordern skied him and Mead made a fine but ineffective attempt at a catch. Fifty occupied an hour in the making, and then Barnes, who hail delivered ten overs for 18 runs, was relieved by Rhodes. Kelleway, who had batted soundly, cut W'oolley into Hearne's hands at point. 1 for 53. He was in for 74 minutes and hit 4 fours.. With Bardsley's appoaranco the field deepened. After Rhodes had bowled two overs Barnes resumed, and dislodged Hoi'dorn's log stump. 2 for 53. The lunch adjournment was then taken. On the resumption of play disastor quickly came. Trumper joined Bardsley, who after playing cautiously for 19 minutes, was bowled off his pad. 3 for 69. Hill came next and mot a magnificent reception from the spectators. Trumpor was settling down apparently, but after two charming cuts, he hit over one from Foster and was clean bowled, 4 for 74. Armstrong was beaten by Barnes with a break-back. 5 for 83. Minnett opened with a weasi stroke off Barnes, cocking the I ball dangerously close to DoiigJas at i point. The batsmen were keen and I were cheered for smart running bctwoen tho wickets. The scoring was slow. Barnes and Foster were bowling magnificently, and.the fielding was excellent. Rhodes was applauded for brilliantly stopping a cannon-liko shot by Hill at short leg. Hill next glanced J Barnes for 4 hoisting the century after 140 minutes play. When 10 luiimctt gavo a chanco in the slips to Douglas off Barnes, and when 14 drove Barnes back forcefully, the bowler just touching the ball with his left hand. At 120 Woolley relieved Foster, who had got two for 47. Minnett, when 18, narrowly escaped, being run out, Woolley failing to take the return from Gunn at short-leg. Hill was caught from a straight drive deep He gavo a fine display, and was in for 61 minutes. He hit one for 4, and was cheered on retiring. 6 for 124. > Ransford succeeded. - Minnett twice in succession back-cut and glanced Barnes for 4, noxt cutting him for 2, ami secured 30, the top score, and w;i3 greeted with cheers. At 139, Hearno relieved Barnes, who had bowled 23 overs, his average reading 3 for 61. Ransford was in ten minutes before scoring, being hampered by his thumb, which he injured in the third test. Minnett was 38, and Ransford 3 at the tea adjournment. On the resumption of play Barnes and Foster bowled. Ransford was' easily caught by second slip off the last ball of the first over. 7 for 152. 'Matthews joined who pulled and off drove Foster twice to the boundary, reaching 50 in 7-5 minutes. He was caught in the next over at deep • square-leg. He batted well on a tricky wicket, though be made some crude strokes. ' Hβ was in for 80_ minutes, and . bit 6 fours. 8 for 165. Cotter came next, and the field deepened. Matthews mishit, and skied Barnes behind tho wicket—an easy catch- 9 for 170. Cotter lifted Foster high to equare-leg for--4 amid cheers. Carter was the last man in. Cotter again swept Foster to the boundary, and magnificently offdrove him for 4. Ho was beaten in attempting to lift Barnes. The innings' lasted 224 minutes^ Hobbs and Rhodes obened to Cotter. and Kelleway. HoT;*> *sg glanced Cotter's first ball for 3. The batsmen were immediately agressive, and scored quickly. by smart running. At 26 Armstrong relieved Cotter, and Matthews Kelleway. Hordern subsequently relieved Armstrong. The cricket was steady, and the scoring attractive. Tho wioket has improved, arW the weather is nerfect. The attendance was 16,556, and the takings £t>l6. Scores:—

AUSTKALIA. Pirat Innings. Hordern, b Barnes .. ... , jg Kelloway, c Hearne, b WooUey* '! 29 Bardeley, b Footer .. ~ o Trumper, b Foster .. .., " X 7 Aijmstronjj, b Barnes „ ** 7 Hill, c Hearno,. b Barnes ~. " 22" Minnett, c Rhodes, b Foster ... ,! 56 Ransford, c Bbodes, b Foster »*' ',', 4 Matthews, c Gunn, b Barnea .. ,„ 3 Cotter, b Barnes .. ~ ~ 15 Carter, not out ~., ~ j* 6 Extras .. ~ ~ ,] jg AOtel .. .. .. .. igx Bowling Analysis—Barnes, 5 for 74; Foster, i foT 77; "Woilley, 1 for 22; Khodes, none for 1; Hearn, none for 54, ENGLAND. . First Innings. Hobbs, not out .. ... ~..80 Rhodes, not out .. ~ .* 23 Extras .. .. ~ ~ 1 Total for no wickets .. *. 54