CRICKET.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17134, 2 May 1921, Page 7

CRICKET.

THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR f AN AUSPICIOUS OPENING. (United Service.)' (Received May Ist, 11.5 u.ui.) _ • LONDON", April 30. The Australians commenced their cricket tonr against Leicester in glorious weather and on a good, wicket. The attendance was pine thousand. • , Sharp won the toss. Gregory secured a wicket with the first ball of the match, dismissing "Whitehead for nought. King hit the first boundary over the slaps off Gregory. , Mounteney jumped out to Mailey and drove him for four and six consecutively, the first 50 being hoisted in 40 minutes—Jlounteney 26, King 20. _ McDonald replaced Gregory with the ball. The fielding was good, but not faultless. . ■ Sharp was missed by Armstrong directly be came in. ' McDonald, bowling a good length, compelled the batsmen to play carefully. At the luncheon adjournment the 6core was four lor 99. On resuming Armstrong and • Gregory bowled. I The latter, was bumping dangerously at times. The batting became steady. Co:' was applauded for beautifully hooVingGifgory. The fielding improved and McDonald replaced Gregory. Mailey cwght Salmon, brilliantly at second slip. Salmon's innings was stylish and lasted .70 minute's. Coe's score was a result of patient play for 70 minutes. Shipman was out first ball. Th*'. innings lasted 150 minutes. Collins and Bardriey opened»for Australia. Co'lins tried to hook a straight one from Benskin, and it got his middle; stump. Macartney followed and monopolised the bowling. He got mo?t of his runs by lato cuts, and Baul-sfey made bis by '.eg- strokes. Fifty was hoistcd-under half an hour, and 100 in 50 minutes, Macartney's masterly execution arousing enthusiasm. . There was littie \T.ri"tv in the bowling until Whitehead eent down Blow righthanders. . Bardjley might have been caught behind the wicket when he was 21. The changes did not stop the scoring. Macartney reached his century in 73 minutes. Baidsley was slow by* comparison, but his batting was sound. The field was altered, but the batsmen continued to pcore by clever placing. The ground ficHing was capital. Six b#wlers n*te tried, but the batemen were not separated. At the end of 180 minutes the batting became easier na the bowling tired. Scores: I LEICESTERSHIRE. First Innings. Whitehead, b Gregory .. . • 0 Mounteney, c Aiwtvong, b McDonald 28 King, o Uartc-r, b McDonald .. 29 Salmon, c Mailey, b McDonald .. 33 SlmT, c Gregory, b McDonald .• 9 Coe, c Collins, b Armstrong .. ..03 Astill, o Carter, b McDonald .. .. 0 Slupmftn, b McDonald .. 0 Lord, o Collins, b McDonald .. •' 7 Benskin, b McDonald .. o '] Sidwell, not out .. .. .. 0 Extras ' .. .. • 7 i Total • .. .I .. ...186 Bowling—Gregory, one for 81; Mailey, I none for 33; Armstrong, one for 24; MoDon- | aid, eight for 41. Pail of wickets—One for 0, two fo> 80, three for 73, four for 91, fivei for 114, six for 324, seven for 134, eight or 134, nine lor 136. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, b Benskin ;*. .. ... 2 Macartney, tint out .. .. ... 140 Baidsley, not out .. .. . .. 97 Extras .. .. •• 4 Total 4or one wicket ..243. OLDFIELD INJURED. (By GaWe—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, April 29. W. A. Oldfield, the Australian test matoh w i ket keeper, has suffered a serious ii.iury to the left elbow. A doctor has diagnosed it as synovitis. Oldfield is able to bend his elbow and close 'his hand, but he is not able to grasp the ball. He will probably be unable to play for eix weeks, and possibly longer.

"WARNER ON THE AUSTRALIANS. LONDON, April 29.

P. F. Warner, writing in the first iumtyer of "The Cricketer," which lie is editing, in discussing the forthcoming' tour, says:—The Australians are formidable opponents and likely to'win the rubber. Armstrong-ii'-ft' greater batsman than ever, Bandsley is strady as a rock, -and Gregory is eager and. .dashing, with all tlia impetuosity of youth. .The Gregorys are to' Australia what the .Graces were to England. At present Gregory looks to be nearly the best all-rounder Jn the world. • Thi>> most interesting personality in. the team-.is Madley, who should be more successful in England ihan in Australia. Carter is etill the beet wioket-keeper Australia ever had, -with the exception of the immortal BlaCkham.

DEATH OP ARTHUR MOLD. (Received 'May Ist, 11.30 p.in.) T London, April so. The death is announced of Arthur Mold, the well-known Lancashire fast bowlex and English representative cricketer, in his 66th ye*r.