THE FINAL TEST.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17224, 15 August 1921, Page 7

THE FINAL TEST.

ENGLAND FOUR FOR 129. A DULL DAY'S CRICKET. (By Cable—Presa As&ociaUon-^PTrigM-) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received August 14th, 5.5 p.m.) . MX DON, August 13. The final test match commenced in dubioua weather conditions, fifty minutes late owing to rain in the early morning. The weather was bright and the wicket wae wet on top, and hard beneath when play started. Tennyeon won the toss, and Brown and Russell opened, batting aggressively against McDonald and Gregory. Both played Gregory, who was rising well over tho wicket, freely, but neither was at home with McDonald, who sent down fast, low 6tuft. His first over was a maiiea, and the next three only yielded two runs. Hal-f an hour's play had produced 27 when : RuE6ell just touched a leg-sider from Oldfield, and waß cleanly caught. Tyldesley was next in. The battin? was quiet, though Brown made occasional vigorous carpet drives, and Tyldesley some pretty i shots behind the wicket. I At 40 Mailey displaced McDonald. Perfect fielding checked the scoring. Collins, at point, misled Tyldesley off Gregory when ] the batsman had R on. Mailey continually beat Tyldesley. Fifty was hoisted for an hour's play. Mc- | Donald took Gregory's place. Brown was uncomfortable before Mailey'a mixed* deliveries. Ho alternated between eteppin? back and driving, but failed to penetrate the field. Finally he impatiently lashed out, but missed the ball, and his stump was broken. After luncheon the weather was sunny. Woolley joined Tyldesley, who was uncomfortable when facing Mailey, but with -aj lucky shot drove McDonald to the boundary, the eeoond one of the day. O Woolley etarted by driving Mailey to the fence, and sent McDonald twice to tho boundary. At 83 heavy rain stopned tho play. During the interruption, which lasted 160 minutes, the captains several times inspected the wicket. The crowd barracked Armstrong unmercifully, and hooted the Australians, and cheered the batsmen when they took tho field again. In the first over Woolley sent one from JfcDonaW to slip. BarcWey fielded the ball brilliantly, and as Woolley was attempting a eeoond run, knocked his middle stump out. Woolley had batted twenty-five minutes in his oustomary, classical style. Tyldesley was now 14. Mead joined Tyldesley, who continued shakily, getting an occasional lucky single. Mead was not aggressive, and altogether it wae a painful' exhibition of test match battin?. Whenever Arm'tron? fielded the ball he •was ironically cheered. The century appeared for 110 minutes' play. The crowd hn-d a further excuse for barracking when McDonald struck Tyldesley on the jaw as the latter was makin? a wild effort to pull the bowler behind the wicket. Tyldesley then twice sent McDonald to the lxrurdarv. this departure from his cramped battin? 'being loudly cheered. Gregory relieved McDonald at 116. After battin* for 110 minutes, Tyldesley drove the ball to long-on, and was easily cau«?ht. McDonald went on again at 128. Mead took an hour to get, 18. mostly sneaked singles. Sandham, who filled tne vacancy, stonewalled for half-an-hour, getting onlv a single. . It was a dull day's cricket. At no tienod wae the bowling mastered. The fielding was, *ivr*rb. The batting emphasised, the fact that England had never recovered from the ignominy of the Australian' tour. Following are the eoores: ENGLAND. First Innings. Hussell, o Oldfield, b McDonald .. 18 Brown, b Mailey .. •• '•• 8 » Tyldesley, c Macartney, b Gregory .. 39 Woolley, run out .. .... 23 Mead, not out .. •• . •• 1B - Sandhnm, not out .. ■• "I Extra* •• * Total for four wickets .. •• 129 The wickets fell-.--One for 27, two for 64, three for 84, four for 121. CROWD HOOTS ARMSTRONG. (Received August iKth. 12.5 i.:n.) LONDON, kwt 18. Tho attendance at the test match was large. „. During the stoppage of piny tho crowd invaded the Rrotir.-J., IV pnlioe \<-o\ them from the pitch. Several .thousand persons assembled in front of the pavilion demanding' thnttplay should be continued. They blamed Armstrong for the stoppage. Armstrong refused to inspect the pitch while th» crowd remained round the favilion. Tennyson, the English captain; unavailingly urged the crowd to disp.irse. They remained demonstrative till play was resumed, and hooted Armstrong when he was inspecting the wicket.