THE FIRST TEST.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18267, 29 December 1924, Page 9

THE FIRST TEST.

AUSTRALIA WINS BY 193 RUNS. GAME FIGHT BY ENGLISHMEN. (BT CABLZ-rBESS ASSOCIATION— COFTBIGHT) (AUSTRALIA* ASD K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 23th. 0.0 p.m.) SYDNEY. December 27. The final phase of the First Test match was entered upon at the cricket ground to-day in fine, bright weather. In the seven days' play varied conditions, from sweltering heat to cold rain and from calm to gale with a dust storm thrown in. were- experienced. Collins undoubtedly was fortunate to win the tose, thus allowing Australia to tone first strike. Taken all round the cricket has been of a high standard in .all respects—batting, bowling and fielding—with the Englishmen perhaps giving a more polished exhibition. A feature of the game has been the determined stand made by the "tails'' of both teams, and the number of new records established both on the field and in relation to size of the attendance. The crowd all through has taken interest in every stroke. Plenty of advice and comment came from the HiU, but nothing objectionable. Woollcy and Freeman to-day continued their overnight partnership (which, had produced 8G), the latter showing he possesses a variety of scoring strokes not altogether expected from him. Woollcy showed mere certainty in dealing with 'Mailey than any of tne others, and allowed confidence and skill in dealing with the other boivlcrs. He reached his century with it cut to the boundary after batting for 120 minutes. Both ho and Freeman carried on forcefully, sending Iwth Mailey and Gregory to boundary frequentlv. The hundred for the partnership took sixty minutes. On passing the previous highest score for the match, Woollcy wa« warmly applauded. Four hundred appeared for 359 minutes' batting. Then, four runs later, Woolley snicked a ball from Gregory to Mailey fit third slip. Ho had batted for 1-tG' minutes and, hit one six and fifteen fours. The ninth wicket yielded 128. Strudwick did not last long, leaving Australia victorious by 133 runs. Freeman batted for 88 minutes and hit nine fours. The innings lasted 374 minutes. Scores: — AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, e Hendren, b Tate .... 114 Bardslcy, c Woolley, b Freeman .. 21 Ponsford, b Gilligan ... ..310 A. Bichardson, b' Hearne .. 22 Taylor, b Tate .. .. .. 43 V. Bichardson, b Freeman ... 42 Kelleway, c Woolley, b Tato .. 17 Hendry, c Strudwick, b Tate .. 3 Gregory, c Strudwick, b Tate .. 0 Oldfield, not out .. ..39 Mailey, b Tate .., ..., ■,.., 21 Extras .... ..« .... 18 Total .. 450 Bowling: Tate, six for 130; Gilligan, one for 92; Freeman, two for 124; Hearne, one for 28; Woolley, none for 35; Hobbs, none for 13; Chapman, none for 10. Fall of wickets: One for 46, two for 236, three for 275, four for 286, Ave for 364, six for 374, seven for 387, eight for 357, nine for 388, ten for 450. Second Innings. Bardsley, b Tate .. ..22 A. Bichardson, c and b Freeman 98 Kelleway, b Gilligan .. ..23 Collins, e Chapman, b Tate .. 60 Ponsford, c Woolley, b Freeman .. 27 V. Bichardson, e Hendren, b Tate IS Hendry, c Strudwick, b Tate .. 22 Taylor, b Tate .. .. .. 108 Gregory, c Woollcy, b Freeman .. 2 Oldfield, c Strudwick, b Gilligan .. 18 Mailey, not out ... .. 46 Extras ~« .„ .. 8 Total :.., >., „ .. 452 Bowling: Gilligan two for 114, Tate five for 98, Freeman three for 184, Hearne none for 88, Chapman none for 10. Fall of wickets: One for 40, two for 115, three for 168, four for 210, five for 941, six for 260, seven for 281, eight for 286, nine for 325, ten for 452. ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs, c Kelleway, b Gregory .. 115 Sutcliffe, cV. Bichardson, b Mailey 59 Hearne, c Andrews, b Mailey .. 7 Woolley, b* Gregory .. .. 0 Hendren, not out „„ .. 74 Sandham, b Mailey ■.„• . „ 7 Chapman, run out .. .. 13 Tate, c Andrews, b Mailey .. 7 Gilligan, b Gregory .. .. 1 Freeman, b Gregory .. 0 Strudwick, lbw, b Gregory .. 6 Extras .. ~ .. 9 Total 293 Bowling: Gregory five-for 111, Kelleway none for 44, Mailey four for 129, Hendry none for 5, A. Bichardson none for 0. Fall of wickets: One for 157, two for 171, three for 172, four for 202, five for 235, six for 254, seven for 272, eight for 274, nine for 274, ten for 298. Second Innings. ' Hobbs, c Hendry, b Mailey .. 57 Sutcliffe, c Gregory, b Mailey .. 115 Hearne, b Gregory .. .. 0 Chapman, c Oldfield, b Hendry .. 44 Hendren, c Gregory, b Hendry .. 9 Woolley, c Mailey, b Gregory .. 123 Sandham, c Oldfield, b Mailey .. 2 Tate, c Ponsford. b Kelleway .. 0 Gilligan, b Kelleway .. .. 1 FTeeman, not out .. ..50 Strudwick, b Hendry .. .. 2 Extras .. -. ..8 Total .. .. .. 411 Bowling: Gregory 2 wickets for 115, Kellewav 2 for 00, Mailey 3 for 179, \ Richardson 0 for 13, Hendry 3 for 36'. Fall of wickets: One for 110, 2 for I<>7, 3 for 195, 4 for 212, 5 for 268, 6 for 269, 7 for 270, 8 for 276, 9 for 104, 10 for 111. "UNDEFEATED LOSERS." (Received December 28th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. December 2". The "Observer," in a leading article headed "Undefeated Losers," says, the Englishmen apparently knew they were beaten before the tenth wicket fell, but not before they gave an exhibition of indomitable cricket which will be appreciated by none more than their opponents. OPENING PARTNERSHIPS. HOBBS'S UNIQUE RECORD. SYDNEY, December 27. Commenting on the match, the "Herald" says: "The successful partnership of Hobbs and Sutcliffe was tne leading special feature of the batting. In making an opening partnership of

(.Continued at foot of nex| calui&aj.

oner a hundred runs in each inning 6 of the match the pair achieved something that had never been done before. "If there is one present-day player more than another with whom one associated the words 'a hundred,' it is Jack Hobbs. A glance at the statistics shows that the occasions on which ho has helped to put up three figures for tile first wicket in first-class cricket number ninety-seven. This is an experience altogether unique. Even Dr. Grace in his long and wonderful career took part in no more than sixty-nine such partnerships, but possibly the reason that he did not do so is that he did not get players to stay with him so consistently as has Hobbs."