FOURTH TEST.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18307, 14 February 1925, Page 13

FOURTH TEST.

ENGLAND BATTING.

PROMISING OPENING.

SUTCLIFFE AGAIN TO THE

FORE

(bi CABLI—FBBSS association— coptbioht.) (AUSTRALIAN AITD N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received February 13th, 8.50 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, February 13. There were ideal conditions and a perfect wicket for the opening of the Fourth Test Match.

Gilligan's luck changed, and he won the toss, sending Hobb3 and Sutcliffe in to bat.

Five thousand spectators were present at thc start of play. Gregory and Kellcway opened the attack.

Sutcliffe was lucky at thc beginning, an uppish stroke off Kellcway nearly costing him his wicket. He marked his escape by following up with three beautiful late cuts.

Hobbs, early in thc innings, was struck on the hand by a rising ball.

When Sutcliffe had scored 12 he swung one from Gregory high to leg, but Ponsford dropped an easy catch. This batsman was severe on sluggish ones from Mailey, but Kellcway's deliveries he treated with respect.

The masterly Hobbs created a sensation with a faulty cut, the ball, however, going just out of Kclleway's reach. Gregory was unlucky in not securing both wickets. Half-an-hour 's play had yielded 23 runs. These concessions gave the batsmen heart, and they plugged along, mostly by singles. At 50 a doublo change was made in the bowling, Ryder and A. Richardson taking the ball.

After lundh Hobbs reached 50. Gregory followed through but dropped a fast one off his own bowling. Both Hobbs and Gregory were bewildered, and the crowd was disappointed.

A hundred appeared for 104 minutes' play. Taylor in the outfield and Andrews at cover were safe, but Australia was paying' for mistakes\ in the air when the first wicket partnership exceeded the century, being the fourth time this

series. scoring now became faster, and Sutcliffe reached tho half-century.

Hobbs Departs.

Ryder's second over after lunch brought about Hobbs's downfall. He played forward, and Oldfield had the bails off like lightning. Hobbs had played a brilliant innings, characterised by perfect timing. His score included five fours. 126—1—66.

Hearne was the newcomer. His grand display against "Victoria made him the ivnosure of all eyes. He opened carefully;, and Mailey spread tihe field out in anticipation of a catch. Sutcliffe passed Hobbs's tally, and then Hearne reached 20 in forty-seven play: Sutcliffe found it difficult to get out of the seventies. At the tea adjournment the score for one wicket was 185—Hearne 32. The attendance at this period was twelve thousand.

Sutcliffe the Century-Maker, When play was resumed after tea, Sutcliffe opened out briskly, and swung into the- nineties, adopting aggressive tactics towards Byder. .

When he reached the century after two hundred minutes' batting in a glaring sun, Sutcliffe was accorded a rousing acclamation. A quiet period followed. Then Sutcliffe got going again, using his customary square cnt. Play slackened once more, and the crowd was awaiting something sensational. It occurred in A. Bichardson's next over, when Hearne drove one straight to Bardsley at mid-on. The retiring man had given a sound exhibi-' tion, though inclined to be cramped. 2322 —£4.

At this time A. Bichardson's average was one f or 14.

The next man, Woolley, the Kentish left-bander, was a long time breaking his duck. He showed no inclination to touch A. Bichardson's soft stuff, and took twenty-five minutes to make three. Oldfield's keeping was a special feature.

Mailey went on at 247, and Woolley spectacularly drove him to the pickets. Interest had lapsed, and there was a complete absence of barracking, but the, crowd signified its approval when Woolley drove Mailey twice to the fence, the over costing fourteen runs. Collins took the ball at 274.

When stumps were drawn, Sutcliffe was uneonquered after a masterly and confident display.

Scores: — ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs, st Oldfield, b Eydcr .... 66 Sutcliffe, not out .. :• • I*l Heaxue, c Bardsley, bA. Richardson 44 Woolley, not out -.. .••• -6 Extras ..* »* i»-« °

Total for two wickets ... 282

THE WINNING ELEMENT.

CONCENTRATION NEEDED,

(Snnrar "Stm" Swvxcb.)

LONDON, February 12.

The "Evening News" asked prominent sportsmen their opinion as to England's best policy in regard to sport, in view of her lost knack of winning, wbetiier to continue playing for "the sake of the .game, or to concentrate on winning, like America. Lord Harris says that it is impossible further to concentrate on an uncertain game like cricket. There.was very little between the Englishmen and the Australians except lock. Wodehouse expresses the opinion that England must adopt ternational teams undergo. The.AH

Blacks were an excellent example thereof. It was an insult to opponents and a slur on England's sportsmanship to compete untrained. Davies,' ex-captain of England's Rugby team, says that the Prince of Wales gave the right advice. "We must concentrate on winnirig," he said, "and give more attention to detail. There is no reason, to believe that concentration would jeopardise the- spirit of sportsmanship."

N.S.W. V. ENGLAND.

(AUSTRALIAN AHD H.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.)

SYDNEY, February 13

The following team will represent New South Wales against the Englishmen on Friday next: — H. L. Collins A. Mailey (captain) J. M. Gregory W. Bardsley W. A. Oldfield J. M. Taylor A. P. Kippax T. J. E. Andrews Hooker C. E. Kelleway H. 0. Kock G. Morgan is twelfths man.