THE FOURTH TEST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 5

THE FOURTH TEST.

AT MELBOURNE, POOR STAND BY AUSTRALIA. ON SOFT WICKET. HILL RECEIVED WITH CHEERS. By TeleeraDh—Press AESoclaUon-OopyrlgM (Kcc. February 9, 7.50 p.m.) Melbourne, February 9. The fourth Test match—M.C.C. Touring Team v. Australia,—was begun to-ilay on a soft wicket, and in pleasant weather. The attendance was fair at the start, and ultimately numbered 1(i,551i. Tho gate was ,CGIG. M'Larcn, Strudwick, Hitch, Kinneir, and Jremonger were omitted from tho M.C.C. eleven. The Australian final selection was rnodo on the day of tho match, and comprised: Hondern, Kelleway, Bardsley, 'lYumpcr, Armstrong, Hill, Minnctt, Kansford, Matthews, Cotter, and Carter. England won the toss, and eent Australia in, and Hordern and Kclleway opejied to tho bowling of Foster and JJarnes. The iirst score was off what proved to bo a no-ball by Foster, whom Hordern glanced to leg, the ball cannoning oil' the wicket-keeper's pad to Barnes at slip. An appeal on this ball was disallowed. Twenty runs were scored in half an hour, Kellewny being busiest, chiefly at the expense of Foster, who was bowling the leg theory with three iieldsmen close in. At 32 Woolley relieved Foster, and Hordern "legged" his second ball to the fence, thus reaching doublo figures in 3S minutes. Tho bowlers had difficulty in securing a firm foot-hold, and sawdust was used freely, Barnes had all his fieldsmen, save the man at leg, placed elo-ve in, in hope of a catch. Tho' wicket was kicking frequently, and Horderu presently skied him. Mead made a fine but ineffectivo attempt to secure the catch. The fifty occupied an hour, and then Barnes, who had delivered ten overs for 18 runs, was. relieved by Rhodes. Kelleway, who had batted soundly, then cut Woolley into Hearne's hands at point. He had been in. for 74 minutes, and had hit four "tourers." With Bardsley's appearance the field deepened, and, after Rhodes had sent down two overs, Barnes resumed,' and dislodged llpi-duni's leg stump. After the lunch adjournment disaster quickly came. Trumper joined Bardsley, who had played cautious cricket for 19 minutes, when he was bowled off his pad. Hill was next, and met a magnificent reception from the spectator?. After making two channiiiß cuts, Trumper was apparently settling down, when he hit over Foster, and was clean bowled, while soon afterwards Armstrong was beaten by a break-back from Barnes. Minuett opened with a. weak stroke off Barnes,, cocking the ball dangerously closo to Douglas at point. The batsmen at this stage wcro keen, and were cheered for smart running between tho wickets, but, on the whole, tho scoring was slow. Barnes and Foster wore bowling magnificently, and the fielding was excellent. On one occasion Rhodes was applauded for brilliantly stopping a cannonlike shot by Hill to short leg. Hill next glanced Barnes for 4, thus hoisting tho century for 140 minutes' play. When he was ten Minnctt gave a chance in the slips to Douglas, oft Bn.rnes,' and, when 14, ho drove Barnes back forcefully to tho bowler-a chance which the latter just touched left-handed. At 120 Woolley relieved Foster, who had taken two wickets for H runs. Minnelt, when 18, narrowly escaped being run out Woolley just failing to take tho return from Gunn at short-ieg. Hill was then caught off a straight drive in Hid deepfield. Ho had given a fine display during his 01 minutes' .stay at tho wicket, and was cheered on returning. Ransford succeeded, and Minnctt twice in succession back-cut Barnes for i, next cutting him for 2, and so securing 30. This was top score for the innings, and was greeted with cheers. At 139 Hearne relieved Barnes, who had bowled 23 overs and had taken three wickets for 61 runs. Ransford was in leu minutes lrefore scoring, being hampered by the thumb which had been injured in the third Test. Minnett was 38, and Ransford 3 at the tea adjournment. After restarting, Barnes and Foster were put on to bowl, and Ransford was easily caught at second slip off tho last ball of the first over. Matthews then joined Minnett, who pulled and off-drove Foster twice to tho boundary, reaching S) in 7;i minutes. He was caiißUt next ball at deep square-leg. He had batted well on a tricky wicket, though he had made some crude strokes. His slay nt tho wickets was SO minutes, and his total included six "fourcrs." Cotter was in next, and the field deepened. Matthews skied Barnes behind the wicket, giving an easy catch. Cotter then lifted Foster high to square-leg for a four, his effort being greeted with cheers. Carter was last man in, and Cotter again swept Foster to the boundary, and magnificently off-drove him for ■!, but was beaten in attempting to lift Bnrnes, and the innings closed after 221 minutes. Hobbs and Rhodes opened for England, Cotter and Kelleway taking up the attack! Hobbs "legged" Cotter's first ball for 3, and both batsmen immediately become aggressive, .and scored quickly, smart running between tho wickets being a feature. At 2G Armstrong relieved Cotter, and Matthews Kelleway. Hovdern Mil;seqiicntly relieved Armstrong, but tho scoring went on steadily. The wicket had then improved. Australia.—First Innings. Hordern, b. Barnes 19 Kelleway, c. llcarnc, b. Woolley 29 Bardsley, b. Foster .". "0 Trumper, l>. Foster ]7 Armstrong, b. Barnes 7 Hill, e. Hearne, b. Barnes 22 Minnett, c. Rhodes, l>. Foster 50 Ransford, c. Rhodes, b. Foster .[ Matthews, c. Gunu, b. Barnes 3 Cotter, b. Barnes : ]5 Carter, not out 0 Sundries , __ 13 Total KH j Bowling Analysis. Barnes took five wickets for 74 runs; Foster, four for 77; Woolley, one for 22; Rhodes, none for 1; Hoarne, none for 4, How tho Wickets Fell. 1334 56789 10 53 53 CO 7t 83 12-1 152 105 170 191 England.—First Innings. llobb?, not out 30 Rhodes, not out 2:j .Sundries ] Total for no wickets 51