AUSTRALIA WINS FOURTH TEST

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 123, 17 February 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIA WINS FOURTH TEST

EIGHT WICKETS TO SPARE GREGORY AND RYDER MAKE NECESSARY RUNS SBy Telegraph-Preei Atßoclatlon-OopyrlffM (Rec. February 16, 7.26 p.m.) Melbourne, February 16.

The weather was fine but dull for the continuation of the Test match. The attendance was small. Armstrong was present. Play was delayed for twenty minutes while the teams wore photographed with and by the desire of the Governor-General, Lord Forster. Wanting 119 to win, Ryder and Gregory) resumed batting to the bowling of Fender and Howell. Gregory beautifully cut Howell for four, and Ryder got a single off Fender, which brought 100 on the board in 10G minutes. Four byes were run off a very fast one from Howell, and his next ball was a wide. The batsmen were placing very nicely, and runs came steadily as a result of these tac. tics. Ryder drove Fender to the fence, bringing up 128. Woolley then replaced Howell, and Gregory belted Fender to the fence on the leg side, facing full round to make the stroke. The board showed 152 as a result of 139 minutes’ batting. Rhodes replaced Fender, whose average was no wickets for 20, and Parkin replaced Howell, who had secured no wickets for 36. Gregory was playing the bowlers easily, and was timing with great nicety. Ryder was not inclined to take risks. Gregory at 48 skied Parkin to leg, but Rhodes just failed to reach the ball in time. Gregory reached 50 in 94 .minutes. The score ■ was now two wickets for 173, and Fender came on again, but Ryder hit hitn hard to the fence. When the score had reached 19J the time had arrived for the usual adjournment, and the umpire, Crockett, advanced to pick up the bails, but in response to a yell from tlie crowd, "Play on!” Douglas consented, and Ryder .reached his 50 in 122 minutes. When approaching the end runs came slowly, but the necessary quota was obtained in 185 minutes, Australia winning by eight wickets. The following are t'he scores:— ENGLAND. First innings 284 Second Innings 315 AUSTRALIA. First innings 389 Second Innings. Collins, c. Rhodes, b. Parkin Bardsley, ain out 38 Ryder, not out 52 Gregory, not out 76 Extras 13 Total for two wickets 211 The wickets fell as follow: —One for 71, two for 81. x Bowling Averages.—Howell, no wickets for 36 runs'; Fender, none for 39; Douglas, none for 13; Woolley, none for 39; Parkin, one for 46; Rhodes, none for 25. NOTES ON THE GAME. When play was resumed it was scarcely to be expected that the Englishmen would come out as winners—the margin of runs, was not sufficient toi give them much hope unless rain came along and made the wicket difficult. It will be remembered that Gregory was 78 not out in the second innings at Adelaide, and now he has made over 76 each innings in the present game, truly a big performance for a man who would ‘be chosen for his fast bowling and slip fielding alone. Mailey, with nine wickets, has broken all Test records in this respect. Previously eight wickets had been captured by Lohmann (twice), Albert Trott, Richardson, Trumble, Rhodes, Braund, Bosanquet, and Laver. Mailey may yet reach George Giffen’s total of 34 wickets in 1894-5, which is the most an Australian has secured in one series of Tests. Noble and Hordern have each bagged 32, and Saunders 31. Trumble was very consistent, but never reached these figures. Carter was again successful behind the stumps, find has shown the selectors that he has strong claims on the trip to England, ft is to be hoped that Hearn and Russell will be fit and in their best form for the final game at Sydney.

N.Z. CONGRATULATIONS TO ARMSTRONG. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, February 16.

The following cablegram has been sent to Warwick Armstrong, captain of the Australian team in the Test match, by Mr. Raphael, chairman of t'he Management Committee of the Ne,w Zealand Cricket Council: "Delegates New Zealand Cricket Council and cricketers New Zealand convey heartiest congratulations your magnificent performance, Test match, against English team. All wish you speedy recovery." MAILEY’S BOWLING RECORD TRIBUTES OF THE PRESS. Sydney, February 16.

The "Telegraph” says: “Mailey was superlative. He will go down in the history of the game as a record-breaker. His wizardry twice stole the game from England. The crowd screamed t'he name of one man—'Mailey.’ At one stage the Douglas-Fender combination altered the whofe complexion of the game, giving tho Australians qualms, until the attack of Maileyism arrived.” The "Herald” says: “Malley’s bowling was remarkable. No bowler . previously has taken more than eight wickets in a Test game. As in the previous Tests, there were times when England wns in a hopeful position, but the men were unable to hold it. Australia wns lucky in the second knock. Collins was dropped when only 3. What an alteration there would have been if Collins had not been missed in every Test.”—Press Assn. (Rec. February 17, 1.5 a.m.) London, February 15. The newspapers feature Mailey’s wonderful bowling. The "Mail” says: ‘ The English team has once again proved incapable of a sustained effort, as shown by the absence of consistency. and collective success. Mailey has always been an unsettling influence. The feeble display of England’s tail helped greatly to glorify Mailey’s feat.”—United Service. THE ARMSTRONG CASE. Melbourne, February 16. A public meeting of Armstrong’s sympathisers passed a motion that the excuses for Armstrong’s exclusion were unsatisfactory, and that the selectors had lost the confidence of t’he public.—Press Assn. AUSTRALIA V; MANAWATU EASY WIN FOR VISITORS. Br Telegraph—Pro»« Amewlattoa. Palmerston North, February 16. The Australian cricketers beat Manawatu by an innings and 73 runs. The Australians in their first innings made .114 runs, Liddicutt (153 not out) and Asher (GO) being tho principal scorers. Manawatu’s 'Second innings produced only 69. Fegden (39 not out) was the only batsman to reach double figures.