FOURTH TEST MATCH. ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1908, Page 2

FOURTH TEST MATCH. ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA.

COLONIALS WIN. ENGLAND'S BATTING COLLAPSES. By Telegraph.—Freca Association.—Copyright. MELBOURNE, llfli February. The fourth test match was concluded to-day, ending in a win for Australia, by 308 runs. The -wicket continued in excellent condition. Armstrong (114) and O'Connor (12), the not-out men from yesterday, went in again, but the Australians' innings was not carried much fuither. O'Connor was caught at the wicket for a, nicely-made contribution. FINESSE. Saunders joined Aimstrong, and the batsmen finessed nicely so that Armstrong might get a strike. The Englishmen also indulged in finesse, with a view to biing about Saunders's downfall, and the latter was in the end easily caught at point. 'lhe innings had lasted 317 minutes. Armstrong had batted 28tf minutes, making fOllll een 4's and two 6's. ENGLAND'S BIG TASK. The Englishmen, left with, tho formidable task of making 494 to win, entered upon their second innings with a feeble heart. Gunn and Hobbs opened the game, and the Britishers were dismayed to- see Hobbs caught and bowled by__ Saunders without scoring. . — Gunn and Hardstaff made a moderate stand, Hardstaff batting briskly, while Gunn was exceedingly patient, playing slow and correct cricket. Hardstaff was the first to go, after an hour's batting, being caught by Carter. A SLOW AND POOR DISPLAY. Hutching; was bowled by Noble, and Braund, who was weak, was also clean bowled, while Rhodes was caught at the wickets, and Crawford went under to the succeeding ball. Jonefe played an innings which might be characterised as desperate rather than finished. Ho saw Gunn bowled by Saunders, after 157 minutes' batting, in which only two boundary hits were registeied. Of the remainder, Barnes and Fielder showed the- best defence, and the game should have been won by a bigger majority if Saunders had not missed Fielder, when the latter was 8, off his own bowling. He next mL«sed Barnes at mid-on, when 7, off O'Connor. England's innings lasted 2J3 minutes, and was a poor and slow display, which made the bowling appear more difficult than it really was. The fielding was good, although it was a tame ending to a test match. Subsequent to the match the teams received a telegram from Mr. M'Kinnon, president of the Crioket Association, who said the- Englishmen's visit was causing a strong revival dn cricket in Victoria. The aggregate, attendance at the match was 52,761, and the gate takings totalled £2005. Humphries remajns in Melbourne, to undergo a surgical operation. Following are the scores :—: — AUSTRALIA. First innings 214 Second Innings. _ Trivmper, b Crawford ... ... 0 Noble, b Crawford ■ 10 Hill, run out 25 M'Alister, c Humphries, b Fielder..'. 4 Gregory, lbw, b Fielder 29 Kansford, c Humphries, b Rhodes... 54 Aimstrong, not out 133 Macartney, c Guun, b Crawford ... 23 Carter, c Braund, h Fielder 65 O'Connor, c Humphries* b Barnes... 18 Saunders, c Jones, b Fielder ... 2 Extras 15 Total 385 Aggregate ... : 599 Fall of Wickets. 1234515 709 4 21 28 65 77 162 217 329 374

First Innings 105 Second Innings. Ilobbs, c and b Saunders 0 Gunn, b Saunders ... ... ... 43 Haidstaff, c Carter, b Saundeis ... 39 Hutchings, b Noble- 3 Braund, b Macartney ... ...' ... 10 Crawford, c Carter, b O'Coniior ... 0 Rhodes, c Carter, b O'Connor ... 2 Jones, c Saunders, b O'Connor ... 31 Humphries, c Carter, b Saunders ... 11 Fielder, b Armstrong .., ... 20 Barnes, not out 22 Extras ... „ 5 Total ..„ » 186 Aggregate 291 ,Fall of Wickets. 123456789 0 61 64 79 88 C 8 128 132 146

NOTES ON THE PLAY. The only item of interest of the concluding part of the Australians' second innings was tho fact that Armstrong mado enough runs to reach his thousand in test games. His average now reads: Highest Innings. Not out. Runs. Score Average. 37 6 1008 133* 32.51 •Not out. This season ho has made for his State and against the Englishmen 852 runs, and will have another game against the visitors. It will bo noticed that Fielder and Crawford came out with good bowling figures, and Humphries caught three men. The Englishmen had no chance of making the runs, and as often happens on such occasions the- batting was despondent and the bowling Keen. The result was the whole side ,was out for under 200, and the colonials gained a. victory by the substantial margin of 308 runs, lhe elements helped them considerably, otherwise- the game would havebeen contested more closely. Saunders again secured the most wickets, and O'Connor also did well. Altogether, it may be paid that the Victorianshad most to do with Australia's win. Carter, at tho vickets, like his English rival, was in good form, and held four catches. Of the English batting, the Notts trio were well to tho fore, and the only display outside of theirs was that of Barnes and Fielder, who added 40 for the last wicket. By this win the Australians recover the Ashes which they lost to Warners team during the season 1903-4, and which the Englishmen held firmly during the attempt made by the colonials to redeem them in the English season of 1905. This tour the Australians have displayed the best cricket, although not possessing the fast bowling of the Englishmen. Nevertheless, the latter'o slow paced, trundlers' have not shown form

nnything approaching the colonial representatives, whilst the batting of tho latter is much more powerful than their adversaries. The colonials have had the best of the luck, especially in this last game. A matter for congratulation on both sides is the success which attended the efforts of the new players in these contests, lhe final test game will be played a fortnight hence at Sydney. We append the batting and bowling averages 'of the side in the four test games of tho tour.

Australia. Hill—l6o, at Adela-'de. Hartigar.—ll6, at Adelaide. Armstrong—l 33,* at Melbourne. England. Gunn—ll9, at Sydney. Hutchinga—l26, at Melbourne.

13CMV rhng A malvsis. Fielder Barnes ... Crawford Ehodes Bound Hutcliings ... 4 for 90 ... 1 for 69 ... 3 for 72 ... 1 for 66 ... 0 for 48 ... 0 for 24 \ "**T"*r t

Bowl ling A ■Vnalysis. launders )' Connor tfoble ... Armstrong Macartney ... 4 for 76 ... 3 for 58 ... 1 for 14 ... 1 for 18 ... 1 for 15

AUSTRALIAN BATTING. •g a "5,0 £J &&&§*s Hartigan 2 0 164 116 82 Armstrong 8 1 375 Ls3* 53.57 Carter 8 2 277 66 46.16 Noblo 8 0 327 65 40.87 Hill 8 0 304 160 38 Macartney a o 260 75 32 50 Ransfard 8 0 266 54 32 Hazlitt 4 2 56 34* 28 Cotter 4 1 79 33* 26.33 Trumper 8 0 162 63 20.25 Gregory £ Q 39 29 19.50 Macalistcr <.jB 0 157 41 15J.37 O'Connor 4 1 50 20 16 66 Snunder3 7 2 13 9 2 6 *Not out. AUSTRALIAN BOWLING. Wkta. Runs. Av'ge. O'Connor 11 248 22.54 Saunders 23 520 22 60 Noble • 8 181 22.62 Armstrong 12 305 25.41* Cotter 14 426 30.42 Macartney 5 193 39.60 Hartigan 0 7 Hazlitt 0 98 ENGLISH BATTING AVERAGES. & 'c "m Si .5 ° °i - v 2 is I ss i w 'A « SS <• Hobbs 6 1 217 83 43.40 Gunn 8 0 340 119 42.50 Hardstaff 8 0 286 72 35.75 Hulchings 8 £ 258 126 32.25 Braund 8 1 202 49 28.85 Fane 6 0 145 50 24.33 Barnes C 2 luO 38* 18.16 Jones 2 0 34 31 17 Crawford 8 0 132 62 16.50 Rhodes 8 0 126 38 15.75 Fielder 8 4 53 20 13.25 Blytho 2 0 20 15 10 Humphries 6 1 16 44 8.00 Young 2 0 16 13 8 * Not cut. . ENGLISH BOWLING. Wkts Eun3. Av'flfo. Crawford 22 549 24.95 Fielder 25 626 25 04 Barneß 16 488 30.60 Hutchings 1 63 63 Braund 5 79.60 Blytho 1 88 88 Rhodes 3 SO4 101.33 TEST LIST OF CENTURIES.