AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 10, 12 July 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

9 MATCH AGAINST WORCESTERSHIRE. VISITORS WIN WITH AN INNINGS TO SPARE. Oj Telegraph.- Tress Association.— Copyright. LONDON, 10th July. There was a small attendance to-day at Worcester to witness the concluding day's play in the match between the Austialiaus and Worcestershire. The weather was bright, but the wicket was difficult after a night's rain. The county team continued their second innings. The bowling was faultless throughout. Hopkins soon had the batsmen in difficulties. Arnold went first ball, and the second one settled Bache. Three wickets were 'down for 32, and the score had not' been increased when ! the fifth wicket fell. The sixth wicket raised the total to 103, but after that j it was a mere procession. ' Following are the scores :—: — AUSTRALIANS. First innings ... 389 WORCESTERSHIRE. Second Innings. H. Foster, b Armstrong 0 Rowley, b Hopkins 42 Pearson, c Carter, b Armstrong ... 5 W. Foster, b Hopkins ... „ 41. Arnold, b Hopkins ... 0 Bache, b Hopkins 0 Cuffe, b Hopkins 15 Hayward, c Noble, b Armstrong ... 8 Burns, b Hopkins ... 3 Taylor, not out 5 Bale, c and b Armstrong ... ... 0 Extras 7 Total „ 126 First innings „ 151 Aggregate 277 Bowling Analysis. — Cotter, none for 35 ; Armstrong, four for 37 ; O'Connor, none for 11 ; Hopkins, six for 36. BALE AND BAILS. (By "Half-Volley.") Bale, as a name for a wicket-keeper, is both ominous and appropriate ; ominous for the batsmen (especially Avith a coaxing bowler like Sinipbon-Hnyward bowling) ; and appropiiato for a man whose chief duty is to lift the bails when a batsman lifts his foot fur enough out. In the Australian innings the Worcester "keeper," usually second to Gaukredger — who was chosen, but did not play against the Australians — put up a performance that must rank as the best this season (f-o far as we are advised). He stumped four men, and caught two others, standing back. Simpson-Hay-ward is an easy man to take, and the batsmen are inclined to jump into the slow stuff. Last year Bale, in nine matches, in which 151 wickets fell, captured 28 of these. In the match just won, Hopkins demonstrated his partiality for a defective wicket, while Armstrong 1 and Cotter shouldered an end capably. A feature of the game was the failure of dasher W. B. Burns, wlio lately visited New Zealand, H. Foster, and E. Arnold, the three cracks aggregating 6 runs for 6 completed innings! Little wonder Worcestershire broke up. To-day tha Australians begin a match against Gloucestershire, whoso record last year istood : Played 24, won 8, lo&t 11, drawn 5. The county will probably be without Jes>£op, who injured his back in the last Test Match.