ASHES TO AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 18, 21 January 1921, Page 6

ASHES TO AUSTRALIA

The decisive third Test match is over; and Australia by her third victory in Test cricket wins the ashes; Up to the time" The Post went to press yesterday afternoon the Englishmen had still a fighting chance. At the lunch adjournment at Adelaide the score in England's second innings was 166 for two wickets, and the great Hobbs was still in, having completed his century. This left England 324 to get 1 to win with the remaining eight wickets. It was just a possibility, but an improbability. The Englishmen achieved neither the unexpected nor the remote possibility. After Hobbs went they just made a good solid fight, creditable but' not sensational, and suffered defeat without disgrace. The progress of the recent Auckland-Wellington match, was an excellent parallel to the last Test. Auckland, like England, were left with a heavy, but not overwhelming, _deficit to meet in their second innings, and, like England, made a splendid start, but, also like England, could not keep up the effort to the end. The result was a lost game in each case. The third Test was a far more interesting game than its two predecessors, which were won easily. Armstrong, the Australian captain, admits that it was anybody's game up to a certaiij point. That point was probably where he himself came in and with Kelleway retrieved Australia's fortunes in the middle of the second innings when they looked ominously on the decline. It is the mark of a great cricketer to play up just when his side is in trouble, and both Armstrong and Hobbs have demonstrated their'greatness in this respect. Armstrong takes rank with the giants, like M. A. Noble, of the past, while Hobbs, has made his sixth century in Test-cricket. Gregory appears from all accounts to be far the most promising recruit in the two teams for international cricket.". As, a bowler, batsman, and field (at short slip) he stands out, on ■his record in this series of Test matches, as one of the most accomplished cricketers of the day. The issue of the third Test leaves the question no longer in doubt as to which is the better team of the two elevens. Australia on Australian wickets is superior all round—more consistent and a better fighting team with the bat, better with the ball, rand better in the field. The dropped catches of the Englishmen in both of the -Australian innings may be said to have contributed largely to England's defeat. The Australians also had their turns of inadvertence and missed chances, but they were not such serious events as those which gave Armstrong and Kelleway new leases of life. We, note the Sydney niorning papers differ as to whether Australia has really won the ashes as well as the rubber.. The Herald says the ashes are only to be won by, an Australian team in England, while the Telegraph maintains the ashes are Australia's. Whatever the right deoision may be,*there is no doubt that Australia's performances "in this Test series ■njill vastly enhance public interest in' the next Australian visit to 1 England. ' , . .. .