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Evening Star, Issue 17542, 23 December 1920, Page 6

The first test match between England and Australia ended, after five Cricket, days’ play, in a decisive win for the home players, who proved their superiority both in bowling and batting. The result was a foregone conclusion after the second, day’s play, the advantage then obtained placing the Australian eleven in a winning position. The pioneer batsmen for England endeavored yesterday to provide an interesting finish, but, as in the first strike, their “tail” failed lamentably. Their bowling lacks variety,- and it was unfortunate that the Marylebone Club’s invitation to Barnes was not accepted, presumably on account of the financial terms not being sufficiently alluring. The “ashes” are determined on the best of five matches, so that Australia, to recover them, must win two of the remaining four matches of the series. On form so tar disclosed this seems probable; but it must not bo overlooked that cricket is an uncertain game. Take another branch of outdoor sport as illustrating the chances. In the America Cup series the English-owned yacht won the first two races, and lost the remaining three. Tile last English cricket team to visit Australia won four out of the five tests, but were defeated at Sydney in December, 1911. The downfall of this combination was caused by Hordern, the “ googly ” expert, who bagged twelve wickets for 175 runs. "Will the present scries bring to light any new champions capable of ranking with the cricket giants of the past? In view of the visit of an Australian eleven to the Motherland next year such a discovery would be welcome. Luck generally plays an important part in cricket, but it seems to have been less in evidence in the engagement just concluded than is usual. The wicket wore to the bitter end, and ■was seemingly as capable of run-producing on' the final day -as in the opening stage. We regret to note that there is to be no holiday cricket in Dunedin during the ensuing fortnight. Some months ago the New Zealand Cricket Council launched a scheme for alternate tours of the four major associations. The idea was that Auckland and Wellington should tour the South Island this season, and that Canterbury and Otago should visit the North Island next season. It was announced the other day that owing to the inability of certain players to get the necessary leave only Christchurch and Wellington would be visited by the Auckland touring team. At this week’s meeting of the local association correspondence was received expressing the inability of both Southland and North Otago to meet Otago at the New Year. Another injustice to Dunedin ! No wonder that cricket here does not prosper, when, to the handicap of poor grounds and adverse climatic conditions, has to be added the inability to secure representative games.