AUSTRALIA’S DECISIVE WIN

Evening Star, Issue 17542, 23 December 1920, Page 9

AUSTRALIA’S DECISIVE WIN

ENGLISH TAIL AG)ATM FAIL, For the fifth day’s play in the test match at Sydney yesterday the weather was again hot, and the wicket wore excellently. Ail flags on the .ground were at half-mast, ' and the Australians wore black arm bands ; in memory of Dr Tozer. Hobbs and. Hoarne settled down to cautious batting, declining to touch everything except loose deliveries. Mailey, who was not utilised on the previous afternoon, failed to terrify the batsmen, Hobbs lifting one over the fence to longon. Armstrong than went on in the hope of separating the pair, his first over being a maiden. In the following over Hobbs scored a single off the Australian skipper, bringing up the first century. Hobbs then stepped across his wicket to .place Armstrong to the on,- but the bowler sent down one of his famous straight leg breaks and got the batsman leg before wicket. Two for 105. Hendren opened his account by scooping Armstrong to-square-leg to the fence, . but immediately slackened again. Opposing Mailey, he despatched his first ball to the boundary, but played back for the remainder -of the over. After the luncheon adjournment the- batsmen wore again adopting cautious methods until Gregory broke through Hearne’s defence with a splendidly pitched ball, which took his off stump. Three for 140. Woolley hit Mailey for three 4’s, but in .playing forward missed a ball with his Todt raised from the crease. Oldfield effecting a smart bit. of stumping. Four for 170. The avont of Douglas created interest in view of the English skipper’s discomfort . in facing Mailey. He, jumped out at the last ball of the over, which was delivered, outside his leg stump. Armstrong, standing at short tine leg, a few yards From the stumps, brilliantly accepted a remarkably hot catch. Five for 178. Douglas was the most _ surprised man on the ground, and remained in his crease until the umpire was officially appealed .to. When given out he pointed to the ground, indicating a bump ball, the crowd ridiculing the contention as Douglas set out for the pavilion. Rhodes forced the pace when opposed to Mailey, hitting several boundaries in the first couple of overs. The 200 mark was reached after 3h 31m play, Hendreh later registering his 50 as the result of Ih 44m patient batting. On resuming after the tea adjournment the bowling was entrusted to Gregory and Kellaway, the latter in his first over finding Hendren’s middle peg. Six for 231. Rhodes, shaping confidently, ■ executed several fine all-round-the-wicket shots, but . exercised as much caution as if the match was hanging in the balance. Taylor, in the outfield, earned applause by cutting off the boundaries, his work throughout the match-being of the highest class. Hitch daringly hit out to Gregory, .lifting him safely to the outfield for 2. When 19 he stepped down the wicket to Australia’s « fast bowler and hit him hard to Taylor at extra mid-on. that player making a fine catch. Seven for 264. Armstrong replaced Gregory with Mailey. whose first ball was a full toss. Rhodes hit it over the bowler’s head, and the catch was taken bv Evder. Eight for 271, -• Waddington, after contributing 3. fell ;■ a viqjtim to Kelleway. Nine for 279, Parkin hit to Macartney at extra midoff, but that usually safe fieldsman dropped the catch. Two balls later Kelleway bowled Parkin’s middle peg, with England’s score at 281. Australia thus winning 6y 377 runs, following are the scores; Australia. ' First innings .: ... 267 Second innings .. ... 581 Grand total 848 England. First .innings 190 Second Innings. Bussell c Oldfield b Gregory ... ... 5 Hobbs Ibw b Armstrong ... 59 Hearno b Gregory 57 Hendren b Kelleway 55 Woolley st Oldfield b Mailey 16 Douglas c Armstrong b Mailey 7 Rhodes c Ryder b Mailey ... ... 45 HitchjTaylor b Gregory ... ... ... 10; Waddington b Kelleway 3 Parkin b Kelleway ... 4 Strudwick not out ... ... ... 1 Sundries ’ g T° "j 281 Grand total ... ... 471 Bowling Analysis.—Gregory, 3 for 70; Kelleway, 3 for 45; Mailey, 5 for 105; Armstrong, 1 for 21; Ryder, 0 for 24; Macartney, 0 for 7. ENGLAND WAITED AND WATCHED. AUSTRALIANS’ VICTORY APPRAISED. DOGGED, PATIENT BATTING EXTOLLED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, December 22. (Received December 25, at 8.45 a.m.) _ Though the Jesuit of the match against New South Wales is regarded in Ehgland as showing that Australia’s cricket strength has been underrated both in Australia and England, play in the test match surprised and disappointed followers of the game, but they are by no means downhearted. It is pointed out that the last team after losing the first game won the remainer. The critics are especially struck by the Australians’ batting consistency. They consider the team has quite eight dependable batsmen, and, though England comparatively tails off, the side contains great batsmen who only need to strike form to give a very good account of themselves. Australia’s victory is accepted ungrudgingly, and many * tributes are paid to them dogged, patient batting, which is historic in the Australian game in matches without limit, and was thoroughly justified in this match. This feature is regarded as lessening the disappointment over the English bowlers’ seeming weakness in the second innings. But there is some comment on missed chances. Armstrong’s display and Collins’s century in. his first test match are the subject of many eulogies. The progress of the match was watched with greatest interest all over • the country. NOTES BY “ONLOOKER.” Again the visitors showed the possession of; a decided tail. At one stage ■of the play yesterday it looked as though the game might extend into another day, but the last wickets went quickly. The telegraph read seven for 260 and all out for Bowling honors were well divided, Gre80IY> Mailey, and Kelleway each being credited with three wickets. The lastnamed comes out with the best average, but two of his victims were • the poorer batsmen. Armstrong had the satisfaction of getting Hobbs, the batsman ' of the team. The 187 by Kelleway and Armstrong on luesday _ was a sixth wicket record part- • nersmp in the test series. TMre previous bests were: For England, 158 by R H Spooner a , nd 'J' T - Tyldesley at the Ovai in 190o; for Australia, 142 by H. Graham and S. Ci. Gregory at Lord’s in 1893. Some changes will probably bo effected ' |n the second test, which begins at Melbourne to-morrow week. Parkin or Waddington may be replaced by Wilson, the -.Jinghsa amateur, and off the Australian side Garter may be preferred as wicketkeeper and batsman-to Oldfield. The 187 by Kelleway and Armstrong was - a sixth_ wicket record partnership in the test series. The previous bests were : For England, 168 by R. H. Spooner and J. T Tyldesley at the Oval in 1905; for Australia, 142 by H. Graham and S. E. Gregory at Lord’s in 1893.