“FIRST BLOOD."

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3537, 30 May 1912, Page 5

“FIRST BLOOD."

AUSTRALIA IN BRILLIANT FORM

[Notes by “'Short Slip.”)

The first battle in the great Triangular campaign has been fought and won, and the Old Man Kangaroo is standing with his foot planted firmly upon the chest of the prostrate Springbok. Australia's brilliant victory bv the wide margin of an innings and 8S runs leaves little room for doubt as to which is the stronger-side. The men from tlie Land of the Golden Fleece proved as superior to the lads from the Diamond Fields with the ball as they had done with the bat. Australia ran up 44S in their first innings in brilliant fashion, and then dismissed South Africa for 265 and 95.

South Africa’s creditable total of 265 in their first innings was largely due to the efforts of the star batsman of the side—G. Aubrey Faulkner, who scored 122, not out.

Faulkner is 31 years of age, and since 1906 has been one of the mostreliable run-getters at the Cape. As a batsman he is strong in. defence, very skilful on the leg side, and a powerful driver. In the 1907 tour of the South Africans in England,, he aggregated. 1163runs, and headed the batting with an average of 29. His best- scores that season were 106, not out. v. Lancashire, and 101, not out, r. Essex. Faulkner is also a bowler of merit, and exploits the “googly” a la Bcsanquet, but with more pace, and mixes a deadlv vorker with his slow balls.

He also proved the best bat on the South African side during the Australian t-our a couple of seasons ago. and his great innings of 20S in the second test match at Melbourne will be fresh in the memory of cricketers. But one swallow does not make a summer, and well though Faulkner plaved, his side was badly routed atManchester by the Australian howlers. \Y. J. Whitty’s return to form with the ball will immeasurably strengthen the Australian attack. After the conclusion of the match between Auckland _ and the last- Australian team to visit New Zealand, A. E. Relf, the Sussex professional, prophesied that in a few years’ time Whittv would be regarded as the finest bowler in the world. This forecast has not proved so verv wide of the mark, as on his day the South Australian ieft-hander is absolutely unplayable-

It will be remembered hew, on a perfect wicket at Melbourne, in the second test match against- the South Africans, he turned the tide of the game by dismissing the men from the Cape for 9o runs in their second innings. The cross wind which blew at Manchester on Tuesday would help ’Whitty’s swerve, and it is no wonder the South Africans could not withstand him.

Kelleway and Matthews also bowled remarkably well, and appear to have demoralised the Springboks in the second innings. The performance of the little Melbourne man in accomplishing the hattrick in each innings of a test match has never before been equalled.

The remarkable feat is all the more meritorious, in so far that the cables informed us that he had split- liis hand so badly that- it had to be sewn up. It could not presumably have* been his strong right bowling hand that was injured. To win the first- test match of the series is a far cry from winning the

Triangular contest, but Australia’s easy victory should enable them to enter on the remaining matches full of confidence—a valuable asset to any cricketing side. The team to represent England in the test match with South Africa on June 10 at Lords appears this morning. It will he admitted that the Motherland is taking no chances. She lias placed a solid, all-round combination in the field, and on paper the eleven has a truly formidable appearance.