CRICKET

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1920, Page 3

CRICKET

FIRST TEST MATCH.

AUSTRALIANS BAT INDIFFER-

ENTLY,

VISITORS FIELD WELL,

CROWD BARRACK SLOW PLAY

(Reed. December 17, 7.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 17. The fi/Ki Test Match commenced in fine weaker 171 the presence of ten thousand people. | The wickec was not affected by the previous night's brief storm. Armstrong won the toss. He decided to bat, and sent McCartney and Collins in to oppose Hitch and Waddington. Both batsmen played cautiously for a number of overs, an occasional singles alone breaking the- monotony of a series of maidens. After thirty minutes, Hitch, -who was punished to the extent of fourteen in one over, was replaced by Parkin. Waddiugton quickly found Ms length, and aided by a strong wind, he broke in awkwardly from the off. Macartney, when 19, pullod the ball on to his wicket. Bardsley settled down to careful play. Yet he unhesitatingly dispatched any loose deliveries to the picket fence. He reached the twenties before Collins had emerged from them; but then, playing back to one of Hearnc's slows, he snicked the ball to Strudwick and was caught. After lunch, Collins, who at no stage -was extra confident, lifted Hearne straight to Waddington at outside mid-on; but to the surprise of everyone, su<l especially the batsman, the. ficldman dropped the easiest of catches. Collins wf\s then at 43. Next over the first century was registered. It took 104 minutes. Six minutes later Collins reached his .50. Kellaway vied with Collins for uninteresting hatting. The crowd now began to barrack, but- it was to no effect. After batting 55 minutes for 15 runs, Kcllawaywas cheered for scoring a single. The crowd had grown impatient at the painfully plow run-getting. When Collins was at 70, Kellaway placed Douglas squarely to Hitch, who, smartly fielding the ball, unerringly aimed at the wicket before Collins could make good. Armstrong had 'a fine reception, and he shaped like an artist straight away. But the brilliant fielding of the Englishmen kept his account down. AVhen stumps were drawn Australia had eight wickets down for 250 runs. Armstrong, full of promise, went forward t*> Woollcy, but Strudwick lifted the flails before he regained his crease. Th<s dimiuutivo wicket-keeper (Strudwick) dominated the picture for a while, in iiact throughout the day he gave a capital display behind the stumps. Gregory was his next victim, he openiig his shoulders to a straight drive off Woollcy, but Australia 's fast bowler miss-hit the ball, and " Strudwick brilliantly accepted the lightning shot. When Taylor and Pellcw became associated, after the tea adjournment, the spectators were treated to the brightest batting of the innings. The first-named player disconcerting the field by stealing "cheeky" Tuns. Both went at the bowling in vigorous fashion, but smart work in the out-field, however, converted potential boundaries into singles, and incidentally was responsible for several hair-breadth escapes. Douglas (the English captain) curbed the batsmen's -.enterprise by putting oii Hitch, whoso on-thco'ry was eovercly* left alone. Waddington 's lefthand deliveries from the opposite end also commanded respect, to the detriment of prolific run-getting. After adding 68 at a critical juncture, the partnership was broken, Taylor stepping in front of his wicket to pull Hearne, and was out leg before. . ' With ten minutes to play, Pellcw endeavoured to force the pace, and lifted Hearne to . the boundary, where Hendren made no mistake with the catch. Rider brought up 250 in the second last Cver, and with Oldfield played out the time. The batting was not up to the international standard, the responsibility apparently Aveighing heavily on the Australians' shoulders. The English fielding was excellent, and siaved innumerable runs. The attendance totalled 23,000. The following are the scores: — , AUSTRALIA— Ist INNINGS. Macartney, b Waddington ... 19 Collins, run out 70 Bardsley, c Strudwick, b . Hearne 22 Kellaway, run out, 33 Armstrong, s Strudwick, b Woollcy 12 Gregory^, c Strudwick, b Woolley .., 8 Taylor, Lb-w., b Hearne 34 Pellcw, c Hcndron, b Hearne 36 . .Ryder (not out) ..| 5 Oldfield (not out) 0 Sundries H Total for 8 wickets 250