A GOOD START

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1924, Page 5

A GOOD START

By Australians FIVE FOR ABOUT 300 AGAINST ENGLISHMEN. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received December 4 at. 10.40 p.m., BRISBANE, December 4. The cricket match. Austiplia versus England, opened in delightful weather. The English team Douglas (captain). Sutcliffe, Chapman, Hendren, Freeman, Tyldesley, Strodeick, Bryan, Kilner. Sandham and Howell. Since Tuesday a cool change set in. which the Englishmen have appreciated. as they felt the heat severely in Queensland. There was disappointment at the English team, which omitted Gilliagn, Hobbs, Tate, Woolley and Hearne. The side includes Howell, who is playing his first game since the injury to his leg at Perth. Collins, not being available, the Board of Control allowed the Australian players to elect a captain, and the honour fell to Hendry, who is the only international on the Australian side. Douglas led the Englishmen for tho first time on this tour. Hendry won the toss, and went in to bat on a fast wicket. There was a perfect outfield. Four thousand spectators were present during the afternoon. Australia put on 299 for five wickets for the day’s play, the scores being:— AUSTRALIA—First Innings:— O’Connor, lbw, b Freeman .. .. 50 Ponsford e Sandham. h Howell 81 Richardson, lbw. b Tyldesley . . 35 Kippax st Studwick.b Tyldesley 14 Oxenham (not out) 47 Hendry, c Strudwiek.b Freeman 68 Extras 4 Total for five wickets .. 299 O’Connor, tho Queensland captain, whom Gilligan has likened-to a firstclass English batsman, and Ponsford, the Victorian tost match aspirant, made a good opening. Both played Howell and Douglas easily, and they

sent up .50 runs in 45 minutes. At lunch 87 were on, O’Connor being 40, and Ponsford 47.. Tho slow bo'wlers however, constantly troubled them, particularly Freeman whose length, with good varied halls, was always puzzling. He broke the partnership after 121 had gone up, by getting the Queenslander leg before. Ponsford played stylishly. His only weak stroke was at the ball which got him. He was beaten by a change in pace.

A dashing display was given by Richardson, who sent the slow bowlers all over the ground, driving brilliantly.

After Richardson who had charmed the spectators, tho play became dull in comparison. Kippax was showing good form, with a sweet stroke into the slips, when Strudwick, who was wicket keeping ably, took advantage of the first chance of stumping. Hendry quickly ran into his best form, and gave the most stylish exhibition of the match. He picked the loose balls in fine stylo, driving and pulling brilliantly. Hendry never played better cricket before. The Queenslander Oxenham, showed good form, but his strokes lacked the finish of the Australian Elevon man. The bowlers began to tire, and Hen dry, seeing his advantage hit out, scoring with well placed strokes all round the wicket. Just on time the pair had added 111 for the fifth wicket. Then the Australian skipper retired.

As in the Queensland match, the pace of the bowlers was not over troublesome and was played confidently.

Howell started by making the ball kick, but the batsmen*were not greatly troubled. The slow bowlers, Freeman and Tyldesley, were treated with great respect. Freeman was always dangerous. His pace never wavered and the ball went with a good flight, so that runs from him were always difficult to got. He should be hard to leave out of the test matches. He was better on the day than Tyldesley. Strudwick was in good form behind the wickets. The first extra came at 182.

Tho fielding was always keen, there being no chances missed. Douglas and Chapman close in and Bryan, Hendron and Sutcliffe in the country, were outstanding. Gilligan, interviewed, said. If we can all strike form .the test matches should be very closely contested but who will win I cannot say. A lot will depend on Tate, who is our star bowler.

Gilligan expects higher scoring on both sides, and says that his t n am is about the best England could turn

Tho United B team to play Runanga at the Rec., on December 7, will be picked from the following:—Rose, Kettle* Malone, Parklyn, A. Jamitson, H. Jamieson, Gudsel, Winchester McKay, Haglund, Wardell, Mathews* Wai ton and Crankshaw. The team chosen to represent Brunner against Omoto at Omoto on Sunday, is as follows: —C. Kennedy, W. L. Patterson, D. Stevenson, D. Ken-

nedy, W. Glen, H. Griffen, G. Eder F. Boustridge, G. Julian, Joe Creagh, McCormick, L. Walton. Joe Cosgrove F. Creagh. A ’bus will leave Wallsend at 12.30 sharp. The following juniors will represent the Star Club against Cobden at Cobden on Sunday, at 9.30:— Smith, Oxenham, King, Nash, Anderson, De Frehtus, Steel, Harrington, Goodall, Sharpe, Arnott, Davey, Mills. Barrow, and McCarthy. Players are to meet at the Star Shed not later than 9 o’clock.. Any player unable to attend, please notify Secretary Reynolds.