TEST CRICKET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 December 1924, Page 3

TEST CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA FIVE FOR 255. A. RICHARDSON MAKES 98. ENGLISH FIELDING EXCELLENT

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—-CQPYRIGH.T SYDNEY, Dec. 23, Tlie first cricket test match between Australia and England was . continued to-day, the Australians batting all day till play was abandoned at 5.35 p.nil owing, to the wind. The score then stood at 258 for the loss of five wickets. -•

Play for the fourth day commenced in bright and very hot weather. The wicket was, on the hard side, the outfield being good. The attendance was -16,000, ' ARichardson (30) and' Kellaway (0) carried on from the previous day, when the score was 61 for one wicket. The bowlers were Tate and Gillignn. Tate was in good form,, but Richardson cut, his off stuff nidely, and'piled up his score in good style,. reaching 50 in 62 minutes. . When the board showed 84 Richardson was nearly run out. He called on Kellewav, but the latter did not move. Richardson was then threequarter way down the pitch*, and had to rush back. He just succeeded in beating the ball. Gilligan nursed his bowlers and made frequent changes, but Richardson played them all. confidently. Richardson’s favourite stroke is a hard drive down the pitch. Hearne, evidently remembering Saturday’s painful experience, left them alone. Gilligan, bowling a nice length with the assistance of the breeze, maintained a good' pace. Kelleway scored slowly, Ins 23 taking 76 'minutes. The second®wicket yielded, 75. Collins, on going in to bat, received .an enthusiastic welcome. He - opened cautiously, and in the half-hour before lunch made two runs’. Freeman’s 1 deliveries were pitched well up and dropped, quickly. Although. Richardson was' stepping well out, lie was .’usually • unable to get properly under them. ’ Tatesent < clown few loose balls; and runs againsth im were mostly stolen' singles, with an occasional big cut or glance. The English fielding was excellent, Chapmrin, Gilligan. Freeman and Heudren being responsible,, for some sharp returns. 1

One hundred was signalled after 78 minutes’ play. Gilligan’s bowling showed a considerable impj-pvenient over the last week’s performance. After lunch he had the batsmen tied up, and he; sent down three. successive maidens. Tate, who -was 'suffering .from an injury to his foot, was unable to reproduce bis first day’s form. Nevertheless he was responsible for some good work. . - - \ ’ -

.'Richardson.- when two off -his century, tapped the ball back into Freemans’ hands: Richardson has an unfortunate habit when within striking distance of the century of . trying to pass it with a- big hit. Just before lie was dismissed he had a narrow escape. ■ He occupied the crease for l(j<) .-'minutes. and li.it nine fours, : .Collins- mow took upon himself the burden of scoring. and play livened up. The-slow bowlers, Hearne and -Freeman: were not proving very deadly, but smart fielding kept. rims down, iCoilius showed, splendid judgment in placing*- his strokes, and' gained much , applause from the onlookers. The second century took 198'.minutes, - When the total was 2.10 Collins put a- ball into Woolley’s hands in.the slims. but the fieldsman dropped it. Collins’ own tally was then 377 Woolley redeemed himself somewhat by brilliantly catching' Ronsford. ' Heav_y clouds -umtlo'-.their-appearance' kluring the afternoon, ;nid the cowlitipns became -sultryD At. the fea ad-: journment. the wind dropped, /and at 4.50 a heavy gale with "a* dust .'storm arrived.,. (These conditions compelled an adjournment l with, the score at 257 for five wick-sts, as it-was almost impossible' to see across the. ground. A phenomenal'- scene follow-ed/ the-''"crowd scurrying for \Vhile myriads of ' .newspapers, ivhich. had been used to sit upon, were blowing nn in the air‘- and across the ground. ' -A little rain fell about. 5 o’clock, and play was resumed ,at 5.30 in heavy wind, but if, had to i he abandoned .for the...'day six /balls i later. Details: ; ENGLAND. ' First Innings . ; : ogg _ AUSTRALIA, ' First- Innings' ..... .-. , 450 Second Inniiigs. Bardslev, b Tate 22 A. Richardson/c and b Freeman ... 98 Kelleiva-y, b Gilligan 23 Collins, not y out ; .58 Ponsford, c Woolley, b .Freeman ... 27 V. Richardson, c Hendren, b Tate 18 ; Hepdry, not out 6 1 Extras* a Total for five wickets 258