BRAVO, ENGLAND!

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 January 1925, Page 4

BRAVO, ENGLAND!

There must be many lovers of cricket in New Zealand —aye, and in Australia too —whose hearts go out in silent sympathy with the English XI, that it should have missed victory in the second test after such a stubborn uphill fight by some members of the team. Especially is it hard luck for Sutcliffe that England’s tail should have wagged so feebly following the magnificent stand he made. In cricket perhaps more than in any other game individual and team work arc both highly developed. Football is a team game; lawn tennis rests with the individual player; but in cricket each man stands to a large extent by himself, yet is part and parcel of the team. It is a great distinction for Sutcliffe the individual to have made three successive centuries in test cricket, and to be the only English batsman ever to reach the hundred twice in one match against Australia. But, after he himself had been more than six days in the field, it must have been heart-breaking for Sutcliffe of the English team to see wickets falling so cheaply yesterday. Yet there is no questioning who will be for ever the hero of this memorable match in the eyes of the sporting Australian crowd. It has been Sutcliffe’s test. Twice the spin of the coin lias favoured Collins and, this time at least, its fall more than probably decided the game. England was set a huge task with 372 to make on a wicket worn by the play of over 1300 runs. Even then she made a better second innings stand than the Australians. A win would have been a triumph for the visitors. As it is, the victory is Australia’s and the triumph Sutcliffe’s own. Nothing is surer than that Gilligan’s men will come out smiling for the third test at Adelaide this day week. Here’s wishing them the luck that such fine sportsmen deserve.