THIRD TEST

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 January 1925, Page 5

THIRD TEST

DAY FOR BOWLERS. AUSTRALIA MAKES 250. POOR STAND ON WET WICKET

BY CABLE — PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT ADELAIDE, Jan. 21. This.has been a, day of sensational, calamitous and inspiring play. It m&s sensational from' the spectators’ poifit of view by reason of the unexpected change that came over the game. It was calamitous to Australia when the side lost seven wickets for 39 runs. It was inspiring to the Englishmen, since each wicket falling gave them a better chance of winning after the match had seemed hopelessly lost to them. Yesterday’s threat of rain was amply fulfilled overnight by heavy downpours and showers. The weather cleared during the morning, but the pitch was soft and the outfield heavy. After an inspection at noon it was announced that play would commence at 12.45. The curator (Mr Wright) declared that the wicket would tear the inside out ,of the ball, and so it proved, Australia being all out in 67 minutes. The left-arm men, Kilner and Woolley, bowled unchanged. Swinging well and breaking right across, they had , the Australians bamboozled all* the time. The averages to-day were: Kilner, four wickets for 14 runs, 65 balls, four maidens; Woolley, three wickets for 25 runs, 70 balls. The wonderful reversal of Australia’s form showed fully the danger of covering the wickets. It showed, also, that the Australians are fast developing into purely fine weather batsmenj who can be dismissed easily on a pitch damaged by rain. It was melancholy to watch great batsmen like Ponsford, Ryder, Vie. Richardson and Andrews tied in knots facing slow, left-arm bowling, but they were hopelessly at sea, never knowing anything about the bowling. The downfall commenced in the first over from Kilner, Ponsford swinging the seventh ball to Hendren.

Woolley, at the south end, caught Ryder off his own first delivery. Tate caught Richardson at extra cover off the last ball of the same over. In Kilner’s ■ third OA r er Andrews snicked the ball to Whysall at second slip.

Gregory was the fifth victim in six overs, when he pulled Woolley to Henclren at deep square leg. Five wickets had fallen in 23 minutes for nine runs. Kellewnv was the only batsman to play confidently, lmt no one. could stay "'ith him, and the innings ended at 250. The innings to-day lasted for G 7 minutes. \

The pitch improved after the heavy roller had been used, and became an easy batsman’s wicket for the Englishmen’s- second strike. Hobbs and Sutcliffe set out on the task of making 375, and chased runs, which came in even time, Collins suffering to the extent of three fours being hit off him in two overs. The rain cleared and the Englishmen’s, hopes soared. The partnership carried on brilliantly, but a setback came when Hobbs was dismissed shortly after the tea resumption for 27. The total was then 63.

Hopes of victory sank lower when Woolley, who was batting brilliantly, was bowled by Kelleway. Hendreu got his leg in front to the same bowler for four, and three wickets were down for 96.

Sutcliffe stayed in, getting 42 in 40 minutes, shifting on by means of singles. He then gave three chances, two of being caught by Collins and Ryder, while Oldfield missed 6tumping him. Whysall joined Sutcliffe and played out time. England has a possible chance of victory, hut it depends mainly upon the big partnership of this pair. Details: AUSTRALIA. First Innings ■ 459 Second Innings. Collins, b Freeman " 26 A. Richardson, c Kilner, b Woolley 14 Taylor, b Freeman 34 Ryder, c and b Woolley 88 Ponsford, c Hendren, b Kilner 43 V. Richardson, c Tate, b Woolley 0 Andrews, c Whysall, b Kilner ... 1 Gregory, c Hendren, b Woolley ... 2 Oldfield, b Kilner 4 Kelleway, not out 22 Mailey, c Sutcliffe, b Kilner 5 Extras 11 Total 250 Bowling analysis: Tate took no wickets for 17 runs, Kilner four for 51, Freeman two for 94, Woolley four for 77. ENGLAND. First Innings 365 Second Innings. > Hobbs, c. ColHns, b Richardson ... 27 Sutdiffe, not out 56 Woolley, b Kelleway 21 Hendren, 1.b.w., b Kelleway 4 Whysall, not out .\ - 22 Extras 3 Total for three wickets 133 ‘‘itE VOLUTIONAHY IDEAS.” LORD HAWKE AGAINST THEM.

LONDON, Jan. 21. Lord Hawke, continuing his comments on test cricket, said that the team’s little difference with Middlesex had been settled. Altogether apart from the Middlesex incident, he regret Led that two or three persons in the pasttwo years had unwarrantably attacked the Yorkshire teapi’s sportmanship. He thought in some directions cricket needed speeding up. The tea interval, which often proved good for a change bowler, ought never to exceed ten minutes. '

Referring to the Australians’ proposal to draw stumps at six o’clock when they visit England in 1926, Lord Hawke said permission was only given for this in test matches because he, the Hon. F. S. Jackson and others were tumble to attend the Marylebone committee meeting to consider the matter. If the committee had adjudicated o-n tlie question', lie was not sure whether six o’clock closing would have been permitted, even for tests. The Australians might be told to' go elsewhere. ■ These matters, together with the eight-ball over, must be considered by Marylebone - . It was really time a definite stand were taken . against "these revolutionary ideas.” DEFEAT FORECASTED. v LONDON, Jan. 20. Barnes, in the Daily Chronicle, says: “We may be set 550 to make in the fourth knock, which is a- super-tax on a. team of giants. I am afrajd we shall go down fighting. 1 “Whatever happens, the Englishmen have contributed a fair share to remarkable cricket, suggesting either that the hatting of the ffrst-classers, both Australian and Englishmen, has greatly improved, or that the bowling has deteriorated. My unhesitating

opinion is that it has not improved as the present series of prolonged matches indicates. \ “Tate has net received the assistance anticipated from the. other howlers. His temporary absence may have meant the difference between defeat and victory.” HAPPY OPTIMISM. (Received Jan. 22, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, (Tan. 21. The Evening News states: ‘‘lt looks asf though the game is up at Adelaide, hut wait until we get the Kangaroo over here again. Won’t we make him ‘ skip and jump.”—Sydney Sun Cables. CRICKET COLLAPSES. A FAMOUS MATCH RECALLED.

The collapse of the Australians yesterday for 250 after having 211 up'for three wickets reminds one that bad Wickets have been responsible several -times for small scores from colonial •sides. Perhaps the most sensational failure was in the first test match with "Stoddart’s team in 1594. England made '325 and 437. and Australia in the first innings made 556. Left with 176 to win Australia at the end of the fifth day had 113 up for two wickets, so the match looked a “moral.” During the night a heavy thunderstorm fell and drenclied the wicket, and a hot sun next morning made the pitch into a regular gluepot. Peel and Briggs were the bowlers and dismissed the remaining eight wickets for 53 runs, Australia thus losing by 10 runs.