THE SECOND TEST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 January 1925, Page 9

THE SECOND TEST.

ENGLAND MIGHT HAVE WON

The Englishmen made a very wonderful fight (says “Not Out” in Referee, referring to tlie second test). They were struggling to take the lead from their opponents after the first two days, and now and then got within striking distance of success. When Sutcliffe and Woolley were together on Wednesday afternoon, England appeared to have a better chance of winning than Australia, but for some hidden reason the two batsmen shut off steam and then let the runs take care of themselves. There was a moral advantage with England at that period, but when they allowed H. L. Collins to bowl 11 overs for 10 runs, with such a hard puncher as Woolley one of the batsmen, they surely played into the hands of their opponents. And one cannot understand why A. P. F. Chapman, a potential match-winner with the bat, was sent in so late, especially when a bowler of the Mailey type,. so troublesome to right-handers, was operating. Chapman has scored very freely from Mailey in Sydney. However, it may seem out of place to criticise the cricket of England after putting up such a dour and tenacous struggle in face of an opening innings of 600 by their opponents. Better to compliment the team on their unique display of grit and fighting instinct in winning their way so close to actual success, only to lose the fight in the closing half-hour. It is very rarely given to every man on a side to achieve great personal distinction. This time Sutcliffe, Hobbs, Tate and Strudwick struck high-water mark. If some of their mates had been moderately successful, England would have won. But that is the charm of cricket. This game in its fluctuations reminded the snectators of the first test, and if the third one in /Adelaide be similar —as it might very easily be in fine weather—more fresh history in cricket may have to be written.