AUSTRALIA v. SURREY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 9 May 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIA v. SURREY.

AUSTRALIA SIX WICKETS

FOR 325

. ■■ ■ . I BY CABLE—PEE3S ASSOCIATION—COPYBIgW LONDON, May 7. The. weatner was dull and showery and the wicket slow but hard underneath for the opening of the Australians' match against Surrey. The attendance was 8000. Oldneld, Mayne. Ryder and Pellew were omitted from the Australian team, and Harrison, Shepherd and Hobbs were omitted from the Surrey team. Bardsley and Collins opened to Rushby and Reay. When Bardsley was 3he was 'brilliantly, caught by Hitch low down and close_in to leg in ReayV first over. The latter is a fast to medium right-hander. Macartney filled the vacancy and scored quickly behind the! wicket, getting more of the bowling than his partner. When 18, in trying to drive Rushby to the-on, he dropped one near Knight, at mid-wicket, and at 26 he got five, all run out. The slips were, fielding deep, four men on the off side. • Macartney, got an oyation for scoring 51 out .of .77. A shower fell, 'but the wicket Was playing easy. Naumann here replaced Fender^ and Reay was superseded iby Hitch, who kept ~a good length. Collins put one dangerously near ABel at second slip. Four«oowlers were tried in the last 20 minutes before lunch, when the score was. one wicket for 111. , On resuming the weather was brighter and there were 15,000 present. The Prince of Wales also attended.. Hitch and Rushby were now 'bowling, and the first extra came off Strudwick, from a left-hander. Macartney then played Hitch on to ,the wicket. He was replaced by Taylor, who played late to the. third ball from Hitch. Armstrong, who was next in, had an immense reception, and caused amusement by borrowing Hitch's waist sash. Hitch, like Naumann, often bowled short, and Rushby was erratic. ; When Collins was 64 Armstrong's wicket fell and Gregory took Bis place. Fender -was ibowling steadily^ while the ground fielding and returning were capital. Collins ( was batting stolidly. Peach was applauded for a- ibrilliant effort to catch him at cover when 76. ( With the score at four wickers for 1,94 a snower caused a stoppage for twenty minute^. - Two hundred w^is hoisted afI tar nearly three hours' play. 'Gregory was dismissed when the score was 226, and Andrews took his place. Collins reached his century in 190 minutes and was applauded, the players joining in. | A drizzle preceded a stoppage for half |an hour, when the score was 261, the last 29 occupying eleven minutes, mii eluding two boundary byes. . ; i WKen play was resumed sawdust was used at the wicket. Andrews was out i second ball from Reay, a^d he was replaced by Hendry. &trud<wick was hit on the face by a rising ball wihen Fender resumed. The third hundred was signalled after about four hours' play. Hendry made ten in 35 minutes, and Collins hit 18 fours. I Both teams* were presented to the Prince of Wales at luncheon. Surrey protested against stumps 'being drawn at four o'clock to enaible the Australians to travel to Bradford. Scores : AUSTRALIA. First innings. Bardsley, c Hitch, fo Reay 3 Collins, not out 158 Macartney, b Hitch .: '. 87 Taylor, h Hitch 0 Armstrong, b Reay 12 Gregory, c Strudwick, b Fender ... 17 Andrews, c Strudwick, b Reay ... 8 Hendry, ri<st out ~. 22 "Extras i& Total for six wickets 325 COLLINS' GREAT PLAY. A TOUR OF BUSTLE. i

LONDON, May 8. The cricket in the Surrey match was uneventful. The cold dayv took the sparkle out of the Australians' ibattiitg. "Macartney displayed wonderful skill. Collins hit hard and high to the on, at times driving the full length of the Oval, ibut little else varied the general dullness. Hendry showed the best form among the new foi-igade. The others were disappointing, and never looked like getting runs. Incidents were few and far between. When stumps: were drawn and rain suddenly descended, crowds of newsboys appeared among the departing crowds bearing contents ibills announcing "Collins' great day at the Oval," which practically sums up the whole. The differences regarding the hours of play were settled by a conference at the Oval this afternoon, at which Smith and Armstrong met the Surrey officials. Smith subsequently made a statement regarding the .severity of the programme 'and the difficulties of travel. He said the team arrived m London at eleven last night by the only available train, and must close the match at four on Tuesday in order to catch the last Bradford train. They must close early at Bradford to catch the last available train, arriving a* London at midnight, and *^ey ' tllen catch an early train to Portsmouth, starting play soon after arrival. Similar difficulties will be experienced throughout, and concessions in the matter of hours were absolutely necessary, otherwise the team would foe fatigued. Leicester agreed to a reduction of hours immediately. Smith has written all counties 'with the same object, and he also insists on a full day'« rest prior to every test match.