THE FIRST TEST.

Mataura Ensign, 16 December 1911, Page 4

THE FIRST TEST.

+ PRESS OPINIONS OF PLA¥, % 81 XLKCTItIC rKLfi>UArn..-OUl>TifK,|i T PKtt UNITKI) I'RKiSJI ASSOCIATION. Received Decern l>er 16, 9.25 a m SYDNEY, Dec." 10. The weather was dull for the continuation of the first test match. | The '.Sydney Morning Herald' describes the cricket as prosaic and even. effervescent. The writer eoniinuea: Trumper shoved subdued sparkle. Tho game was at tho level of test match seriousness." | The 'Sydney Daily Telegraph' says: Trumper made Douglas look to his laurels as the slowest ever. This is a new Trumper with a vengeance. Tho bowlers were good, hut if Trumper purposes to be dug out there will be aore trouble ahead." WARNER NOT TO~PLAY AGAIN. Received DocemlK-r IC, 9.2.5 a.m w > •„ SY, WBY, Dec. 16. Warners illness , R more m > rwm tnan was hitherto thought. He will not play again during the tour and will return to England shortly. Possibly he may never again be able to play cricket. I An English paper recently wroie of Mr Warner :-Mr "Plum" Warner, who has just been gazette as lientenant in the 4th Battalion of the Queen's Own Royal \\<* t Kent Regiment, j« more hkely to bo remembered for his work behmd the willow and tho wicket than wis achievements behind the gun for it was he who brought the "ashes" bark to England when all hope of recovery was lost. He was born in Trinadad anil began to play cricket as soon as he could walk. When there were no white boys to play with he pressed the coppe* Bkinned youth of the island into mvF 00 ; Ho first returned to Trinidad with Ixird Hawko's team, and when he scored the first century ever made in tho island a black man—one of "Plum's" early companions—cried out in a spasm of enthusiasm, "Brayvo, Massa Pelham! I taught you" to'do dat, sah. You play well, sah. I proudobvou!" He was little more than 10 when he came to England and he proew»<lod to Lugby School, where he became a person of great importance, especially in the school eleven. "He's an almighty terror" was the wav the captain of h visiting team described him after he had taken most of the wickets. This reputation has clung to him -nil through his life. After a visit to the States his comrades presented him with a gold watch and chain "in memory of a great time, an unbeaten record, perils by aea. ditto by fair women, a few broken hearts, wine and wassail, pig-killing, blood and bushrangers, and other terrible adventures, lastly in memory of his bloomin' affability as skipper."