ENGLISH CRICKET TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 10

ENGLISH CRICKET TOUR.

MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND.

VISITORS' SOUND BATTING.

TWO WICKETS FOR 193.

The first match of tho M.C.C. team's New Zealand tour was opened yesterday afternoon .at Eden Park against an Auckland representative team. The weather was hot and muggy, with intermittent showers, which slightly soddened the wicket and rendered it unplayable at the time appointed for tho opening. Mr. A. C. MacLaren. captain of tho English eleven, and Mr. N. C. Snedden, captain of Auckland, inspected the wicket at 2.30 p.m. when it was agreed that it then was not in a fit state for play to commence. It was decided that another inspection be made at three o'clock, >at which time it was agreed that if no. further rain fell play would commence within a quarter oT an hour.

The English captain won the toss, and at 3.25 play began. The wicket was wet, but easy, the ball coining through fairly true, rising occasionally. The conditions generally were in favour of £ho batsmen, who made good use of tho opportunities, and by solid, careful cricket compiled 193 runs for the loss of two wickets before stumps were drawn at six o'clock.

The marked feature of the English batting was its solidity and its accurate placing through a well-placed field. The innings of Titchmarsh wa3 tho outstanding performance, tho Hortsfordshiro batsman playing high-class cricket throughout, his perfectly-timed late and square-cutting being a specially attractive feature. The Auckland bowlers were severely handicapped by the state of tho ball, and on a batsman's wicket did splendidly. Alcott bowled particularly well, keeping an almost perfect length; and varied his attack in pace and pitch. The Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, was present. The attendance was small. The match will be resumed at 11 a.m.' to-day. Discussing yesterday's play, Mr. MacLaren said that in view of the adverse conditions the Auckland bowlers had done exceedingly well. Alcott, the left-hand bowler, impressed him favourably. varied pace and pitch wit|j such judgment that tho English captain was kept playing " all out." Player, too, bowled well. Mr. MacLaren said ho had invited Mr. Snedden to draw stumps when the rain fell, realising the serious handicap to his bowlers, but the Auckland captain had declined, stating that they wei-o u&od to the conditions.

MacLaren and Lowry. Winning the toss, A. C, MacLaren and T. C. Lowry went to the wicket, Lowry taking strike to Player and straight drove him for a single in the first over. Alcott bowled from the Kingaland end, Lowry late-cutting _ his first for a single. MacLaren jumped out to his first hall and missed. The cricket, was quiet and serious, both batsmen playing carefully, only two runs being scored off the second over. MacLaren faced Player, off-driving his first to the rails for four. Facing Alcott. Lowry placed the fourth ball for a single, the only run off the over. Turning to meet Player, Lowry scored a single off the over, runs coming slowly. The third ball from Alcott. Lowry turned nicely to the boundary, repeating the stroke for two, the New Zealander reaching double figdres. Runs came faster at this stage, Lowry again placing Alcott J to the boundary in front of the pavilion. I Facing Player, the English captain failed to get fully on to one- from Player, which he mis-hit into " tho country," the ball dropping safely in a gap in the field. Alcott was now bowling round the wicket. MacLaren was taking no liberties. Later, taking the opportunity off the last ball, the Englishman placed him prettily to the boundary, reaching double, figures. Alcott continued to bowl round the wicket, with the " off theory " to i Lowry, who survived the first maiden I over, 31 runs being scored after twentyt five -minutes' play. The Auckland fielding was keen and clean. MacLaren cleverly hooked to the leg boundary, and a crisp late cut by Lowry off Alcott to the boundary created a cheer. With tho score at 45, Lowry, who had played a careful innings—unusual for his style— was smartly eaueht by Rowntree at tho wicket off Alcotfs first ball The young New Zealander scored 29 in 35 minutes by solid cricket. 45—1—29. Fifty Buns in 40 Minutes. Tichmarsh. joined MacLaren, the incomer opening his account by late-cutting "Alcott to the boundary, repeating tho stroke for a single, bringing up tho halfcentury after 40 minutes' play. Toe . first change in the Auckland bowling was now made, -Garrard replacing Player, at the Dominion Road end. Five runs were compiled off tho over, MacLaren scoring a boundary and Tichmarsh a single. Both batsmen continued to score consistently. The rain held off, but the sawdust pile -was an evidence. After 60 minutea play Tichmarsh brought up 75 runs. A Bensation followed when MacLaren hit a foil toss hard back to Garrard, who failed to accept a "possible" catch. MacLaren was the/i 29, and the total 75. Runs came steadily, msinly in singles. A fine off-drive by the English captain broke the Sequence of s : ms;le». MacLaren plaved Garrard to the off. where a clean field and smart return raised npplau*e. Garrard bowled a maiden, and at 85. Snedden, the Auckland eantnipi, relieved Alcott. who had howled 13 overs for 47 runs and one wicket. At this stage rain began to fall, and the bowlers had recourse to tho sawdust. Fac'me Snedden, bowling over the wicket. Tichmarsh, who was playing carefully with nice turns to leg, plaved a maiden over. There had been nothing of a sensational nature in the hatting so far, both batsmen plaving steadily, content to score off any looso ball. Five rnns were wanted for tho century, when MacLaren off-drove Garrard to the boundary, bringing up the hundred by repeating tho stroke to the railrf. The hundred" was scored ijn 85 minutes. MacLaren was now 45. The English captain continued to hat steadily, and Tichmarsh was sqhare-cuting beautifully. Dnere created a round of applause by a smart return.

The Captain Stumped. Facing .Anthony the Enrlish captain stood in his crease to swing the hall to the boundary, but later, in going for ward to drive, he missed the ball, and was smartly stumped by Rowmtree. who had accounted for both wickets. 129—2 — 58. MacLasen had hatted very steadily throughout, using his favourite stroke, and' scioring ten boundaries. Ho had been at the orpafio 99 minutes. A. C. Wilkinson filled the vacancy. Rain fell intermittently. Tichmarsh was hatting solidly and brought up' his 50 ns a result of 70 minutes' batting. With the score at 153, Alcott relieved Anthony. Wilkinson back-cut his fifth for

a single. Tho raw had ceased, but the howlers were still under the handicap of a grensv ball. After two hours the scoro was 159---Tichmarsh 62 and Wilkinson 10. Two maidens were sent down i/n succession, one bv Alcott and the second by Smith. The howlers were keening perfect length, rjnd the hntsmen ouiet. With the score at 163, C!. Ducrp replaced *mith. who bowled overs for 27 runs. Tichmarsh drove him to the boundary, pulled his fifth in front of th« pavilion, and repenting tlfe stroke scored 12 nnis off the over. With his score at 81, TichmaTsh survived rm anneal for a catch behind th<» wicket oif Alcott.

Scores #— 9 ENGLAND.—First Innings. A. C. MacLaren, st Rowntree, b Anthony . . 59 T. C. Lowry, c Rowntree, b Alcott 29 0. H. Tichmarsh, not out .. ..87 A. C. Wilkinson, not out . . . . 19 Extras . . B . . . . . o Two wickets for . a », ~ 193