FIRST CRICKET TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 11

FIRST CRICKET TEST.

AUSTRALIANS BATTING. : A GOOD START MADE. 282 RUNS FOR 3 WICKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 10 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Doc 19. The weather was fine and bright for the first 'test match between Australia ant] England. The wicket was in good order and the attendance 35.000. Collins won the toss and elected to bat, i opening 'with himself and Bardsley. Tate was in splendid form and the batsmen took few liberties with him. Bowling with a slight wind, he maintained a good pace. Freeman also was puzzling and ; I kept an excellent length. It. was a slow j j one from him that Bardsley snicked into j I Woolley's hands at fine slip when 461 I runs were on the board. The scoring was slow, the first halfcentury taking 59 minutes. Collins I batted nicely, scoring mostly on the leg side with singles. The fieldsmen let little j past them and Chapman, Sandham and j freeman made some specially fine returns. Ponsiord's First Test Innings. Ponsford, who was .making his first appearance in test cricket, batted forcibly, but Tate- kept him thinking. He played Freeman and Hearne more freely, however, and made his 50 in 117 minutes, displaying nice judgment in placing. Collins also played cleanly and passed 50 in 150 minutes. He left balls to the off mostly ' alone, but got many off Tate away to square leg until Gilligan placed j Freeman there. The first century appeared in 151 minutes. Tat« was temporarily relieved by Gilligan after bowling 19 overs for 46 j runs. With the scoro at 105 Collins, who was then 42, gave a difficult chance i for a catch to Hendren, which was not. | accepted The Partnership Broken. Just before the tea adjournment the batting became more vigorous and play livened up. Both Collins and Ponsford showed skill in pulling the fast bowlers to square leg This stroke and drives to mid-on probably produced most runs. The second century appeared for 210 j ! minutes' play. Collins reached his century with a drive to the boundary off I ; Hobbs, after 215 minutes at the crease. Twenty minutes later Hendren caught i him in the slips. The Australian cap- j | tain hit nine fours and his partnership j I with Ponsford lasted 180 minutes. Col- j I lins had an enthusiastic reception on re- j j turning to the pavilion. Ponsford made | one or two fluky strokes, but the ball j I landed in open spaces. His timing was > j excellent. He played carefully and took no risks. Freeman's first ball after tea j j narrowly missed his wicket. The Eng- j j lishmen's picking up was exceptionally j ' gcod and frequently evoked hearty ap- j i plause. Strudwick was in good form | behind the wickets. A Second Century Scored. Ponsford reached his 100 with a singb ; after 206 minutes' batting. He was out j 22, minutes later. His score included • eight fours. A. Richardson batted attractively. Details of the scores are: — AUSTRALIA.— Tunings. Collins, c Hendren, b Tate ' ... 114 Bardsley, c Woolley, b Freeman ... 21 Ponsford. b Gilligan ... ... Ill) A. Richardson, not out ... ... 21 '• I Taylor, not out ... ... ... J ] | ' Extras 35 I J Total for three* wickets ... ... 282 i I Total for three wickets 282