AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.
SOMERSETSHIRE MATCH. VISITORS OUT FOR 225. SOFT WICKET AND RAIN. FIRST MEN GO CHEAPLY. TAIL PROVES RELIABLE. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received 7.30 p.m.) ReAte'r. LONDON. Aug. 21. The Australian cricketers commenced a match against Somerset this morning at Taunton. The wicket was soft as there had been a night-long drizzle. The start was delayed. The attendance numbered 8000. '
Collins won th© toss and sent Bardsley and Taylor in to open to the bowling of Bridges and Glasgow. Rain soon fell and interrupted the game until after luncheon. Immediately play was resumed Glasgow completely beat Bardsley with a good length ball. The score -was then 22 for one wicket. Ponsford and Collins both went cheaply.. Taylor shaped well and his timing was good. He fell to a magnificent low catch by White at second slip. The board then read 38 for four wickets. : Hendry and Ryder were assertive and played attractively. Ryder had made eight ■when he was badly missed by Lyon at the wicket off Glasgow. When the total was ,74 Hendry, who had shown signs of staying, was unlucky in pulling one from White on to his wicket. .Good Last Wicket Stand. Under the influence of the sun and a breeze the wicket made a remarkable recovery. Although at no time was it a bowler's paradise it gave some assistance and enabled 'the fast medium bowler, Bridges, and the slow bowler, White, to turn'the ball effectively. Ryder gained all his runs in front of the Wicket. Gregory went out to hit one from White and gave a chance to the wicket-keeper before he had scored. Richardson and Gregory opened'out and drove in fine, style. Richardson was at" times uncertain. He succumbed to a catch at the wicket. He and Gregory had added 37 runs, the. total then being 124. Gregory left in the same over as the result of a good catch at the wicket very low down. When the board showed 127 for nine wickets Ellis and Everett were associated in. a fine last-wicket stand. After three narrow escapes from being
run out they settled down. Everett drove crisply and made some fine leg strokes. Ellis batted freely. He was a trifle fluky ho'we.ver. .• -.f . ' • End o* Australian Innings. The partnership was most attractive. When it had yielded 98 Everett jumped out' to hit a slow ball and was easily stumped. His score included 12 fours. Ellis had hit six fours. The innings closed for 225 runs. ' For' Somerset Macßryan and Young opened brightly. • Both played .Grimmett ancf f&egory with, ease. They had made 42 when stumps were drawn. Details of the scores are:— AUSTRALIA.—First innings. , Bardsley,, b Glasgow . . ~. ~ , 15 Taylor, c White, b Bridges . . ..' 15 Ponsford. b Bridges .. ./. . 1 Collins, lbw, b Glasgow .. . 1 Hendry, b W T hite. .. . . . - ♦ 12 Ryder, lbw, b White .... .» 34 Richardson, c Lyon, b Glasgow .. 19 Gregory, c Lyon, b : Glasgow. . . . 21 Ellis, not out .. . i . . 42 -Grimmett, b Glasgow . . . . • . 0 EvCrett, st Lyon, b White . . .. 59 ~ . Extras .. .. .. .. 6 Total .. ... ... .'>• ..225 Bowling ; Analysis.—Bridges took two wickets for 72 runs, Glasgow five for 78, Hunt none for 6, White three for 63. SOMERSET.—First Innings, Macßryan, not out .. .. ..21 /Young, not out ...... •.,» 21 Total for no wickets .. *. 42 TOUR UNDER REVIEW. GRIEVANCES OF THE TEAM. DISAGREEMENT WITH MANAGER. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m;) LONDON, Aug. 21. The close of the final test match is a fitting time to review the tour ,of the Australian cricketers. It is authoritatively stated that the majority of the team will be. well pleased when the tour ends. * ■
There is a unanimous feeling that the tour has involved too much travel and i also that the programme is too lengthy. The games yet to bo played are by no means inconsequential. On two or three .occasions the Australians, will meet teams virtually up to the standard of the English test team. 1.;., This is regarded as unfair at the end of-.a strenuous tour. There are no disagreements among the players, who are more or loss a happy family, but there are certain subjects of distinct disagreement between the players and the manager, Mr. Sydney Smith. For example, except when test matches are played and on a few other special occasions, the members. of the team have had to find their way to the grounds from their hotels the best way they could. The players say taxis should be provided as for the test matches aiij.d that the board should pay for them. Several go so far as to say that if it is a question of expense the manager should consider that aspect and dispense with his assistant. They say the lattor is unnecessary throughout the whole tour, even if he is necessary in the beginning in order to overtake the correspondence. Several members of the team have been very disappointing. Everett did not impress anyone at the outset owing to leg trouble. . He was out of action, in many matches. At one time suggestions were made that new players should be brought from Australia to make good the deficiencies in the team caused by the illhealth of the members. It was also suggested that :Murray (South Australia) who was in London, should be asked to help.. The recovery of Everett and Hendry obviated this and also gave a rest to other men. Taylor was very brilliant in the field, but failed with the bat. Gregory, was never deadly as a bowler. "When he had a suitable wicket he failed to make the ball fly* Even in. the "field he was not the
wonder he was in previous seasons and he failed to electrify the crowd. As a batsman, however, he often came off with a fine score at the right time.
Macartney is easily the most outstanding member of the team. He has been the subject of equal comment with England's idol, Hobbs. Woodfull has been most successful with the bat and in the field. Ponsford is a run-getter, but a weak field. Richardson has not been so successful as was anticipated.. Mailey is still vigorous and Grimmett has proved useful. Oldfield is still unequalled as wicket-keeper and Andrews is an admirable field, but inconsistent with the bat. Hosts Not Properly Treated. Ryder would have been more successful had he played his natural game instead of pottering about. Bardsley justified his selection. By saving Australia in the second test match he confounded every critic. Collins is far from being in good health. He has had a difficult task owing to the weakness in the bowling and to the number of players who have not been up to standard on the field. The team is by no means equal to many which have previously been sent to England, The reputation of the Australians has suffered considerably by the manner in Which their hosts have been treated. On numerous occasions more men have been absent than present at functions in England. There is every likelihood that less hospitality will be shown to subsequent teams. , , It is also felt that an invitation from the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, and members of Parliament should never have been declined. This is regarded as the highest honour and the refusal was the subject of considerable comment in certain quarters. . The team feels thfit the, Board of Control should place this question on a definite footing, because if invitations are accepted the functions should be attended. Players Miss Their Wives. Much is also heard about the wives of the cricketers not travelling with them. This prohibition has been felt keenly by one player whose wife intended to visit her relatives.
It is considered by officials from Australia that this restriction should be definitely withdrawn, especially in view of the fact that there is nothing to prevent a' player from going from place to place with his mother-in-law, his aunt, or any women friends from Australia who-may be visiting England. Two members of the board failed ■to obey their own decision. • One brought his wife and the other his wife and two daughters. , The members of the team are unanimous in the 1 , opinion that there are too many matches on the programme. The opinion of Australian officials now in England is that the programme should be curtailed and the players should be given a longer rest between the test matches. On the present tour it has been a case of packing bags and rushing to the cricket grounds. Financially, the tour has been a great success, in spite of the loss of days owing to rain. The receipts will probably be larger than in 1921. The profit will not be large, however, owing to increased expenditure, THE CEICKET ASHES. reality or symbolism? ARGUMENT IN ENGLAND. Sun . LONDON. Aug. 20. Jack Hobbs emphatically refuses to surrender his precious test match bat for cremation to form the ashes. Hendren suggests that the holders of the stumps used in the final game should return them for this purpose.
Two of the missing stumps have already appealed in a shop window-in the south of London. The holder says his idea is to sell them for charity.
Prominent.cricketers disagree as to the value of real ashes. Gilligan says he thinks an actual symbol would be a good idea. There would then be a trophy consisting of an urn containing real ashes which would pass from one country to the other. The tremendous interest m the . contests to-day makes the occasion suitable, he says. In the past the winning of the ashes has been merely mythical.
On the other hand C. B. Fry is wholeheartedly antagonistic to the ,idea. He says: Let us keep cricket what it is now, the only game which is gloriously free of cup's, trophies, and What-nots. Interest in the gams should be paramount, not pot-hunting. The introduction of parasitical symbolism- is absolutely 'wring.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 9
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1,644AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 9
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