THE FOURTH TEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10961, 25 July 1921, Page 5

THE FOURTH TEST

RAIN PREVENTS PLAY DISAPPOINTED CROWD AT OLD TR AFFORD. "RIDICULOUS RUMOURS.” Bv Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright Australian apd N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. The fcruth test match between England and Australia was postponed on account of rain. On arriving at Old Traffo-rd the teams found the covered stands well occupied m spite of the rain, wliieih had been coming down steadily throughout the night. The wicket was inspected and it was found that the top was sottish and would take a finger impression easily, but it was hard beSpooner, Foster and Tennyson inspected i:t at 10.45 o’clock, fallowed by Armstrong, Collins and Pelletw. There was light rain a-t eleven o'clock. It was decided to inspect the pitch in an It our’s time. After a further inspection it was decided, that play was impossible.

At 4.45 o'clock a ridiculous rumour was current that Tennyson was willing to play, but Armstrong was not. The latter, interviewed, stated that the rumour was Wholly unfounded. • In a-interview, Harry Foster stated that the English eleven had not been chosen, nor was the Australian team chosen. Rumours among 6000 spectators were probably excusable. When the captains and the umpires decided that play was impossible an official denial was given to the suggestion that the Australians did not desire to play.* The unanimous decision was that the wickets was jibsolufely unfit. x

There was a remarkable scene twenty minutes after the captains’ inspection. Spectators from all parts of the ground walked to the wickets. Some knelt on the wicket, testing the ground, whereupon many policemen walked out and persuaded them to leave. Others shouted for the umpires.

YORKSHIRE DEFEATED EXCITING FINISH AT SHEFFIELD. VISITORS' GREAT BOWLING. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 22. The Australians completed their match against Yorkshire to-day, winning by 175 runs. The Australians in their second innings scored 163, making a grand total or 414, leaving Yorkshire 288 to get to win. The home side did very well at ’the start, and had 81 on for two wickets, but then Gregory and Mailey became very deadly, and the side collapsed, being all out for 113. The weather was dull and threatening when p'a.v was resumed. Oldfield went to the wickets with Taylor,* the notout man, and played the remainder of Wilson's unfinished over of the previous evening. Without an alteration to the score, Waddington, with bis third ball, bowled Taylor. Eight for 136 McDonald was immediately aggressive, and hit up 24 in fourteen minutes, including four 4’s. He then stepped out to one from Wilson, and Allen removed hi® bails. Nine for 163. Mailey, the last man, was caught by Allen. IHe cocked up one in front cf the wicket, Rnd the wicket-keeper nearly knocked the batsman over m rushing for the ball. Holmes and Sutcliffe were the ouenmg batsmen for Yorkshire, and Gregory and McDonald had charge of the bowling. McDonald sent down three no-balls in one oyer. The batsmen had 'difficulty in getting the ball away, and for twenty minutes’ play 12 was on the score-sheet, including Jive extras. The remainder were snatched singles. At 18 Macartney relieved Gregory, and Armstrong went on in place of McDonald at 25. Holmes eiilivened matters, and square-cut Armstrong. The fielding was good, Collins, at mid-on, excelling himself. At 35 Sutcliffe was taken at short-slip by Gregory off Armstrong. One for 35. * It had taken 50 minutes to score 35, but nine minutes later 52 runs were on the board. Holmes got two 4 ! s in succession off Mailey, making 11 off the over, and a 3 off Armstrong. The fielding had slumped, and the errors drew rude remarks from rhe spectators Armstrong and Mailey continued to bowl. The Australian captain evidently was saving his fast bowlers. The batsmen were getting delightful drives to the off off Mailey; Armstrong widened tho field, thus limiting the scoring to singles. At 81 Holmes played one from Armstrong on to his wacket. Two for SI. Holmes had batted for eighty minutes, and his score of 43 included four 4’,s. Holmes, just before, had givcn a most difficult chance to Collins. Robinson scored four, and then got his leg in front to one from Mailey. Three for 92. Tho end was not long in coming. Kilner put the first ball he received into Armstrong’s hands. Fbur for 92. lt Was a wretched stroke, at a ball which drew a foot away from the wicket. Rhodes came in, but with one short of the century Oldroyd stepped out to Mailey, and Oldfield did The trick. Five for 99.

Burton was next. ’ Armstrong put Gregory on in place of Macartney, and the first ball he sent down to Rhodes the batsman gave a chance, which the wicketkeeper accepted. Six for 99. jSmnstrong missed Burton in Gregory’s third aver. The remaining four wickets added only 14 to the score, Gregory getting three of them cheaply, ' and ending with an average of four wickets for 10 runs. DETAILED SCORES Detailed scores follow : AUSTRALIA. First Innings 251 Second Innings. Bardsley, c Allen, b Robinson 7 Collins, c Rhodes, b Waddington ... 25 Macartney, o Alien, b Macauley ... 33 Andrews, b Rhodes 15 Taylor, b Waddington 25 Fellow, c Wilsdn, b Rhodes 7 Gregory, o and b Rhodes 7 Armstrong, Ibw, b Wilson 7 Oldfield, not out 3 McDonald, st Allen, b Wilson 24 Mailey, c Allen, b Wilson ..... 0 Extras , 10 Total 103 Bowling Analysis—Robinson took one wicket for 19 runs, Waddington two for 56, Wilson three for 35, Macauley one for 27, Rhodes thieo for 12, Kilner none for 4. YORKSHIRE. First Innings 126 Second Innings. Sutcliffe, c Gregory, b Armstrong 13 Holmes, b Armstrong 43 Oldroyd, st Oldfield, b Mailey 26 Robinson, lbw, b Mailey 4 Kilner, c Armstrong, b Mailey 0 Hill-odes, e Oldfield, b Gregory ... 6 Barton, not out '. 3 Allen, st Oldfield, b Mailey 4 Macauley, c Mailey, b Gregory ... 1 .Waddington. b Gregory 0

Wilson, c Mailey, b Gregory 2 Extras IX Total 113 Bowling Analysis—Gregory took four wickets for 10 runs, McDonald none for 11, Mailey five for 54, Armstrong two for 22, Macartney none for 5. counTy matches LANCASHIRE v. SURREY. (Received July 23. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. Lancashire made 454 for nine wickets and declared. Surrey scored 528 (Shepherd 212). Ernest Tyldesley took three wickets for 33. A “HAT TRICK.” (Received July 24-r 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. Playing for Essex against So'merset, Louden took six wickets for 54: runs. He performed the “hat trick.” LEADING VER4GES MEAD’S FINE BATTING RECORD. (Received July 24, 5.5 p.m > . LONDON, July. 23. Tho following nre tho loading averages : BATTING. Mead 70-12, Macartney 63.30, Bardsley 59.50, Bryan 59.31,* Bussell 34.50, Hallows 51.23, Dougins 49.70, Hardings 48.72, Chapman 47.72, Oldroyd 46.4?, Jupp 45.96, Armstrong 37.47, Collias 36.36, Gregory 35.47. BOWLING. Armstrong G 6 wickets, average 13.50; Rhodes 86, 13.40; Gregory JK), 13.77; MacDonald 94, 14.95; White 105, 15.36, Maeanlev 84, 15.53; Howell 50, i. 6,50; Woolley 87, 16.74; Barker 104, 17.17; Douglas 103, 17.80 62, IS.3S; Mailev 96, 20.02.