AUSTRALIANS IN FORM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10985, 22 August 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIANS IN FORM

SOME BRIGHT BATTING MATCH COMMENCED AGAINST GLOUCESTERSHIRE. TWO CENTURIES. By Telegraph—Press Aasn. —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. Tho Australian cricketers commenced a match against Gloucestershire. The Gloucestershire team is:—Robinson, Rowlands, Barnett, Kegwfin, Dipper. Scubrook, Parker. Mills, Bt*,sant, Smith and Hammond. Oldfield, McDonald, Taylor and Andrews are not playing for Australia. There was glorious weather, and the wicket was good and easy. Armstrong won the toss. At the outset the scoring was easv and versatile. Bardsley made low skimming strokes through the slips. Collins went out from an easy chance at mid-on. Macartney immediately became aggressive, but made a feeble stroke off Mills soon after he started, but Mills was unable to reach the ball. For some time the bowlers kept the batsmen quiet. Parker lacked variety. At tea the bowling was very tired, and runs were made rapidly. Macartney’s innings was a spectacular effort. Bardsley was often on the defensive: Gregory was caught off a noball before ho scored. The batting was now quieter, though Gregory lifted Mills out of the ground, and afterwards made a couple of mis-hits. Parker and Mills bowled unchanged from tea. till stumps were drawn, and kept the batsmen comparatively quiet. The fielding waft never slack* or loose and no palpable chances were missed. DETAILED SCORES

LEADING AVERAGES (Received August 21, 5.5 p.m A LONDON, August 20. Mead has made 276. runs and hts average is 68.17; Macartney, 2090, 63.33; Bardsley, 1358, 59.93: Hardin ge 2078, 53.28; Sandham and Ducat 51; Bryan and Russell 50: Armstrong 44; May no 39; Collins and Gregory 36. Bowling—Rhodes took 114 wickets, with an average of 13.10; Armstrong. 81, 13.69; Gregory 105, 15.89; White 138. 16.10; McDonald 117, 16.12; Malley 108, 20.75. « FAULTS OF A FEW " UNPOPULARITY OF AUSTRALIANS ARMSTRONG’S TACTICS. (Received August 21, 11.5-p.m.) LONDON, August 20. The “Observer’s” cricket correspondent states that the Australian tour is in some ways agreeably memorable and in others disagreeably remarkable. “It ia a pity the majority of the team should suffer the reproach of unpopularity through tho faults of a few. Australia never sent more delightful fellows than Macartney, Gregory, Pellew, Collins, Oldfield and Taylor, with, whom max be coupled Bardsley, McDonald, Hendry, Ryder and Mailer. But everyone hopes the Australian Board of Control will make a happier all-round choice next time.” The correspondent calls attention to Armstrong’s suspicious inspection of the wicket in the fifth test before England declared- _ “Twioe_ he walked np from his place in the slips to paint • out spike-marks batsmen bad unavoidably made in running and turning. • Apparently he does not know that such a thing as intentionally cutting up the surface of a wicket in the good-length zone is among the things not done in English cricket.” OLDFIELD’S INTENTIONS DESIROUS OF REMAINING IN ENGLAND. (Received August 21, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. It is announced that Oldfield (the Australian wicket-keeper) _ remains in England. He is negotiating to play for Lancashire as an amateur, provided a suitable appointment is found. FUTURE TESTS SHOULD THEY BE PLAYED OUT? (Received August 21. 5.6 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. Mr Sydney Smith (manager of the Australian team), in an interview said that the Board of Cricket Control had for years urged the playing out of tho tests without avail. “We in Australia consider that as these visits are mainly with tlie object- of deciding which is the better cricketing country it is only right that finality should bo reached.” He was hopeful that when the next team comes the matches will be played out. COUNTY GAMES EXCITING WIND-UP TO CHAMPIONSHIP. (Received August 21. 5.5 p.m. ) LONDON, August 20.

Tho county cricket championship promises an exciting wind-up, with_ a neck-and-neck struggle between Middlesex, tlie present champions, Surrey and Yorkshire. To-day Somerset beat Middlesex on the first innings, giving Surrey' a lend with a percentage o' 76, against Middlesex's 75 and York shire’s 71.8.

Detailed scores follow: — Collins, c Barnett, t> Bcssant ... ... 15 Baxdslev. Ibw, b Itessant ... 127 Mocartnev, b Parker ... 121 Pollew,' c Mills, b Parker 1 Grestorv. b Mills ... 7S Armstrong, Ibw, b .Pajker Mavne, b Parker 7 Ryder, not ont Hendry, b Mills ... 34 O Carter, not ont ... 16 Total for eight -wicketa