THE CRICKET TESTS GILLIGAN IS CONFIDENT ENGLISH COMMENT "REMARKABLE”

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12024, 30 December 1924, Page 6

THE CRICKET TESTS

GILLIGAN IS CONFIDENT

ENGLISH COMMENT

"REMARKABLE”

AUSTRALIA’S “NOT SO GREAT,” SAYS COLLINS. WEAKNESS IN FIELDING. By Telegraph .—Press Awn.— Copyright. SYDNEY, December 29. A. E. R. G’lligan, the English captain, in stating that he is confident regarding the remaining tests, said be had no doubt that the Englishmen had a greater chare of bad luck throughout the match , and added that the English batting did- not come np to expectations. He was, however, unable to account for their failure. He waa well satisfied with the bowling, and more than satisfied with, the fielding. H. L. Collins said that the Australian .team’s superiority was “not so great,” and it looked aa if there must be a tightening up, especially in the fielding, if Australia was to retain the Ashes. —

BATTING NOT CONSISTENT. BOWLING UP TO STANDARD. Published in "The Times.” LONDON. December 28. Commenting on the .test match. “The Times” cricket expert says: “The result teas never in real doubt, since the ! Australians always held a commanding lead.” The writer admits that in the circumstances England accomplished a great feat in making 411, but there is no disguising the severity of the defeat. “The cause is plain for everyone to aee,” he continues. “Our hatting, though in individual cases superb, was dreadfully uneven, whereas that cf the Australians was consistency itself.” ERRORS IN SELECTION.

Atuiralian and N.Z. C&bl« Acsociatioii liOKDON, Dwembpr ttS. Taking it for granted that Australia -would win the first test, the newspapers are discussing remedies. The “Daily Express 0 editorially remarks: “Tho leaeon is that we cannot win by hatting alone. Gilligan will hardly venture again to take the field minus Douglas. Kilne r, or lisa doubt held before the team sailed as to the adequacy of the team's bowling is unshaken after this thrilling, if disappointing, contest. 0 The <l ßally Herald” emphasises need for including Douglas and Eilner, who are &160 good batsmen.

ENGLAND'S BECONTIINNING3. FREEMAN AND WOOLLEY. . Br Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. SYDNEY, December 20. The “Sydney Morning Herald,” oom- - meriting on tiie test match, says: “The excellence of Freeman’s form was as ' unexpected aa it yras gratifying, especially to his comrades. He gave an ex hibition of, plucky endeavour, during which he displayed a very correct defence, even against the Intricacies of Mailer's bowling. He deserved ; every run of hie 60 not out, with which he retired at the close of the inning?—one of the highest scores, of his career. “Woolley’s inningß was a model one, almost devoid of defensive, play, sine* the batsman, not the bowler, was the attacking party. This feat of Woolley’s represented the sixth individual ’ century scare of the match, and ,the second occasion on which the brilliant lefthander has reached three figures in test : cricket. That little fact is worth no ~ tice. because left-handed centuries are rarities among English C Mead being the only otyier left-hander to make a century for England in a teat against Australia. “England’s wonderful .achievement n( . storing 411 in the last innings estab- ‘ fished a new record in .teat cricket, the previous highest score being 870 runs. To get so many runs in the fourth innings of a test match running jdto the ninth dav from the commencement of play, and on a wicket on which 1200 ' runs had already been made,- was a reallv remarkable performance, and provided stimulating compensation for the beaten side.”