CAUSE OF ENGLAND’S DEFEAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19375, 10 January 1925, Page 10

CAUSE OF ENGLAND’S DEFEAT.

BATTING TOO CAUTIOUS. SYDNEY, January 9. The Herald’s critic attributes; England’s defeat to an unwarranted adoption of ultracautious batting methods against a weary and worried attack, and also to the changing and chopping about of the batting order In the closing stages of the match. Ho states: "A couple of good punches into the open outllold by 'Woolley on Wednesday would have set the barometer fair for England’s victory. It was not even necessary for the batsmen to do that; they had only to play their ordinary game, and everything points to the assumption that England must have won.” Regarding the changes in the batting order, the critic declares: “Chapman and Tate were wasted when the opportunity offered to make the best use of them,” and odds that the number of leg-before decisions against the batsmen, especially in the later stages of the match, and all by the same umpire, was quite a noteworthy fact; and that at least two of these admitted of doubt as to their accuracy, not as a matter of opinion, but as a question of fact, was a regrettable feature in two cases—that of Hailey in the first innings and of Woolley in the second innings. There seems to be a general agreement among those who should know for a certainty that the ball did strike the bat first, but the umpire when asked oppressed a different view. SUTCLIFFE’S FEAT APPRECIATED, FUND FOB PRESENTATION. MELBOURNE, January 9. (Received Jan. 9. at 11.45 p.m.) In recognition of the splendid porform"anco of SlutclifFo in Iho second test match a shilling fund has been opened. Cricketers had the public are subscribing freely. HOBBS THE GREAT. HIS RECORD IN TESTS, 1. Has made more centuries in Tests than any other player. 2. Has aggregated more runs than any other player who has played not less than 20 consecutive innings without making a “duck.” 3. Heads the averages of such performances. 4. Is the only player who has scored 1000 runs by consecutive double-figure Innings. 0. Heads the averages of such performances. 0. Holds the record for the best percentage of double-figure Innings of total innings played of players of 30 Innings and upwards. 7. Has made more individual scores of B 0 and over than any other professional player. 8. Shares with W. Rhodes the record firstwicket or any other wicket partnership. 9. The only player who has made three centuries in successive matches. 10. The only English player who has made throe centuries in a season. 11. The only professional player who has in more than one season shared in throo or more century partnerships in a season. 12. Reached his first 1000 runs (In England and Australia) in the fewest innings, 13. Heads the averages for such performances. 14. Reached his first thousand runs (In Australia) in the fewest innings. 15. Heads the averages for same. 10. Has aggregated more runs than any other English piaycr. 17. Has aggregated mors runs In Australia than any other English player.