THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19801, 28 May 1926, Page 9

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM

SOUTH OF ENGLAND MATCH. HOME SIDE DISMISSED FOR 211. GOOD SCORE BY CHAPMAN. (Proe* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) ' LONDON, May 26. The weather was sultry, but overcast for the game against the South of England which is being played at Bristol. The wicket was good. Bardsley, Ellis, Grimmett, Everett, and Hendry were omitted from the Australian team. The home team batted first, and scored 211. Australia had lost one wicket for 35 when stumps were drawn. The attendance was 10,000. Gregory put more pace into his bowling than he has done hitherto. Stevens was uneasy, but Duleepsinhji got quickly off the mark. He played confidently, and scored freely off Gregory and Macartney. He followed the ball closely, and ever) stroke was true. Hendren was slow U start, then he drove a couple of boundaries. The batsmen were comfortable facing Mailey. Duleepsinhji playing back obtained powerful straight drives, and displayed excellent wrist work. In endeavouring to tap a big leg break past slip he was splendidly caught by Gregory at his second attempt. Gregory maintained his pace. He was bumping dangerously, and Jardine was always unhappy at the crease. Hendren, by stepping out to Mailey, obtained a number of singles. With the appearance of Chapman the batting became slow for a time. Neither he nor Hendren was timing well. Chapman was the more vigorous bringing off a number of wristy cuts. Richardson gave many runs away, being slow in picking up, and the fielding generally was unusually slack, Collins being the outstanding exception. Ponsford and Taylor on the boundary, were good, and were frequently applauded for their accurate throwing-in. Richardson bowled a good length, and forced Hendren to play well back.

Chapman continued crisply, and the 100 appeared after 140 minutes’ play. Chapman roused the crowd by driving Richardson to the boundary, following up with a hit to leg off the same bowler. In the next over a four and a six were scored quickly off Ryder. Mailey soon took over the bowling. Chapman hit as he liked, and sent Mailey for four, one six, and four, in one over. His driving was characterised by great power, but in attempting to reach his century he became reckless, and twice hit out at Richardson. He missed the first, and Gregory took the second splendidly at fine slip. Chapman occupied the crease for 105 minutes, and hit two sixes and 11 fours. His partnership with Hendren yielded 127. Gregory was keeping a consistent length and soon had Fender in difficulties. In his second over, after tea, he beat Kendren, who had batted soundly for 195 minutes. His score included four fours. In the next over Fender fell a leg-before-victim to Macartney, who also secured Gibson’s wicket.

In the next over Meyer was taken by Collins at short leg, low down off Gregory. A couple of singles and a leg bye ended the innings which had lasted 145 minutes.

The last five wickets fell in 25 minutes. Gregory, alter tea, took two wickets for four runs. The bowling required watching. Collins and Woodfull opened the Australians’ innings, the latter making a four and a three through the slips off Meyer. Collins hit a boundary from a long hop from Gibson.

In the closing stages the sky was overcast. Collins apparently lost sight of the ball with which he was bowled, and an appeal against the light followed immediately and was upheld. Rain commenced as stumps were drawn. Scores:

SOUTH OF ENGLAND. First Innings. Sandham, b Gregory ... 8 Stevens, c Oldfield, b Macartney ... 5 Duleepsinhji, c Gregory, b Mailey ... 28 Hcndren, b Gregory ... 62 Jardine, st Oldfield, b Mailey 7 Chapman, c Gregory, b Richardson ... 89 Fender, Ibw. b Macartney 6 Meyer, c Collins, b Gregory 0 Gibson, b Macartney 0 Parker, not out 1 Strudwick, Ibw, b Macartney 1 Extras 4 Total 211 Bowling Analysis:—Gregory, three for 40; Macartney, four for 41; Richardson, one for 33; Mailey, two for 61; Ryder, none for 24; Collins none for 8. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, b Fender 9 Woodfull, not out 22 Extras 4 One wicket for 35 AUSTRALIAN BOWLING. CRITICISM BY EXPERTS. LONDON, May 26. (Received May 27, at 9 p.m.) The Australians ore pleased with having dismised a strong side at Bristol for such a score. Only once were the bowlers mastered when Chapman and Hendren were associated. The Australians’ success is likely to cause the English selectors anxiety. Chapman’s innings was delightful. li'is cutting and driving being excellent. He seems certain of a place in the Test team. Hendren was painfully slow. Jf all the batsmen were like him it would mean that the Tests would never finish. The tail-enders failed, five wickets falling after tea for 11 runs. Macartney was the mainstay of the bowling and was always troublesome. The Englishmen lost many runs owing to bad running. Collins was unlucky to be dismissed in the last over. He appealed against the light, but the umpire said, “One more over.” Everett’s indication seems to indicate that the Australians will not have two fast bowlers in the Test team. Colonel Philip Trevor in the Daily Telegraph says: “Chapman’s innings was the Dcst thus far played against the Australians. The quality of the Australian bowling depends entirely on one’s viewpoint. Duleepsinhji met it carefully and Chapman made it appear desperately easy but the others who stayed sufficiently long to give any impression made it appear difficult.” The Daily Mail’s cricket critic says: “The wicket was easy, yet for nearly three hours the Englishmen lingered at the crease with an air of apprehension painful to witness. Apparently like the batsmen of 1921 they saw ‘danger’ written behind every Ahstrab’-”i bowler in letters of fire. Yet when Chapman found the field placed to block his offside shots bo pulie.d and hooked. He saw no red light behind the Australians arm. Mr G. L. Jessop says: “Chapman completely collared the bowling, showing^the weakness of which the Australian critics forewarned ns at the time of the selection.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.