THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19844, 17 July 1926, Page 11

THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM

MATCH AGAINST LANCASHIRE. COUNTY DISMISSED FOR 234 MAILEY TAKES NINE WICKETS. (Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, July 15. When the match against Lancashire was resumed the attendance was 5000, There was a heavy thunderstorm during the morning, and the wicket was soft. Ponsford took the bulk of the bowling, and quickly piled up the score with a series of on-drives, including some wellplaced boundaries. Richardson was uneasy against Macdonald's fast deliveries, and mistimed repeatedly, and eventually went out to a ridiculous stroke, putting his bat up to a ball which rose above his head, and deflecting it into the hands of Watson at second slip.—4l3 for four wickets. In Macdonald’s next over Ponsford miatimed b good length hall, and was well taken at the wicket. Gregory fell in a similar way three balls later _ , Ryder immediately hit out and lifted Tyldesloy twice to the boundary on the on-sido; otherwise the cricket was quiet. During the luncheon adjournment Bardslcy declared in the hope of finishing the match to enable an early start for Scotland. Makepeace and Hallows made a nervous start for Lancashire, and were unable to get the measure of Gregory, who had a fine pace, but was erratic. Everett made his first appearance with the ball after a long rest, and was treated with great respect. Ho appeared to obtain greater pace than in his previous games, and was also more consistently on tho _ wicket. Makepeace when 24 was badly missed by Gregory at fine slip, off Mailey. Everett and Mailov kept the scoring down, and n long eye 11 of featureless play was only broken by Hallows driving Mailey for two, four, and one off seccessive balls. After a couple more fours Hallows hit out at Mailey, and was well held on the boundary by Everett at 114. Makepeace then became aggressive and played more freely, and drove Grimmett excellently buteventualy Mailey found him in two minds, Gregory bringing oil a smart catch at fine slip low down. _ He batted 160 minutes and hit five fours. The total was then 148 for three wickets but the remainder of the batsmen completely collapsed before Aiailey's bowling. Eckersley was the only enterprising batsman till Sibblea and Duckworth made something of a stand, the latter placing the ball well through the close-set field mainly at the expense of Richardson, till Duckworth gave an easy catch to Andrews. Mailey sent down a magnificent variety, there being no two balls alike, and he kept tho batsmen constantly guessing. Scores:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Bardsloy, c and b Iddon 155 Woodfull, c Tyldesloy, b Macdonald 65 Andrews, c Paynter, b Macdonald ... 93 Ponsford, o Duckworth, b Macdonald 50 Richardson, c Watson, b Macdonald 34 Ryder, not out 36 Gregory, c Duckworth, b Macdonald 1 Ellis, not out 13 Extras 21 Total for six wickets 468 Bowling Analysis:—Macdonald, five for 135; biohlcs, none for 63 Tyldcsley, none for lui,; Watson, none for 108; Iddon, one for 41. LANCASHIRE. First Innings. Makepeace, c Gregory, b Mailey ... 70 Hallows, c Everett, b Mailey 59 watson, c Ellis, b Mailey 0 Iddon, b Mailey 7 Eckersley, st Ellis, b Mailey 10 Paynter, < Andrews, b Richardson ... 1 Green, c and b Mailey 2 Sibblcs, not out 19 Macdonald, c Ryder, b Mailey 9 Duckworth, c Andrews, b Mailey ... 20 Tyldesley, st Ellis, b Mailey 19 Extras 28 Total 234 Bowling Analysis:—Gregory, none for '9; Grimmett, none for 40; Everett, none for 25; Mailey, nine for 86; Ryder, none for 19; Richardson, one for 23. —Reuter. DURATION OF THE TESTS. LONDON, July 15, (Received July 16, at 5.5 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle says: “When the Australians arrived at tho beginning of the season it did not occur to anyone that there might bo five drawn Test games, but this possibility is now the subject of general discussion. It is all very well to say that the Australians have come to play the game with the Englishmen, but the very skill of cricket consists of subordinating everything to winning. It is scarcely fair or feasible to dislocate the county championship by allotting more than half tho play to the Tests. Moreover the Tests are not the only games that are unfinished.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. The foregoing message is rather lacking in lucidity as the decision of the Beard of Control on the point is as follows ; “The matches shall be of three days’ duration, but if after the fourth match neither side has secured an advantage the fifth match shall bo nlayed to a finished.” Possibly the word “four” is intended instead of "five.” HELPING THE BOWLERS. OPINIONS OF LEADING PLAYERS. LONDON, July 15. (iveoeived July 16, at 5.5 p.m.) Lord Harris’s suwestion regarding higher or wider stumps has awakened tho liveliest discussion, and as the Marylehone Club cannot legislate, insisting on bumps upon the wicket or the construction of bunkers like golf, it is felt that it ought to put up a bigger target or diminish the width of the bat. Point is added to the suggestion by the players score at Lords to-day. Lord Harris points out that he made the suggestions at the instance of prominent cricketers who consider that the game would be materially benefited by those means. Many consider, he said, that something should be done. Primarily it w r as a question of wickets, which were prepared with the greatest care weeks ahead. It was difficult to suggest a suitable change. It might be said—Why play eleven men ? Wiry make the distance yards? “It is considered, however,” c tinned Lord Hams, “that the most fea slide suggestion is that the height of the wicket should be raised, but the largest figure mentioned is half an inch. It would be more difficult to widen the wickets, which would mean either four stumps or three much thicker, whuch would probably affect the bails. The fact remains anyhow that runs are being piled up alarmingly.” Geary and Root agree that the bowlers have fallen on hard times, Geary considers that the bowler is not given any chance in comparison with the batsman. Root considers that the rules were made solely for the batsmen. Any benefit of the doubt in log before wicket appeals was always given to the batsman. He entirely disapproved of covered wickets. On the contrary Hearne considers that the dressed wicket has come to stay, maintaining that it is up to tho howlers to use their brains and ingenuity to dismiss a batsman. Hobbs declined to express an opinion either way Carr said that his position prevented his saying anything. Hendrcn said he thought they should have six wickets 2ft high. Strudwick said that the size of the stumps should be increased. It would ho better if the wickets were left alone.— A. gn<3 N.Z. Cabin.

REJECTION OF MR SMITH. INTERVIEWED BY KELLEWAY. LONDON, July 15. (Received July 16, at 9 p.m.) There was a touch of irony in the fact that Kellaway as the Daily Express’s representative had to interview Mr Sydney Smith on the Gordon Club’s action. Mr Smith said he knew nothing beyond the cable message which was published in the press and he had no comment of any kinr to make. Kelleway says that personally ho has no knowledge of the matter. “I cannot say whether the rejection of Mr Smith has anything to do with my exclusion from the team. It may be that the club considers it has found someone whom it thinks will better represent it on the association.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. GENTLEMEN v. PLAYERS. LARGE SCORE BY LATTER. LONDON, July 15. The i'lavers’ first innings closed for 579 (E. Tyldesley 131, Kilner’72. and Holmes 42). Entboven took three wickets for 75, including the hat trick, and White three for 94- The Gentlemen have made 204 for four wickets (Wyatt 75. Chapman S 3 not out, Carr 45).—A. and N.Z. Cable.