SECOND TEST MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 62

SECOND TEST MATCH.

MELBOURNE, January 1. The second test match was commenced to-day. There -wa& an exceedingly dull day's batting on a, splendid wicket, the bafemen'all being strictly defensive/ and play painfully alow. The only relief wa*r when Cotter came in. He hit merrily for a quarter of an hour, and scored 16 off seven balls. The spectators were delighted with, his free batting. Braund act five men on. the, boundary for him in expectation of big bitting, but it was Crawford who skittled him. The Englishmen's ground fielding was loose at the start, but improved later. Hardstaff's energetic outfields and Humphries's marvellously fins keeping of the wickets were the features' of the day., The bowjing, too, -was splendid, Fielder and Crawford keeping an accurate length, while Braund -was tricky* The weather turned out warm in tho afternoon, and the -wicket was a" splendid one throughout. A. crowd aumbering^ 27,000 were present. Hayes, Young, and! Blythe stood down. The last-named is 6uSering from the effects of a severe cold, contracted during the extraordinary cl£-. matie" changes- encountered at Bendigo, - *nd narrowly escaping pleurisy. Jones, of ' course, v not playing,, as he is- recuperating at the- Blue Mountains,, and it is problematical -whether he will^play again? during the totir. A cheer went up when it- wa* asoer- - tamed that Noble had won the-toes, andf that Australia, naturally decided: on the first ose. of the wicket.

Tnuaper and Macartney opened ta'the bowling."of Fielder aoE Barnes. The bats^ raea began confidently, Trumper kadinst

to the hope of lively batting. Tne people " were expecting to see him display something of Tiis old -dashing form, but .he slacked soon, and for some little time Macartney kept getting thß bulk of the runs. Trnmper, however, batted attractively, and assumed the lead. He .had luck in being missed in the slips by Gunn ■When his contribution was A-. He just missed his half-century by 1. He batted 82 minutesj and in his, runs were five 4's. One for 84. ' ' j Macartney, -who was clean bo-wled for 37, obtained his runs quietly and carefully, hitting only one 4. Crawford at this stage had taken his "two -wickets for 19. Two for 93. The Australian -slapper next in, and the 100 went, up after an hour and 48 minutes' play. -Hill was out at 16, clean .bowled by JEielder, amid a great roar from the spectators. Fielder's wicket had cost hm 35 tubs. Three for 111. - , Armstrong -filled the vacancy, pm& at 140 .Fielder, "wiio had one wicket #>r 45, ipas given a rest, Barnes going on. Soon, after, Noble* lifted '-Crawford to mid-on, when Gunn again -dropped the ball. Noble was then 20. On© -hundred and fifty .was hoisted as the result of two Jbours and 51 minutes' 5 play.; At 'the "tea adjournment - the «core was 160 — Armstrong ■31 and Noble -55. ■ - - "Soon after .resuming Crawford howled, and Armstrong -was finely caught in the slips after an hour and four minutes' batting. Crawford's three wickets had cost him only 53 runs. Four for 168. * M'-Alister had just reached double figures' when ie was run out, Hobbs making a splendid 'return. IPive for 197. Ransford was the ■incomer/ aaui 200 were on the board after three and three-quarter hours' play. Noble, in attempting to hit J&hodei3, was caught in the -slips after being two hours and 45 minutes at t3ie wdekete. Sixior2l4.Cotter had a« short but merry -life hefore being beaten by Crawford, Seven for 240. "Carter speedily ran into double figures, and hatted i^ lively fashion to the drawing oi stumps. January 2. . For th© greater part of the cricket was slower from the spectators' point of view than, it was yesterday, .but , the last hour redeemed it completely owing to the exceptional brilliancyof Hutehings, who made a glorious -display, in which 18 4'.s and one 6 were included. He received ah. ovation on returning to" the pavilion. The fielding was .fair and the bowling was accurate. Armstrong bowled 22 overs for eight maidetts and -one" wicket' for 29. The attendance "was 18,DpO,'* including the ".The w-eather was warm, butvthe wicloe^wore well-.-Hobbs played' a fine innings, displaying ■ patience, defence, and watchfulness. He gave one chance to M'Artoey at squareleg off Armstrong when, the total was 122. Altogether he batted foT "three hours and 12 minutes,- and in ibis score were eight '4's. He shaped very much like Haywaid, on whom" he models "his play and of whom he is a pupil. Gunn, "the Nottingham professional,' was very 'dissatisfied with his leg before " decision, ■snd returned to^ tie pavilion in a petulant Altogether the visitors -are to be complimented for having .dismissed Australia co on. a plumb wicket and in having -established themselves so firmly at the -utioV>»+«. January 3. 'Hhe .wicket was excellent And the weafeher warm. The attendance reached -10,000. Hutchings did not Jasfc .long when play was resumed. . He started briskly, but bad only added<9 when be was bowled by Cotter. JEis innings lasted two hours forty-three minutes, And was xeally a marvellous exposition. * -it was the 3>redominant -feature of - TSngland^s batting, and showed how ,bowling <could be hit all over the field, but none of his colleagues followed his example.. He Mt 21 4's and | one ,6/ and showed . amazing power • 01 j *wrist and forearm an Ail his He j lias a peculiar -flick which, is unorthodox ! and -highly successful. - Old xricketers ; claim ;that nobody barring rfhe Indian j Prince Ranjitsiimji has gone from England to Australia with such extraordinary t skill in direction. He received a welldeserved ovation on returning, to the pavilion. . 1 Braund played a solid, artistic innings which lasted two* hours forty minutes, and included five boundary, hits.' Rhodes was out to a .-wretched stroke after a colourless '^innings. -*.'"""},. i Australia's .fielding -land bowling were j very aood, Armstrong'in particular keep- ; ing runs -down wifch his magnificent length, .'his full figures reading: Overs 342 maidens -15, wickets 2, runs 36. Cotter -dand Saundeis both bowled j exceedingly well. England's inningslasted seven hours and iiwo minutes. Australia started ihe second innings with Noble and Truroper. Fane, being' eatisfiea -with the performance ot 'Crawford in She' fn*t innings, pijfc ten on wrfch Fielder, 'but before long Tie .sought *el*ef in 'Barnes, Rhodes^ and Braund. The batsmen immediately entered upon » forcing game and scored rapidly. Rims came "from both ends with splendid regu- , larity, each batsman playing sound and artistio cricket, which delighted ihe crowd. They hit up their 96 xuns m 80 minutes, and when the stumps were drawn were -greeted with a burst of cheers. January 4-. The weather .was fine and bright, though warm, and 20,000 persons were present. The gross takings to date~*re over £3000. The wicket was in good order. Australia's prospects at the start looked very rosy with Trumper and Noble going excellently, each scoring in turn, and bo£h doing They kept neck and neck, -until Trumper was oufr»leg before to Crawford. He had fine restrained cricket that was of immense service to his side. It was sound and beautiful, and when -the deficit of 116 had been wiped out boiih he and Noble were" loudjy cheered. Trumper was at the wickets for one -"hour and 40 minutes, and hit seven 4's. Hill 1 , ,whp came next, opened in a, very «treaky ipanner, and before: he got going he, was

bowled by a beauty from Fielder, tb© iest ball he had bowled during the innings. Noble did not long survive. He lost his wicket in a peculiar manner. He .tried to hook a full toes, which fell on his arm. and then on the wicket. He had played fine cricket, and showed throughout what a master he is. Ho -was in for just over two hours, and in his score were six boundary hits. The crowd 'gave him a ■welldeserved ovation. Then a feeling akin fo dismay was felt by the spectators. With tho i 'fall of three' such brilliant wickets Aus- ,' tralia's ohances looked very gloomy. M'Alister, who was associated <with Armtrong, was soon run out. It was a foolish, yet heroic episode, for M'Alister sacrificed himself for Armstrong. The -latter called and , ■ started to run. M'Alister, seeing the hopeiessnsss of the run, ran also to save liis partnsr. With Macartney and Armstrong associated there was a magnificent exposi tion of "batting, which roused the enthusiasm of the spectators. Armstrong mastered the bowling and scored beautifully, with sound strokes and vigorous driving, while his partner played, .correct ciieket. Both were exceedingly attractive, watchful, and successful, Macartney. .showing a. coolness like a veteran. They played out to the tea adjournment. ■On Tesiuning Armstrong was bowled with Barnes's first ball. He had played superb cricket for two hours a.nd a-quart^. He • was never in doubt, he was vigorous, and . he showed perfect timing. He hit seven 4's. Littlo Macartney ~waß at the wickets for two hours 27 minutes, and got five 4's among his runs. Ransford was out to a bad stroke in the slips. Carter and Cotter played out time, Cotter infusing much life into his play. Tho fielding generally was excellent, and ' the keen bowling did aot look dangerous, but a good length was preserved. The wicket is wearing well. January 0. j The weather was hot. The temperature " was 96.5 in the shade, and 140.5 m the sun. The crowd numbered '9099, -which, with the previous day's, aggregated 84,386, -the takings "being £376, aggregating- £3390, which is £50 under the record. > The -wicket, notwithstanding the length 1 Df the match, was in excellent order. The Australians' innings did not last ( long. Carter should have- been out before scoring, but Hutehings missed him in the slips off Fielder. Cotter was first to go, I losing his wicket by a leg-before to CrawI ford. Hazlitt and Carter were associated 1 for a very brief period until Barnes bowled the colt. The end soon came. Carter was caught at mid-on easily by Fane off Barnes. He batted 83 minutes, showing ver^ attractive oricket. He was strong in cutting, and reached the boundary seven times.Australia's innings lasted six hours 35 minutes. England set 282 to -win. Fane and Hobbs, as usual, ( opened, with Cotter and Saunders attacking* The batsmen -displayed caution and keenness, and the scoring was very slow, neither batsmen being out and each with 10 to his credit -when the lunch interval was taken, the score then being nil for 26. '" Upon play being resumed the game was very -uninteresting. Changes were made m the bowling, Armstrong and Noble going on, separation was ' soon ' effected through Noble bowling Hobbs, who had been in 66 minutes for the patient and useful, if uneventful, innings, which included only two boundary strokes. . Gunn, the next man, had a repetition of his fate in "the first innings, having the misfortune to, get leg-before to Noble without ecoring. Hutehings was oheered on entering the field, but the expectations of lively cricket were not fulfilled both he and the captain playing correctly and quietly, and making the game exceedingly tame for the spectators. Fane was the first to go after 161 minutes' - batting. Hie half-century included only two tourers. His dismissal was brought about by the peculiarity of the .manner in which he- played a "ball '' from Armstrong on to 'his -pad, whence it rolled safely into the wicket, dislodging the bails. 1 With Braimd's appearance at the pickets Macartney relieved Noble. The game was still very "dull cricket, and the end came by Cotter at mid-off catching Hutehings, ,who had 39 to his credit, which had taken him 87 minutes -fro knock up. He -showed; great restraint. -Although "batting quietly i and not unattractively, he bit only three 4's. Hardstaff and Braund occupied 50 minutes in reaching double .figures,- while ! the ordinarily rapid Hardstaff made a dozen in an hour. -They played out" time. j Altogether it was a day of wearisome cricket. At times it was .painfully slow: it was - never , brisk. It was inoffensive and quite defensive. Tie bowling was excellent, _ Armstrong ' keeping the runs down and preserving an ' accurate length. Noble and Macartney were also excellent, the former at on© time having an average -of two for 1 ran. Noble's captaincy was excellent, and the fielding, notwithstanding the heat, was smart. Jlansford was very good in the -oufcfield, saving •many runs. The wicket is still wearing, and consider- ' ing the fluctuation of the game England yet has a. chance. Slaores: — ' . Attstbama. — First Innings. Tnamper, c Humphries, "b Crawibrd ..., / 49 Macartney, b Crawford! .. .37 Hill, b Fielder 16 Nolile, is Braund, b Rhodes . . . . 61 Armstrong, c Hutcbings, b CrswJord VJ „ .. . . 4fl. M'Alister, iun out >„ '.^ ■„., 10 Gotfcer, b Crawford .., j-.i >:-) 17 Hazlitt, b Crawford „ -h i"h 1 UansfoTd, run out -j jg, >*-, . 27 Saunders, b Fielder .3 Q ij , 0 Carter, not out .. > .'j ;'i 15 Extras .. . .'j .'i .1 3 Total , 26S Bowlhtg Analysis. Fielder* two wickets for 77 iunr. Barnes, nil for 30. Rhodeß, one for 37. - ' Braund. nil for 41. Crawford, five for 79. Second Innings 1 . Trumper, lbw, b Crawford . 63 Noble, b Crawford . , 64 HiU, b Fielder .. s . ,•',., 3 M'Alisier, xun out _ ' ; ;"i' 18 Armstrong, b Barnes . jj ■■ 77 Macartney, o Humphries, b Braund . « „ 54 l?a.ps£ord, c Hutehings, b Barnes 18 Cotter, lbw, b Crawford „ .. , 27 I - Carter, c Fane, b Barney .1 ! . 53

1 Hazliit, b .Bailies .. „ „ .. 3 Saumdars, mot out . „ . .. 0 Extras , . ..17 Total 397 Grand total, 663. Bowling Analysis. Fielder, one wicket for 74 runs. Crawford, three for 125. Barae3, five for 72. Braund, none for 63. Rhodes, none for 3S. The wickets fell in this order: One for 126, ivro for 131, three for 135, four for 362. £ye for 268, six for 303, seven for 312, eight for 361, nine for 392, ten for 397. England. — First Innings. Pane, b Armstrong , . is HobTw, b Cotter . .. .. o "", ' 83 G-unn, lbw, b Cotter „•*.!, ! 15 Hutahings, b Cotter . -.., „-, .. 126 Braund, b Cotter , :., , 49 Hardstaff, b Saunders . . -. 12 Khodea, b Saun-ders • • 32 •Crawford, c Kansfordj b Saunders 16 Humphries, b Cotter ... 6 Barnes, c Hill, "b Armstrong .. 14 Fielder., not out 6 Extras ...,., 10 Total 382 Bowling Analysts. Cotter, five wickets for 142 runs. Saunders, -three for 100. Noble, nil for 26. Armstrong; two for 36. Hazlitt, nil -for 34. Macartney, nil for. 34. .The wickets foil as follows: — Four for 126, five for 299," 'six "for "325, seven for 353, eight for 360, and nine for 369. « " Second Innings. Hobbs, b Noble .... .28 G-unn, lbw, b Noble .. 0 Fane, b Armstrong 50 Hutehings, c Cotter b Macartney 39 Braund, not out , 17 Ha-rdstaff, not out .* . .» .17 Sundries . . , t < .. 8 Four -wickets for .- .. 159 Th© wickets fell in this order:— One for 54, two for 54, three for 121, four for 131.