THE ENGLISH TEAM'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 62

THE ENGLISH TEAM'S TOUR.

SECOND TEST MATCH. AUSTRALIA OUT FOR 184. BETTER STAND BY ENGLAND. HEARNE MAKES A CENTURY. • MELBOURNE, December 31. The second test match between England and Australia was commenced yesterday. The weather was perfect, and the wicket was in good condition. There were 26,391 people present, and the takings at the gate amounted to £llß3. Macartney stood out of the Australian team, and Kiimear, Iremonger, Strudwick, Vine, and Warner did not play for England. There was amazement on the ground and in the city owing to Australia’s disastrous commencement. The wicket was perfect, but up to the luncheon adjournment the ball had complete mastery over the bat. Hill won the toss, and decided to bat. Bardsley and Kelleway opened to Foster and Barnes. Foster bowled a maiden over. . Barnes’s first Ffe.ll to Bardsley hit, against the heel of his right boot, going thence to his wicket. Hill came next, but he shaped uncomfortably to Barnes, who beat him thrice in one over. Kelleway got in front of one from Barnes, and immediately there was an appeal, but before the umpire’s decision was given Kelleway left the wickets, satisfied that he was out.

Trumper joined Hill, who hit over one from Barnes, and was bowled. Armstrong followed, but after scoring 4 was caught at the wickets off Barries. Ransford succeeded. Trumper was playing a slow, defensive, watchful game, but Barnes had him in difficulties. At the adjournment the score -was 32 for four wickets —Trumper 13 and Ransford 8. At this stage Barnes’s figures were; 9 overs, 6 maidens, 4 wickets, 3 runs. When Armstrong was dismissed his average was four for one. On the resumption of play the attendance materially increased. The weather cleared, but the heat was oppressive. Trumper was bowled by Foster’s second ball. Foster, whose deliveries were swerving considerably, bowled well, while Barnes was swinging and turning them well from leg and keeping a good length. Trumper batted for 44 minutes.

Minnett was cheered on appearing, but his stay was short-lived. He ■was caught at cover.

Hordern was also cheered, the spectators remembering his achievement at Sydney with the ball. Ransford was batting cautiously, and runs came slowly, 50 being made in 69 minutes. The crowd cheered a refreshing leg hit for 4 by Ransford off Foster. When he was 6 Hordern had a narrow escape. He cocked a ball from Barnes to point, Hearne failing to reach it. At 62 Hitch relieved Foster, who had taken one wicket for 42. The field was set deep, and the batsmen stole runs from strokes a few yards from the crease. Smith was cheered for brilliantly taking Ransford behind the wickets. At 72 Douglas relieved Barnes, whose figures were: 15 overs, 8 maidens, 19 runs, 5 wickets. Ransford played attractive and effective but cautious cricket. He got an ovation. He was at the wickets for 94 minutes, and hit two 4’s. Most of his runs came from cuts and leg hits.

Cotter was applauded for sending Hitch to the boundary twice in one over. He then attempted to get an impossible run, and his wicket was thrown down by Woolley, who, at mid-on, took Hearne’s return from the boundary. Carter opened by prettily back-cutting Hitch. The century appeared after 105 minutes’ play. At 109 Hearne relieved Douglas, and Carter cut and glanced him for 7 in the first over. At 117 Douglas relieved Hitch t who had taken one wicket for 49, and Barnes relieved Hearne, The crowd became impatient at Barnes’s delay in placing his field, and jeered him, Barnes threw the ball down and would not bowl until the jeering ceased. A section cheered Barnes, but the hooting

■was renewed as he bowled. Such a demonstration against a successful bowler is rare in Australia. There were ironical yells when Carter stole a run and turned Barnes to leg for 3. In the next over the people in the grand stand warmly applauded Barnes as a counter to the unsportsmanlike heckling of a section in the outer reserve, some of the latter shouting, c ‘ Take your time, Barnes.” Carter quickly reached Hordern's score of 20. At the tea adjournment eight wickets were dow T n for 129. On the resumption of play Barnes and Douglas bowled, and the scoring was slow. Carter was well caught at the wickets. Whitty scored 3, and the total was 149 when his bails were removed. Believing that he had been bowled Whitty and others were leaving the field, but the wicketkeeper told the umpire that the ball had rebounded to the wicket from his pad, and the innings was continued. One hundred and fifty runs were made in three hours 18 minutes. At 168 Foster relieved Barnes, who at slip missed Hordern when he was 40 off Foster’s sixth ball. Hordern received an ovation for hitting one from Douglas to the leg boundary and securing top score of 44. At 184 Woolley, who had relieved Douglas, dismissed Whitty with his first ball. Hordern played a determined game throughout his stay of one hour 41 minutes, and hit five 4’s. The innings lasted three hours 42 minutes. England fielded well.

The wickets fell as follows : —One for none,-two for 5, three for 8, four for 11, five for 55, six for 38, seven for 80, eight for 97, nine for 140.

Hobbs and Rhodes opened England’s first innings. Cotter and Whitty bowling. Hobbs was easily caught off the first ball of Cotter’s second over, Carter- standing back. One for 10.

January 1. It rained slightly overnight, and this morning the weather was threatening, but it cleared by noon. Warner inspected the wicket, which was slow and easy. The crowd cheered him. Warner went to the dressing room and congratulated Barnes cn Saturday’s performance. There were 15,000 people present at the beginning of play. Whitty and Cotter bowled. Rhodes gave a difficult chance - off Cotter’s fifth ball to Ransford in the slips. The scoring was steady. Rhodes back cut and Hearns played on strokes. Fifty runs were made in 45 minutes. Hordern relieved Cotter, and placed the field well on both sides. Kelleway relieved Whitty, and Rhodes narrowly escaped playing on his third ball. Hearne shaped more confidently than Rhodes at Hordern’s googlies, but Rhodes was scoring well off Kelleway. Hordern bowled seven overs for 19 runs when ho. was supplanted by Armstrong, who had all except three of the fieldsmen on the off side. This change made the scoring slower. Minnett relieved Kelleway. One hundred was reached in 99 minutes. Rhodes drove Minnett to the boundary, favouring his off theory bowling. After three overs Minnett was relieved by Cotter. Armstrong bowled seven overs for two runs. At luncheon the score w'ae one wicket for 117 Rhodes 54 and Hearne 47. On resuming play Hordern and Cotter bowled. Hearne reached 50 in 113 minutes. Cotter was bowling faster than he did in the morning. Rhodes was the first to go. being caught in the slips. He batted stolidly, but he was fortunate with his risky late cuts. He batted for 134 minutes, and hit six fours. Gunn was troubled by Hordern, and Cotter stuck up Hearne with five balls jn one over. Hearne brought up 1.50 in 149 minutes. At 154 Whitty relieved Colter. Gunn took half an hour in reaching double figures. Armstrong was bowling well. He sent down 11 overs, five of which were maidens, and took ono wicket for 12. Kelleway relieved Whitty, who had bowled 14 overs for 36 runs. Hearne carried England’s score ahead of that of Australia by pulling Hordern for two, amid cheers. Minnett then relieved Kelleway. Hearne reached 100 in 3 hours II minutes. The work of compiling 200 occupied 205 minutes. At the tea adjournment the score was three for 211— Hearne 110 and Mead 11. When play was resumed Cotter and Whitty bowled. Mead was well caught in the slips off Whitty’s fourth ball. He batted for 49 minutes, and was excessively cautious. Foster began by nicely back-cutting Cotter for a single and driving one for two. Hearne was caught by Carter at short stop. hie had a brilliant variety of strokes, and was masterly throughout a chanceless innings. He received an ovation. He batted 3 hours 45 minutes, and hit 11 fours.

Douglas scored a single, and then Foster was caught at cover. Cotter’s average was now 4 for 61. Woolley cleverly pulled one from Cotter to the boundary. Whitty was cheered for his sound fielding at mid-on. The batting was bright, but the scoring was slow. At 242 Kelleway relieved Cotter, whose average was four for 70. and Hordern replaced Whitty. Two hundred and fifty runs were scored in 4 hours 34 minutes. Woolley, confidently jumping in to meet Hordern, hoisted him near the on boundary, and Ransford made a good catch. Woolley batted for 54 minutes. Smith was in nearly 10 minutes before scoring. The crowd became impatient at Douglas’s caution, and roared when Hordern bowled him with a beauty. He batted 55 minutes.

Barnes had a great reception, but a short stay. Hordern’s figures changed from 0 for 61 to 3 for 65, and the bowler then skittled Smith. The innings lasted 5 hours 5 minutes. The attendance was

31,444, and the takings £1621. The weather was perfect. The wicket is lasting well. The wickets in England’s innings fell as follow : —One for 10, two for 137, three for 174, four for 213, five for 224, six for 227, seven for 258, eight for 260, nine for 262. The following are the scores : AUSTRALIA. —First Innings. Bardsley, b Barnes 0 Kelle-way, Ibw, b Barnes 2 Hill, b Barnes 4 Armstrong, c Smith, b Barnes 4 Trumper, b Foster ... 13 Hansford, c Smith, b Hitch 43 Mannett, c Hobbs, b Barnes 2 Hordern, not out 49 Cotter, run out - 14 Carter, c Smith, b Douglas 29 Whitty, b Woolley ... 14 Extras 10 Total 184 Bowling analysis. —Foster, one wicket for 52 runs; Hitch, one for 37; Douglas, one for 33; Woolley, one for 0; Hearne, none for eight; Barnes, 23 overs, 9 maidens, 5 wickets, 44 runs. ENGLAND. —First Innings. Hearne, c Carter, b Cotter 114 Rhodes, c Trumper, b Cotter 61 Gunn, Ibw, b Armstrong 10 Mead, c Armstrong, b Whitty 11 Foster, c Hill, b Cotter 9 Douglas, b Hordern 9 Woolley, c Ransford, b Hordern ... 23 Smith, b Hordern 5 Barnes, Ibw, b Hordern 1 Hitch, not out 0 Extras 19 262 Bowling analysis.—Cotter, four wickets for 72 runs; Hordern, four for 56; Whitty, one for 47; Armstrong, one for 20; Minnett, none for 16; Kelleway, none for 27. THE NEXT AUSTRALIAN TEAM FOR HOME. INVITATION TO NEW ZEALAND. MELBOURNE, December 30. The Board of Cricket Control has decided to appoint a secretary for the next Australian circket team who will visit England in 1912, and his salary has been fixed at £4OO. The players will have the right to appoint their own manager. The secretary will watch over the board’s interests, and make them hie prime study. It has been decided that it is impossible that the Australian team can visit New Zealand on their return from England, but the New Zealand Cricket Council will be invited to send" a team over to Australia, and play in the centres next summer. i