THE ENGLISH TEAM'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 62

THE ENGLISH TEAM'S TOUR.

THE SECOND TEST MATCH. VICTORY FOR ENGLAND. MARGIN OF EIGHT WICKETS. MELBOURNE, January 2. The weather is cold and unsettled, and the wicket easy. The Australians regarded England’s lead as insignificant last night, but to-day their opinion quickly changed. Showers were falling as the players emerged at noon, and they retired for five minutes. Bardsley and Kelleway began to the bowling of Foster and Barnes. Ten runs were scored off the first two overs. In. the first ’ innings Australia lost four wickets for 11. The bowlers changed ends to give each the benefit of the wind. The bowling -was good and the batsmen steady. Kelleway was dismissed by Foster in his fifth over. Hill and Bardsley were not shaping with their usual confidence, both appearing cramped and feeling for tho ball. Bardsley was run out, Hobbs, who was fielding at cover, throwing his wicket down. Armstrong, the new-comer, saw Hill mishit Barnes, being caught in the slips. He was batting for a quarter of an hour. It is unusual for him to remain so long at the wickets without scoring—a tribute to the excellence of the bowling. Trumper was bowled off his pads by Barnes, whose average at this stage was two for 16. Ransford and Armstrong were very watchful, and the play was slow, 50 runs being registered in 74 minutes. At the luncheon adjournment four wickets were down for 54, Armstrong being 11 and Ransford 3. After the morning’s shower the wicket kicked occasionally. During the luncheon interval the attendance improved considerably. On tire resumption of play Foster and Barnes again bowled. The scoring was slow, Ransford taking 46 minutes to make 10. Armstrong livened things up a little with some beautiful strokes on both sides of the field. The play now became forceful. At 78 Douglas relieved Barnes and Woolley relieved Foster. Armstrong drove Woolley for 4 twice in one over, the score reaching the century in 138 minutes. Armstrong again slammed Woolley twice for 4 in one over. At 109 Hitch relieved Woolley. Armstrong obtained 50 in 91 minutes. Another change took place in the bowling at 120, Foster relieving Hitch, and soon effecting a separation, as Ransford, in attempting to glance him, was caught at the wicket. He had played a quieter innings than usual, and was cautious and sound. His innings lasted altogether 102 minutes, and his score included three 4’s. Hordern, the next man, began by cut-

ting Foster for a single. Armstrong was batting superbly when, at 67, he slipped Foster dangerously past Gunn, a 4 resulting. At the tea adjournment five wickets were down for 148—Armstrong 72 and Hordern 1.

During the interval Ransford- stated that he did not play the ball with which he was dismissed, and that it touched his side. On resuming Barnes and Foster took up the bowling. Armstrong beautifully off-drove Barnes’s third ball to the boundary, but he cautiously played the remainder of the over. Armstrong roused enthusiasm by making a straight drive and an on drive off Barnes, each producing 4 runs. In attempting an off drive off Foster he was bowled. He received an ovation on retiring. He played magnificent, forceful, and stylish cricket, and hit 14 4’s in an innings which lasted 148 minutes. Foster’s figures were three for 45.

At this stage the” result of the Davis Cup match was posted, and evoked tremendous cheering. Minnett began cautiously. At 189 Douglas relieved Barnes, whose average was two for 55, and Rhodes replaced Foster, who had taken three for 58. Rhodes was bowling on the off theory. Minnett effected a nice on-drive for 4 off Douglas, and cut him for 2, bringing 200 up in 225 minutes. Barnes supplanted Douglas with the score at 217, and Foster relieved Rhodes. Steady scoring followed, but there was nothing brilliant for a long period. The fielding was keen. Hordern aroused enthusiasm by pulling Barnes and running 4. Minnett was dismissed with a ball which made a tremendous pace off the pitch. He batted for 50 minutes, and hit three 4’s. Cotter then partnered Hordern, who was caught easily at mid-on. He batted stolidly, and made some pretty glances. He gave a chance when he was 2. His innings lasted 85 minutes, and he hit four 4’s. _ _ . The field was deepened in expectation of Cotter hitting, but he played cautiously. Carter swung Foster to the leg boundary. The batsmen were cheered for tbeir smart running between the wickets. Cotter magnificently off-drove Barnes for a 6 amid cheers, and he attempted to repeat the performance with 'his next stroke, hut he missed the ball, amidst laughter. In the same over he got a ball away to leg for 4. England’s total was passed in 270 minutes, amidst cheering. The attendance was 20,093, and the takings £876. The weather is threatening, but the wicket is good. Warner’s health is improving, and he has decided to postpone his return to England and see the third test match. He will afterwards spend a holiday in Tasmania. Hordern is endeavouring to arrange to play in the third test match. January 3. The second test match was concluded to-day, England winning by eight wickets. The attendance to-day -was 18,535, and the takings £661. The total attendance since the match' was commenced was 96,263, and the takings amounted to £4545, which constitutes a record. England’s share is £1622, which is the largest amount paid to England for one match. The weather was all that could be desired, and the wicket was perfect. The Australians, who had made 269 runs for the loss of eight wickets at the close of yesterday’s play, resumed their second innings with Cotter and Carter, who were not out last evening. It was considered that the Australians had a fighting chance, and, in anticipation of seeing big hitting by Cotter, the public arrived early. Barnes bowled first, and the fieldsmen closed in for Carter but deepened for Cotter. The latter lunged at Foster’s first ball, but missed it, and he cracked the last to the fence. Cotter executed some neat cuts and drives, and thrice he drove Barnes for 4. He then attempted to lift one from Foster, but made a mishit high to cover, and was caught. He batted for 42 minutes, and gave an entertaining display. He hit five 4’s and one 6.

Whitty had only one stroke before Darter played a ball on. The innings lasted 296 minutes, and the tail batted bravely. The wickets fell as follows:—One for 28, two for 34, three for 34, four for 38, five for 135, six for 168, seven for 232, eight for 235, nine for 298. Rhodes and Hobbs started England’s second innings, Cotter and Whitty attacking. Hobbs gave a difficult chance to Carter off the last ball of Cotter’s first over. Both batsmen were confident and free in their action. Whitty troubled Rhodes, who escaped being run out owing to misfielding by Bardsley. Hordern relieved Cotter at 25. The score reached 50 in 43 minutes, which was faster than England’s usual rate of scoring. Hordern was unabie to find a length. At luncheon the score w r as 52 —Rhodes 27 and Hobbs 20. On the resumption of play Cotter and Whitty bowled. Rhodes felt for a rising ball, and w r as caught at the wickets. Gunn was almost Iwwled off the last ball of the same over. The scoring was slow, Hobbs taking an hour to reach 50. At 68 Armstrong relieved Cotter, who had bowled nine overs for 22 rune, and Kelleway replaced Whitty, who had sent down 13 overs for 23 runs. Gunn occupied 58 minutes in getting 10 runs. At 92 Hordern relieved Kelleway, who had relieved Armstrong. The century appeared in 118 minutes. Gunn with a pretty shot passed point for 4 off Min-

nett, who had relieved Kelleway. The batsmen next ran 4 for an overthrow off the same bowler, 10 runs being scored off Minnett’s first over. The scoring then livened up, both batsmen, playing Hordern confidently. Cotter then displaced Minnett. When 26 Gunn played Hordern uppishly near Armstrong in the slips. At the adjournment for tea the score was 139 for one wicket.

When play was resumed Hordern and Cotter took up the bowling. The batting became brisker, and was marked by smart running between the wickets. The task of compiling 150 runs occupied two hours 34 minutes. The fielding was moderate, but lacking in dash. Twenty-eight runs were added in 15 minutes, Hobbs beautifully placing and cutting an-3 Gunn offdriving. Whitty supplanted Cotter, who had secured one wicket for 45. Gunn was smartly caught at the wickets. He played an attractive innings lasting one hour 52 minutes, and his score included two 4’s. Hearne scored 2, and then Hobbs reached his century after three hours four minutes’ batting. He was forcing the runs by sound and stylish cricket. The end soon came, Hobbs playing the winning stroke for 2. He played magnificently all round the wicket in an innings lasting three hours 27 minutes, and his score included eight 4’s. He received an ovation as he returned to the pavilion. The wickets fell as follows; —One for 67, two for 169. The following are the scores: ENGLAND. First Innings 265 Second Innings. R-hodes, c Carter, b Cotter 28 Hobbs, not out 126 Gunn, c Carter, b Whitty 43 Hearne, not out 12 Extras 12 Total for two wickets 221 Bowling Analysis.—Cotter, one wicket for 45; Whitty, one for 37; Hordern, none for 66; Armstrong, none for 22; Kelleway, none for 15 ; Minnett, none for 13; Ransford, none for 11. AUSTRALIA. First Innings 184 Second Innings. Kelleway, c Gunn, b Foster 13 Bardsley, run out 16 Hill, c Gunn, b Barnes 0 Armstrong, b Foster 90 Trumper, b Barnes -2 Ransford, c. Smith, b Foster 32 Hordern, c Mead, b Foster 31 Minnett, b Foster 34 Cotter, c Hobbs, b Foster 41 Carter, b Barnes 16 Whitty, not out 0 Extras 24 Total 299 Bowling Analysis.—Foster, six wickets for 91 runs; Barnes, three for 96; Douglas, none for 38; Hearne, none for 5; Woolley, none for 21 ; Hitch, none for 21 ; Rhodes, none for 3. PRESS OPINIONS. LONDON, January 3. The Westminster Gazette says the result of the second test cricket match confirms the opinion that Warner took out to Australia a team nearly representative of England’s best. They have established confidence at Home, which is the best guarantee that they will not lack confidence in themselves. January 4. The Daily News states that the victory of the Englishmen will act as a tonic to them. The Chronicle says the most promising fact is that Hordern’s googlies have been conquered. The Morning Post says the keenness of the fielding was specially gratifying. In this respect England was taught by the enemy. The Sportsman commends the batsmen for playing Hordern’s googlies for singles in preference to punishing them. Sporting Life says that Barnes’s sensational bowling at the opening of the match was the dominating factor in the victory. SYDNEY, January 4. The Herald, commenting on the match, says: “An eight-wickets defeat is sufficient to thoroughly give supporters of Australian cricket occasion for hard thinking. Until now there has been no particular reason to believe that the visitors had more than a bare chance of extending our representative eleven. As it turns out the latter were defeated conclusively.” After referring to the failure of the leading batsmen, it says: “ A far more disconcerting portent is the disclosure of the bowling attack, which is dependent on one or two men. When they fail Australia is likely to fail.” The Telegraph says the match was won by the fine bowling performances of Barnes in the first and Foster in the second innings. Against them the Australians failed miserably. The weak men did their best to pull Australia out of the hole, but the failure of the cracks made all the difference in the world between a winning and a losing chance. Comparison of the fielding throughout the match was odious to the Australians. On the showing of both sides the better team won.

THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN. MELBOURNE, January 3. Warner has -decided to remain in Australia till the end of the tour.

ENGLISHMEN AT GEELONG. MELBOURNE, January 5. The English cricketers have commenced a match against a Geelong team comprising 15 players. England lost five wickets for 213 runs, Kinnear (43), Gunn (51), Vine (43), and Douglas (28, not out) being the chief scorers. . January 6. The Englishmen declared their first innings closed with 285 runs for eight wickets. Douglas made 43 and Mead 65. Geelong at the drawing of stumps had lost two wickets for 41 runs. January 7. Mr Curwen, the Governor-General’s aide-de-camp, played for the Englishmen at Geelong. The match was drawn. Geelong made 277 runs in their first innings, Diddicutt (129) and Baker (34) being the chief scorers. Hitch took three wickets for 71 runs, Gunn one for 22, Woolley one for 44, Vine four for 56, and Ourwen four for 23. In their second innings England lost four wicket« for 118 runs. Woolley made 23 and Curwen and Mead (not out) each compiled 33. MR WARNER’S HEALTH. SYDNEY, January 8. Mr P. F. Warner, in replying to the Lord Mayor’s congratulations on the English team’s victory in the second test match, said that although he was much better and his doctor was delighted with the progress he had made, he did not, think there was the least chance that he would play again during this tour. NEXT AUSTRALIAN TEAM FOR HOME. MELBOURNE, January 5. There is trouble between the Board of Control and a number of leading players over the board’s decision to send its representative with the Australian team to England. It is stated that some members threaten not to accompany the team unless they are allowed to select their own manager. The secretary states that he is determined to carry out the proposal at any cost. January 6. It is stated that the Australian cricketers intend to take legal action to test the validity of the Board of Control’s proposals to send a representative of the board to England. The team asserts that such contemplated action is an abrogation of the agreement with the board. MACARTNEY INJURED. ADELAIDE, January 8. Macartney received a nasty wound on the head, the pole falling while he was practising at the net. He was compelled to retire from Saturday’s match. AUSTRALIAN BARRACKERS. AUSTRALIAN BARRACKERS. LONDON, January 4. Writing to the Evening News, Hobbs, a member of the Marylebone team now in Australia, strongly protests against the barracking by small coteries, especially in the New South Wales match, as showing bad taste. It made the Englishmen feel great contempt for that portion of the Australian crowd, “ but genuine sportsmen ” (he adds) ‘‘have done much to make us comfortable. The great sympathy shown to Warner also makes us warmhearted towards the Australians, and is calculated to make us forget the annoyances alluded to.”

HILL’S OPINION. ADELAIDE, January 6. Clem Hill, in the course of an interview, says that Hobbs acted unwisely in sending Home his account of the Sydney crowd barracking in the first test match, because nothing could have been fairer than the treatment accorded to the isnglishmen on that occasion. At the second test the behaviour of the crowd at Melbourne was that of good-humoured people, and nowise hostile to the visitors. The Australian players were barracked quite as much as the Englishmen. On December 29 the Australian Board of Control for international cricket matches arranged the details of oho forthcoming tour of tbs Australian Eleven in England0. Hill was appointed captain, and V. Trumper vioo-captain; and C. Hill, F. A. /rcdaJc, and P. M'AJistor as selectors. It was decided that the appointment of a scorer should be left i,n the hands of the team, but the score-book must be returned bo the board at the termination of the tour. The team will consist of 15 men. The financial arrangements of the tour are that the board takes 5 per oont. of the first £6OOO received, and 12i per cent, of any takings over that amount, the remainder to bo divided in equal shares amongst the team. There is a provision that any plaver may have the option of taking instead of his share a lump sum of £4OO and all expenses, and in the event of this being done any excess in the dividend forr that player above £4OO will accrue to the board. Colonel Foxton’s motion to appoint a secretary, at a salary cf £4OO for tour, with all expenses, was carried, after a long discussion, by 8 votes to 4. The delegates opposed to the motion pointed out that the proposed action was illegal, in view of the constitution giving the players the right to appoint their own manager. The Chairman, however, ruled that the motion was m order. It was decided to insert advertisements for for the position of the board’s representative, such applications to lx* made before January 15. An agreement is to bo drawn up and signer! by the players. Tiro Finance Committee, consisting of the captain, vicc-captain, and tho representative of tho board, was appointed to control all the matters dealing with the finances of tho team in England. Tho Marylcbone Club is to be asked to adopt a system of selecting umpires for tho triangular test matches now in vogue in Australia.