THE SECOND TEST MATCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 21

THE SECOND TEST MATCH

AN EASY WIN FOR AUSTRALIA. HOBBS GETS HIS CENTURY. MELBOURNE, January 3. The weather is fine after the continuous rain on Sunday, and the wicket is fairly good, but the ground is damp and the outfield slow. Hobbs and Hendren resumed to the bowling of Collins and Kelleway. Hendren opened with a single, and 100 was raised in 121 minutes. Hendren next scored a beautfful 4 off Kellev.ay, and Hobbs repeated the achievement off the same bowler. The batting at this stage was fine and the running between the wickets smart. Armstrong then took up the bowling. Hendren hit him for 2, and 1 successively, and reached his 50 in 113 minutes. Pellew, who was fielding brilliantly, made a great effort to eaten Hobbs, but just missed, and 150 was posted on the board, made in 155 minutes. After having 26 runs against his name Collins made way for Gregory, who was greeted with applause. Hobbs hit his first ball up, but the wicketkeeper failed to,, get hold of it. Collins then resumed at' the other end, and Hendren hit his first three balls, but they travelled slowly over the field, and failed to reach the boundary. Shortly after Hendren was

caught by Taylor off Gregory when his score stood at 67, compiled in 143 minutes of brilliant play. Hobbs reached his century amidst great applause in 180 minutes. Russell came next, but was caught by Collins off Gregory from nis first stroke. Ryder, who now took the ball, tried to tempt Woolley, but without success, and just before the luncheon adjournment Collins missed catching Hobbs off Gregory when the Surrey man’s score stood at llOi- The attendance had greatly increased after the luncheon interval. Hobbs passed Pellew’s score with a single off Ryder, and then Gregory bowled Woolley, who had batted steadily for 5. Gregory’s average was then 4 'for 42. Douglas had a flattering reception when he went to the wickets. Hobbs, who was batting freely, hit Gregory for 4, but in his next stroke he lifted the ball high to Ryder, who, waiting patiently, made no mistake. The Surrey crack had scored 122 in 210 minutes, and had an ovation on returning to the pavilion. Parkin had a short innings. When 4he gave a chance off Gregory, which Mailey cleverly took. Gregory’s average at this stage was 6 for 41. Strudwick followed, and began batting carefully. Armstrong, at 7 for 225, replaced Ryder, who had 31 against him without a wicket. Douglas (who was taking no risks), in the hope of saving a follow-on, was declared out legbefore to Gregory. Howell followed, and 250 was reached amid cheering, but shortly after Howell was cleverly stumped by Oldfield, and this closed England’s innings.

As the visitors were 248 behind Australia, a follow-on became necessary, Hobbs and Rhodes opening to the bowling of Kelleway and Gregory. Hobbs began by making some good strokes, scoring freely all round the wicket. Rhodes batted more cautiously, and was evidently anxious to improve on his first innings score. Hobbs was clean bowled by Kelleway when 20, and Makepeace was brilliantly caught by Gregory off Armstrong before he got set. The bowling now became deadly. Hendren, after scoring a single, drove back Collins, who readily accepted the catch. Russell was showing no inclination to take risks, being satisfied with singles. Rhodes, when lie was 28, hit a ball to square leg, which Armstrong caught. Douglas and Woolley held on till time was called. The attendance was,estimated at 26,000, and the takings amounted to £2890. Hearne got a chill on Friday, and was unable to move from his bed with severe lumbago on Saturday. The doctor hopes he will be recovered by Tuesday. Hendren, Parkin, and Howell were prostrated by the heat. The bowlers were unable to bowl another ball. Hendren was very unwell while batting. The doctor has advised Alacartney that six weeks’ rest is essential to cure him, and if he acts on this advice he will not be available for the third or fourth test matches. January 4. The weather was bright and fine for the resumption of the test match. The attendance was fair and the wicket good. Douglas and Woolley faced the bowling of Gregory and Collins. Douglas hit Collins well for 4 to leg, and Woolley cut Collins beautifully for 4. A single by Douglas brought up the century, for 135 minutes. Douglas was then clean bowled by Gregory. 6—104. Strudwick began

1 by a nice stroke to the off for 2 from j Collins. At 6 for 121 Ryder replaced | Gregory, whose average was 1 for 32. j Strudwick then hit a brilliant 4, all of j which were run out. Replacing Collins, ; who had taken 2 wickets for 47, Armstrong tempted Strudwick with his first ball, which Oldfield caught cleverly. ; Woolley was batting neatly, making good | strokes all round the wicket, and reaching 50 in 103 minutes. The board showed 150 in 189 minutes. Parkin followed, and was caught by Taylor near the boundary. Howell was not out, and the innings closed for 157 runs, after 202 minutes’ play. Australia thus won by an innings and 91 runs. AUSTRALIA. First Innings 499 ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs, c Ryder, b Gregory 122 Rhodes, b Gregory 7 Makepeace, Ibw, b Armstrong 4 Hendren, c Taylor, b Gregory 57 ■ Russell, c Collins, b Gregory 0 ! Woolley, b Gregory 5 Douglas, lbw, b Gregory 15 Pa-rken, c Alailey, b Gregory 4 Strudwick, not out 21 Howell, st Oldfield, b Armstrong ... 5 Extras 1 Total 251 Hearne did not bat this innings, as he was suffering from an injury to his back. The wickets fell as follows :—1 for 20, 2 for 32, 3 for 174, 4 for 185, 5 for 201, ! 6 for 208, 7 for 213, 8 for 232, 9 for 251. Beft-ling Analysis.—Kelleway, none for 54 ; Gregory, 7 for 69; Armstrong, 2 for 50; Ryder, none for 31; Park, none for 9; Collins, none for 37. Second Innings. Hobbs, b Kelleway 20 ; Rhodes, c Armstrong, b Collins 28 Makepeace, c Gregory, b Armstrong 4 Hendren, c and b Collins ?. 1 Russell, c Armstrong, b Collins 5 Woolley, b Ryder 50 , Douglas, b Gregory 9 Strudwick, c Oldfield, b Armstrong 24 : Parkin, c Taylor, b Armstrong 9 ; Howell, not out 0 Extras 7 Total 157 Hearne was unable to bat. i The wickets fell as follows.—l for 36, | 2 for 53, 4 for 53. 5 for 70. 6 for 104, 7 i for 141, 8 for 161. 9 for 157.' j Bowling Averages.—Kelleway, 1 for 24 ; Gregory, 1 for 32; Armstrong, 4 for 26; Collins, 2 for 47 ; Ryder, 1 for 17; Pellew, 0 for 4.

LONDON CRITICS PHILOSOPHIC. LONDON, January 4. I The result of the test match is accepted philosophically in view of the condition of the wicket, but it is conceded that the Australian position was strong before the rain fell. Some critics are disposed to blame the English side for missing catches on Friday, but the unsuspected strength of Australia both in batting and bowling - continues to be a subject of comment, i The critics are perplexed at Douglas’s neglect of Rhodes as a bowler, and cannot explain the preference shown for Woolley over a man who headed the English averages in 1920. THE ENGLISH ELEVEN. LONDON, January 4. The Yorkshire Post says: “One or two incidents in the test matches were regrettable. Douglas is reported as having in both games expressed dissatisfaction with the umpires’ decisions. Keenness is a necessary quality, but it is not setting a good example for a captain to show the habit of questioning umpires’ verdicts. ” The Star is of the opinion that Douglas must make drastic changes in the team. Only four have made themselves indispensable—viz., Hobbs, Hendren, Woolley, and Strudwick. LUCK OF THE TOSS. LONDON, January 4. The Hon. F. S. Jackson, the former captain of England, interviewed, said that the luck of winning the toss made too much difference in the test matches. “Trumble's suggestion that the choice of innings in the first and fifth matches should be decided by toss and the others allotted alternately * is good,” he added. “When I won the toss five times running in 1905 the Australians came round to my point of view.” Mr Jackson would like to see .more amateurs in the test teams. AUSTRALIA’S SYMPATHY. , SYDNEY, January 4. The Telegraph says.- “Chivalry forbids that we should exult over the defeat of the Englishmen, who died hard. All the luck was with Australia. It was not a test. A note of regret prevails everywhere.” The Herald states that fortune’s frowns were too big a handicap for the English team. Everything went wrong. The visitors deserve genuine sympathy. In any case, Australia would rather win on its merits than accept a gift from tTie gods. NEXT SEASON’S TOUR. CONDITIONS GOVERNING TEST MATCHES. MELBOURNE, January 4. A conference between the Cricket Board of Control and representatives of the English and Australian elevens agreed regarding the, conditions governing the next series of test matches in England. The following are certainties to be selected for the English tour:—Armstrong, Bardsley. Gregory, Collins. Macartney, Taylor, Mailey, and Pellew. The Cricket Conference decided to recommend the Marylebone Club that county matches start at noon, plav ending at 6 o’clock, except on the third day, when it may be extended to 6.30: test

matches to start at 11.30 on the first day, and at 11 on the remaining days, ending at 6.50. January 5. The Board of Cricket Control has decided that in future visiting English teams will play one test match under approved guarantees in the capital of one State not now so favoured, the State surrendering the test to be allotted a match between England and an eleven of Australia as a substitute. The next English team, therefore, will play a test match at Brisbane. AUSTRALIA’S VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. MELBOURNE, January 5. ■ The team to visit New T Zealand will consist of 13 players. The tour will last six weeks.