THE THIRD TEST MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 43

THE THIRD TEST MATCH.

AUSTRALIA AT THE WICKETS. FINE SCORE BY COLLINS. ADELAIDE, January 14. When the test match was started the weather was threatening, with heavy' clouds in the sky, but later the sun came out and the day was bright. Armstrong s proverbial luck stuck to him, and, winning the toss, he had first use of a perfect wicket. The attendance was estimated at 16,000. Collins and Bardsley opened to Howell and Douglas. The batsmen began carefully, the first noteworthy hits being two successive braces credited to Collins off Douglas. Bardsley secured the first '+ by hitting Douglas to leg, and Collins treated Howell similarly. Bardsley turned Howell sweetly to the ropes. Collins’s late-cutting was exquisite. Bardsley went out to an easy one from Douglas and was stumped by Strudwick. He battid for 37 minutes and hit two 4’s. I—32 —14. Kelleway followed, but he had hardly made a decefit stroke before he hit Parkin high and was caught in the slips by Fender. 2 —45—4. Taylor’s life was equally short. Collins late-cut Parkin and the ball was smartly returned by Hendren. Taylor ran carelessly half-way down the pitch. Strudwick took the ball cleanly and Taylor's career was at an end 3 —54 —5. This was generally regarded as a disastrous start. Armstrong then joined Collins. The Australian captain had a great reception. He started by making a beautiful on drive which reached within an inch of the boundary. Meanwhile Collins continued his jjretty late-cutting. At 91 Douglas came on again, and off him Collins reached 50 in 93 minutes. Armstrong, who was going leisurely', tapped an easy' one from Douglas which Strudwick held. 4 —96—11. Pellew filled the vacancy'. At 53 Collins had a lucky escape, skying one to the long field which Rhodes failed to hold. With a new bat Collins drove Douglas for 4, bringing up 103 in 111 minutes. Collins was again narrowly missed at 61 by Hendren at third man. Pellew thanked England for his companion’s let-off by hitting Howell to the boundary, and he then fluked two past Hendren. * Howell was bowling well but unluckily. The runs now came spasmodically. Off Parkin Collins glanced two 4’s, and then touched one u-ppishly which the Lancashire man (Parkin) just failed to reach, and 150 was posted after 170 minutes’ play. This was the signal for Collins to drive Woolley high to the boundary, making his score 88. Pellew livened up with a brace off Parkin and 4 off Woolley. Fender came on again and Pellew appreciated him, scoring 10 off his first over. At the tea adjournment Pel lew was 35 and Collins 96.

On resuming, Pellew did not long survive, being run out owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding. Collins played Rhodes hard to third man and remained stationary. Pellew ran, but failed to get back in time to save his wicket. Gregory signalised his appearance by hitting two 4’s off Rhodes. His combination with Collins was the brightest of the afternoon. Collins hit Rhodes to square leg, the bail reaching the boundary, thus bringing his score up to 119. Next ball Gregory was caught by Strudwick off Fender, and a promising” partnership was cut short. 6—269—10. Ryder succeeded, and Howell and Douglas took up the bowling. Collins recorded 132 pulling Howell to leg. His late-cutting was superb and quite a feature of the match. Ryder drove Douglas straight down the ground, the ball eluding Makepeace and Parkin. Collins hit a loose one from Fender right to the fence. He was giving a glorious display, and went on to his 150 in 248 minutes, getting his runs all round the wicket. With his score at 162 Collins attempted to lift Parkin to the boundary, but, Rhodes took a clever catch. 7—285 —162 Collins played a masterly innings, his hooking to the “ on ” side being superb. He was batting 258 minutes and hit 19 4’s Oldfield joined Ryder, and the young wicket-keeper shaped" vigorously till the end and scored twice as fast as his comj panion.

ENGLAND’S FINE STAND. ADELAIDE, January 16. There was glorious weather for the resumption of the third test match between 1 England and Australia. Oldfield continued to bat crisply, being .particularly severe on Howell, getting him twice to the leg boundary by beautiful strokes. Ryder was more on the defensive, and when h* added eight to his overnight score he hit a slow one from Parkin to Douglas at short leg. Oldfield had completed his half-century when an adverse leg-before decision terminated a useful innings, lie played with delightful freedom, and was quite at home with all the bowling, especially Howell’s M‘Donald and Mailey added five before Parkin clean-bowled the | Victorian fast bowler. Mailey for the ! fourth time in this series of test matches | remained not out. Parkin secured the best average, but Douglas and Howeli bore the brunt of the attack. lire latter was conspicuously unlucky. Except lor the catches missed yesterday the English fielding was excellent and at times brilliant. " Australia’s score was good, but could easily have been 20 or 30 more w.tn better judgment in running between the wickets England commenced with Hobbs and i Rhodes to the attack of M’Donail and Gregory. Hobbs commenced at once, rims coming quickly, chiefly through the enterprise in running between the wickets. The batsmen showed much mote keenness and judgment than the Aus tralians had exhibited. There was con siderable criticism as to the wisdom of Armstrong beginning with two fast bowlers. After the luncheon adjournment he substituted Kelleway for M 'Donald and kept the batsmen quiet. With 25 on the

board, the smart run-stealing received a check, Ryder at mid-on throwing down Rhodes's wicket. Makepeace was next, and Mailey was put on in place of Kelleway. Mailey immediately gave the batsmen trouble. Hobbs was -specially cautious, but finally with his total at 18 ne drove one back to the bowler, who caught him brilliantly at the second attempt. Two wickets for 49 was not an auspicious beginning. Hendren followed, but the bowlers worried the batsmen frequently, though between whiles Makepeace got in some particularly effective and beautiful'y timed strokes. When 70 was up M‘Donald replaced Gregory. Both batsmen began to relish Mailey, Hendren getting him away to leg and the off boundaries with powerful strokes. Armstrong relieved Mailey, who had taken one for 47, and soon after the century was posted, after 75 minutes’ play. Both batsmen were playing correct cricket, but were very severe on anything loose. Just before the tea adjournment Gregory shattered Hendron’s wicket with a smasher. The retiring batsman had played a fine innings without giving a chance. On resuming after the tea interval Woolley partnered Makepeace. Mailey was brought on again to bowl in place of Armstrong. Makepeace was quite at home, hitting to leg and the off boundaries, and Woolley followed with a grand straight drive which reached the fence. He repeated the stroke off Gregory, magnificently sending him along the carpet to the southern fence. Runs came fast from both, and 150 was posted after 50 minutes’ play. M Donald and Armstrong deposed Gregory and Mailey and steadied the scoring, though Woolley in a stylish fashion scored on every opportunity. Armstrong’s length commanded respect, and both batsmen were content to stop him, but Makepeace in trying to snick a curly one into the slips lifted it sufficiently for Gregory to get his hands under it safely. Makepeace played very careful but correct cricket without a mistake at a critical period. Russell, the newcomer, found M'Donaid difficult to play, but Woolley was quite at home with the Victorian express, scoring freely on both sides with many fine strokes which resulted in no more than singles owing to the splendid fielding of Pellew, Bardsley, and Taylor, saving many runs. The cricket was slow from 161 to 200, when Mailey came on again, Woolley hitting him over the fence for f> by a superb stroke, followed by a 4, 2, and 1 in the same direction, between leg and leg-on, the batsman getting 13 off the over. The next 20 came quickly Just before time Gregory came on again, but without effect. Woolley played a magnificent, stylish innings. The crowd was estimated at 35,000. The wicket was perfect. Scores : AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, c Rhodes, b Parkin 162 Bardsley, st Strudwick, b Douglas i 4 Kelleway, c Fender, b Parkin ... 4 Taylor, run out £ Armstrong, c Strudwick, b Douglas 11 Pellew, run out 36 Gregory, c Strudwick, b Fender ... 10 Ryder, c Douglas, b Parkin 43 Oldfield, lbw, b Parkm 50 Mailey, not out 3 M'Donaid, b Parkin 2 Extras *4 Total 354 Bowling Analysis. —Howell, no wicket for 89, Douglas 2 for 69, Parkin 5 for 60, Woolley 0 for 40, Fender 1 for 52, Rhodes 0 for 23. Fall of Wickets.—One for 32, two for 45, three for 55, four for 96, five for 176. six for 209, seven for 285, eight for 347, nine for 349, 10 for 354. ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs, c and b Mailey 18 Rhodes, run out 16 Makepeace, c Gregory, b Armstrong 60 Hendren, b Gregory 36 Woolley, not out 73 Russell, not out 21 Extras 9 Total, four wickets for ... 233 DOUGLAS’S CAPTAINCY. - LONDON, January 14. The Westminster Gazette hints at tha possibility of Fender being appointed captain instead of Douglas. There is hop-3 that the changing of the side will bring luck. It is freely believed here that Armstrong has outgeneralled Douglas as a leader. TOUR OF ENGLAND. THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM. SYDNEY, January 15. Ivellewa'-, Carter, Park, Mayne, Ryder, and M'Donaid are added to the team to tour England. Kelleway previously announced that he would not be available. REVISION OF ITINERARY. SYDNEY, January 14. Air Smith, secretary to the Board of Control, is negotiating with Hamilton and Stawell’ with a view to the Englishmen playing there in lieu of the Tasmanian, fixtures (January 25 to February l),whicn will probably be cancelled in consequence of the strike.

The mine horses underground had a fortnight’s spell outside in the fresh air (says the Westport Times). Many were comparatively blind when coming out in the light and took two days to regain their sight. They are well kept and in the pink of condition. The Invercargill borough inspector reports having recently seized and condemned, l in accordance with the provisions of the | i* TO Pood Act. 1908, 152 hams, they not | being fit for human consumption, and had i them destroyed. The hams were a consignment sent by an Auckland firm to a | local concern. The money value of thi* consignment would be about £2X.