FOURTH TEST MATCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 43

FOURTH TEST MATCH

MELBOURNE, February 14. The weather was fine for the continuation of the test match. The wicket was good and the attendance large. Armstrong and Gregory resumed to the bowling of Parkin and Howell. Armstrong opened with 2 to leg, and Gregory cut Howell to the fence, following with a stroke to leg for 2. Armstrong then got a nice one through the slips for which he ran 3, passing England’s score in 262 minutes. Howell, who was a little erratic, bowled a wide, but the fielding was very keen and many runs were saved. Armstrong then drove Parkin to the boundary, completing his thousand runs in tirst-class cricket this season. Gregory was smartly caught behind the wickets off Parkin, and the crowd, recognising his splendid effort, gave him a tremendous ovation. Kelleway followed, and began cautiously with a single off Parkin, which brought up 300 on the board in 284 minutes. Armstrong then drove a hard one, and in trying to stop it the ball jumped and hit Parkin on the face. Kelleway dropped down to stubborn tactics against Parkin’s wonderful length. Fender was also bowling well. Armstrong hit one high, the ball just falling short of Hendren, and immediately after Kelleway had a narrow escape, hitting one back towards the bowler, the ball falling just out of his reach. The following ball bowled Kelleway, and Fender had iiis revenge. 7 335. Carter joined Armstrong, but had a short life, also falling a victim to Fender. 8— 355. Mailey followed. Armstrong, playing for his century, took the last over before lunch, and scored 3,4, 2,2 off Fender and reached his century amidst great cheering, after 183 minutes’ batting. On resuming after lunch Mailey and M'Donald were content to let Armstrong do the scoring, the innings closing for 389. Armstrong opened the attack with Gregory and M'Donald. The batsmen were disposed to take no risks, and at 0 for 32 Mailey replaced Gregory and got Hobbs leg before with his first ball. Makepeace followed, and Rhodes, who was scoring freely, swept Mailey to the boundary for 4. M'Donald, whose average was 0 for 24, was given a spell, and Gregory changed ends. At the tea adjournment the score was 1 for 56. After the tea interval Makepeace, who was batting brilliantly hit Mailey to leg for 4 The latter’s average was now 1 for 17. Play then became slow, but was brightened by occasional flashes by Makepeace. Kelleway replaced Gregory, but Rhodes refused to take risks in his anxiety to wipe out the deficit. The century was reached in 105 minutes. Just previously Armstrong had retired unwell. Great disappointment and regret was expressed all round the ground when the news spread that he was compelled by medical advice to proceed home. Armstrong, it is stated, is suffering from slight malaria, but is expected to play to-morrow. His generalship was , greatly missed ill the field. Taylor, who was fielding remarkably well, was loudly applauded for knocking down the wicket with a. houndai’y return, but too late. The batsmen, realising their responsibility through Hobbs’s second failure, took no risks, and play for the last half-hour was deadly slow. Rhodes was mostly getting singles, walking between the wickets, but satisfied with endeavouring to play out time. Makepeace was stubborn in his defence. The attendance was 20,000, and the gate realised £I7OO. February 15. The weather was cool and the wicket good for the test match. The Australians took the field under the captaincy of Coilins, Armstrong being compelled to stay m bed. Rhodes and Makepeace resumed to the bowling of M'Donald and Mailey. Makepeace began by cutting M'Donald for 2, and Mailey opened with a maiden over. Owing to a bad throw-in by Collins Rhodes added 3 to his score. Makepeace then beautifully snicked M'Donald to the boundary, bringing his score to 51 in 140 minutes. In the next over M'Donald bowled a no ball, and then Mailey got Makepeace leg before, his average at this stage being two wickets for 55. Makepeace had put up 54, but in rather crouching style. England’s score was now two for 145. Hendren followed, and a fast low ball from M'Donald went to the fence, four byes being run. Then Rhodes was well caught in the slips by Gregory off Mailey after making 73 in 182 minutes. W oolley was stumped in the first over try Carter off Mailey, whose bowling was well nigh unplayable, his average being four for 56 with one maiden over. Douglas began by slipping Mailey for 3, and lieudren drove him to the off for 5. Hcndren, who was cutting and running briskly, soon ran his score to 20. Pellew was applauded for smart fielding. At four for 199 Gregory replaced M'Donald, and Douglas, tapping his first ball, brought up 200 oar tlie board for 222 minutes’ play. Kelleway gave Mailey a spell, and cleanbowled Hendren in his first over. 5 —201. Fender joined Douglas, and played up to the luncheon interval, when the score was five for 212. After lunch Kelleway and M'Donald continued bowling. Fender confidently drove Kelleway to the boundary, and Douglas scored 5 owing to a bad throw-in by Bellew, which was responsible for 4. Mailey relieved Kelleway, and Fender pleased the spectators by hitting him over the fence for 6. Douglas reached his 50 in 103 minutes, and Fender scored a similar number in 73 minutes. Three hundred came up on the board in 309 minutes. Fender was talcing risks with Mailey, whose bowling generally was very deadly, and he hit one hard and high and was caught by Collins on the boundary. Douglas reached out to Mailey and was stumped by Carter. Waddington, Dolphin. and Parkin were disposed of quickly, and at the close of the innings Mailey, who had taken nine wickets for 121, was loudly applauded. Mailey’s great bowling feat fs widely discussed, it being previously unequalled in test cricket. Australia, requiring 211 to wm, opened after the tea adjournment with Collins

and Bardsley to the bowling of Howell and Douglas. Collins’s luck was again in evidence, he being missed by Douglas in the slips off Howell when his score was four. Collins hit the first ball from Douglas to the boundary for 4, but genei'ally the scoring was slow. Woolley and Parkin replaced Dcuglas and Howell, but Bardsley cut WoG-iey for a beautiful 4, and 50 came up in 53 minutes. The batsmen were running neck and neck when Collins was tempted by Parkin, who sent down a full toss. Tire batsman hit it round to Rhodes, who accepted the catch very neatly. One for 71. Ryder opened his score with a neat leg stroke for 4 off Parkin. Bardsley was just beginning to show something of his old form when he started running, but was unable to get back before Dolphin lifted his bails. Two for 81. Gregory opened by placing Parkin to leg, and Ryder, who was playing cautiously, reached double figures by a similar stroke, he being 12 and Gregory 6 when stumps were drawn. February 16. The weather was fine but dull for the continuation of the test match. The attendance was small. Armstrong was present. Play was delayed for 20 minutes while the team& were photographed with and by the desire of the Governor-general. Requiring 119 to win, Ryder and Gregory resumed batting to the bowling of Fender and Howell. Gregory beautifully cut Howell for 4, and Ryder got a single off Fender, which brought 100 on the board in 106 minutes. Four byes were run off a very fast one from Howell, and his next ball was a wide. The batsmen were placing very nicely, and runs came steadily as a result of those tactics. Rydei drove Fender to the fence, bringing up 128. Woolley then replaced Howell, and Gregory belted Fender to the fence on the leg side, facing full round to make the stroke, and 152 now appeared on the board as the result of 139 minutes’ batting. Rhodes replaced Fender, whose average was none for 20. Parkin replaced Howell, who had secured no wickets for 36. Gregory was playing the bowlers easily, and was timing with great nicety. Ryder was not inclined to take risks. Gregory at 48 skied Parkin to leg, but Rhodes just failed to reach the ball in time. Gregory reached 50 m 94 minutes. The score was now two for 173, and Fender came on again, but Ryder hit him hard to the fence. When the score had reached 192 the time had arrived for the usual adjournment, and the umpire, Mr Crocket, advanced to pick up the bails, but in response to a yell from the crowd “Play on,” Douglas consented, and Ryder reached his 50 in 122 minutes. When approaching the end runs came slowly, but the necessary quota was obtained in 185 minutes, Australia winning by eight wickets. Fol!6wing are the scores : ENGLAND. First innings 264 Second Innings. Hobbs, lbw, b Mailey 13 Rhodes, c Gregory, b Mailey 73 Makepeace, lbw, b Mailey 54 Hendren, b Kelleway 32 Woolley, st. Carter, b Mailey 0 Douglas, st. Carter, b Mailey 60 Fender, c Collins, b Mailey 59 Waddington, st. Carter, b Mailey ... 6 Dolphin, c Gregory, b Mailey 0 Parkin, c Bardsley, b Mailey 4 Howell, not out •» 0 Extras ... 14 Total 315 The wickets fell as follows:—One for 32. two for 145, three for 152, four for 152, five for 201, six for 305, seven for 307, eight for 307, nine for 315, ten for 315. Bowling Analysis.—Gregory, none for 31 ; M'Donald, none for 77; Mailey, nine for 121 ; Kelleway, one for 47; Ryder, none for 25. AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, c Rhodes, b Woolley £9 Bardsley, b Fender 56 Ryder, lbw, b Woolley 7 Tavlot, hit wicket, b Fender ... 2 Pellew, b Fender 32 Gregory, c Dolphin, b Parkin 77 Armstrong, not out 173 Kelleway, b Fender 7 7 Carter, b Fender 0 Mailey, run out 13 M'Donald, b. Woolley 0 Extras 13 Total 389 The wickets fell as fallows :—1 fior 117, 2 for 123, 3 for 128, 4 for 133, 5 for 153, 6 for 298, 7 for 335, 8 for 335, 9 for 376, 10 for 389. Bowling Analysis.—Howell, 0 for 86; Douglas, 0 for 17; Waddington 0 for 31 ; Parkin, 1 for 6; Fender, 5 for 22; Woolley, 3 for 56. Second Innings. Collins, c Rhodes, b Parkin 32 Bardsley, run out 38 Ryder, not out 52 Gregory, not out 76 Extras 13 Total for two wickets ... 211 The wickets fell as follows :—One for 71, two for 81. Bowling Analysis.—Howell, none for 36, Fender, none for 39, Douglas, none for 13, Woolley, none for 39, Parkin, one for 46, Rhodes, one for 25. Australian and English press comments give unstinted praise to Armstrong, the Australian captain, for his fine leadership and his fine and determined batting, his runs on each occasion being made just when urgently required. He has completed ICOo runs in first class matches this season, and 2000 in test cricket, a feat equalled previously only by Gregory, Hill, and Trumpet. Mailey’s bowling is highlypraised. His record of 9 wickets in one innings is generally described as remarkable. THE ARMSTRONG INCIDENT. MELBOURNE, February 16. A public meeting of Armstrong’s sym-

pathisers adopted a resolution that the excuses given for Armstrong’s exclusion front the X ictorian team against England are unsatisfactory, and declare that the Victorian selectors have lost the confidence of the public. THE FIFTH TEST. SYDNEY. February 17. Hornibroolc has been recalled from New Zealand, and will probably be included in the fifth test, with Mayne. It is probable that 16 players will tour England. TEAM TO VISIT ENGLAND. Fbruary 17. The following is the Australian "cricket team which has been selected to visit England:—Armstrt ig (captain), Collins, Bardsley, Kelleway, Macartney, Gregory, Mailey, Taylor, Oldfield, Carter, Andrews, 0. Pellew, Ryder, Macdonald, and Mayne. The inclusion of Mayne has caused considerable surprise. ENGLAND v. NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY’, February 17. After a thunderstorm, with heavy rain, the weather is fine and cool Tor the cricket match England v. New South Wales. Folkard replaces Kelleway in the New South Wales team, the latter not being available. *■ FRANK ADMISSION BY DOUGLAS. Douglas, the captain of the M .C'.C. team, stated that his side was beaten thoroughly in the fourth test match by a better side. He did not agree with those who said luck was against them, though he hoped they would hold the bail tighter when the Australians visited England.