THE FIFTH TEST MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 24

THE FIFTH TEST MATCH.

The following appeared in our Second Edition last week :

ENGLAND'S FIFTH LOSS. SYDNEY, February 26. The third day’s play in the test match commenced in fine blit hot weather. The wicket was excellent. When Wilson walked to the wickets the crowd greeted " him with hoots, and called him a liar and made other uncomplimentary references, urging the bowlers to throw the ball at him. He did not last long. He played forward to Mailey when he had scored five and Carter promptly stumped him to the great delight of the spectators. Hobbs followed and was the recipient of a rousing welcome, which continued till the wicket was reached. He commenced briskly, registering 17 in five minutes, including three boundaries. When 34 he lifted Mailey to long off, where Taylor, juggling with the ball, finally held it. Shortly afterwards Rhodes played Mailey to outside mid-on, endeavouring to steal a run, but Mailev fielded the ball smartly and threw the wicket down. 5—25—82. Hendren and Douglas then became associated in an unenterprising partnership, neither batsman being inclined to force the pace before the luncheon adjournment. On resuming Hendren shaped gingerly at Mailey* s first delivery. He played forward to the next ball and missed and was smartly slumped by Carter. 6—13:—91. At tills stage Noble, a former Australian captain, appealed to the spectators in the various stands to preservg, dignity and decorum when Fender visited the wickets. Russell joined his skipper, and both settled down to steady cricket, and added 70 by uninteresting play. Armstrong went on ■to bowl with tfie total at 150, and in hi 3 third over Russell tipped one to first slip, which Gregory accepted. Fender followed and immediately became a target for the crowd, which had increased considerably since noon. He was counted out several times, and otherwise heckled during his Bojoum at the v.dckets. Apparently thriving on barracking, Fender quickly reached 20, and with Douglas saved an innings’ defeat. The pair were still unseparated at the tea adjournment. After tea Douglas and Fender entrenched themselves for half an hour, seemingly relishing all the bowlers. When 40 Fender lifted M'Donald to mid-on, where Kelleway held the catch. Fender escaped criticism since the adjournment, and on retiring was cheered all round the * ground for his plucky stand. Douglas hit several 4’s and showed a disposition to abandon stonewalling, when Mailey caught him off his own bowling fer 68, after three hours’ play. Parkin treated the spectators to a diversion, hitting M'Donald and Mailey to all parts of the field, making good and bad strokes, mostly bad, but lucky ones. He added 36-in half an hour, when Gregory snapped up an' opportunity ''bff Mailey at first slip, and the innings terminated for 280 runs, Mailey secured the bowiing honours with five wickets for 119. Collins and Bardsley opened the Australians’ innings. Requiring 53 to win with 25 minutes to play, both men hatted with abandon, end when stumps were drawn had notched 25. March 1. Tha last chapter of the fifth test match was spiritless and uninteresting. With 68 required to win and all wickets intact, the result was a foregone conclusion, though heavier rain overnight might easily have found Australia scratching for runs on a sticky wicket. The outfield was heavy as the result of the rain, and the wicket was damp but not troublesome, excepting to the bowlers, who required sawdust to ensure a secure foothold. Woolley and Parkin opened the attack, both batsmen adopting astonishingly cautious methods, to the surprise of the few hundred spectators. The first 50 was registered in 54 minutes. Wilson then endeavoured to effect a separation, but the batsman watched the ball as carefully as if the ashes hung in the balance. With five runs to win and two for the half-century, Bardsley hit Wilson to square leg for a brace, after 92 minutes’ play. Both batsmen pottered about for three overs, endeavouring to register the necessary runs, until Collins snicked Wilson into Strudwiek’j hands. His 37 had been made in 100 minutes. Macartney scored two singles, one each from Wilson And Rhodes, and Australia won by nine wickets, losing one wicket for 93 runs. The following are the scores: ENGLAND.

Tile wickets fell as follow': —1—1, 2—14, 3—29, 4—75, 5—82 . 6—91. 7—160 , 8—224, 9—251, 10—280. Bowling Averages.—Armstrong 1 for 26; Ryder, none for none-, Gregory, none for 37; Mailey, 5 for 119; Kellewav. 2 for 29 (three no balls) ; M'Donald, 1 for 58. AUSTRALIA. First Innings 392 Second Innings. Collins, c Strudwick, b Wilson ... 37 Bardsley, not out 00 Macartney, not out I Sundries 4 Total, one wicket for 93 Bowling Analysis.—Wilson, 1 wicket, 8 runs; Rhodes, 0 wicket, 20 runs; Woolley, 0 wicket, 27 runs; Parkin, 0 wicket, 32 runs; Fender, 0 wicket, 2 runs, 1 no-balL

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Fender, in a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, reaffirms his cable, stating that he was glad to learn that the public through the press dissociates itself from the portion of the crowd whose behaviour actuated the cable. The editor of the Herald, in a footnote, adds: "It is improper journalism that Fender did not mention the great reception accorded Hobbs, even assuming that the barracking did take place.” Fender, cabling to the Daily News, says: “ There were extraordinary scenes frequently, one section of the spectators barracking hard while the remainder, who were the larger part, provided a sympa thetic demonstration, though even a certain section of the members barracked Wilson when he was given out. Hobbs had a great ovation, as also had Douglas. ’ The manager of the English team (Mr F. C. Toone), in a letter to the secretary of the Board of Cricket Control (Mr S. Smith), thanking the cricket and civic authorities for the kind and generous treatment accorded the visitors every where, adds: “ I cannot leave Australia after five happy months without congratu la ting you on the possession of a powerful side, which so handsomely recovered the ‘ashes.’ ” The barracking incidents and the demonstration against Wilson, for his cables to a London paper, have been the subject of a good deal of comment in the London pre~s. Opinion generally favours the idea of barring players from cabling reports and comments to newspapers. Mr Warner says he had always found Australian crowds the best of sportsmen. Haarne states that he is astounded at the report that his health is precarious. He says he will play in Adelaide if required as already he is much improved.

First innings ... 204 Second Innings. Woolley, c and b Kelleway ... 1 Makepeace, c Gregory, b Kelleway ... 7 Rhodes, thrown out ... 25 Wilson, st. Carter, b Mailey ... 5 Hobbs, c Taylor, b Mailey ... 3-4 Hendren, st. Carter, b Mailey ... ... 13 Douglas, c and b- Mailey ... 68 Russell, c Gregory, b Armstrong ... 35 Fender, c Kelleway, b M‘Donald ... 40 Parkin, o Gregory, b Mailey ... 36 Strudwdck, not out ... ... 5 Extras ... 11 Total ... 280