CRICKET.

Patea Mail, Volume XXIX, 13 January 1908, Page 2

CRICKET.

The exciting finish of the second test match, was a fitting sequel to the h ird fought conclusion of the first game. If the honors on the Sydney ground fell to Cotter and Hazlitt an equal moed of praise is duo to Barnes and Fielder, who wrested victory from t !6 Australians at Melbourne. Both weie magnificent finishes to hard fought, keenly contested matches. The noticeable featii.ro of'tlie second mo.tob v.-a 3 the slowness or W;o scoring. Hare.y does it appear th:it the hat dominated the ball. 'Use one spark-t ling piece of cricket was the century

[ scored by Hutehings, the Kent I amateur. Prom all accounts it j what the public had expected and it ; came -lor the Englishmen— at the ' "B" tlras - The Australians plodded solidly. It would appear that the Australian batting lacks a barman of the forcing type. Qotter is a hitter, pure and simple, though he has demonstrated that when he restrains his tendency to lash at every ball that his wicket is not an easy one to get. Truuiper is not the Trurnpor of old'

whose brilliancy all round the wicket was the delight of the public, and despair of the bowlers. TrumpeTTsT/ still a great batsman, one of the beat, "% But he has lost the" dash that enablod

him at one time to malca all bowling look simple. It makos a great deal of difference to the attack if there is a batsman capable of forcing the game. Hairy Graham in his prime would be invaluable to the Australian team, His dashing batting saved his side times innumerable, and even fast

bowlers like Richardson, the Surrey express, frequently found themselves, at their wits ends ..s to how to dispose of the Victorian, or. how to check thft scoring. Hill, who is said to bs injt his best form, is under a cloud, Fielder was fatal to the South Austra." lian crack in both innings. It is surprising that Carter has not gained a higher place in the batting order. Following his score in. the second innings in the first test match he made 15 not out and 53. Hazlitt did nothing in the second test with the bat and failed as a bowler. It is evident that though Noble may have~lost some of his skill with

the b'lll his batting has not deteriorated. In the inter-atate match, against Victoria Noble on a bowler's wicket made 101 and in the second innings secured 41 not out. He followed this up by securing 61 and 64 in the second Test match. Noble's captaincy of the Australian team is being highly praised and after the first Test the Englishmen paid tribute to the skill with which he had handled

his team. Noble has played 30 three figure innings in first-class cricket, Clem Hill being the only Australian with a -' greater number to his credit. *'! hat the Australian team would be altered for the third Test match was generally anticipated. Public opinion wan that Hazlitt and Saunders would L be stood down, but it was never \ dreamt of that Cotter would be re- . placed by O'Connor, the New South Welshman who some three vears ago

went to Adelaide. No reason is given for the replacement of Cotter and it may be that he is indisposed. O'Connor is a medium pace bowler and at one time a big future was predicted for him. Hartigan, who takes Hazlitt's place, is a good bat of the free order and one of the finest

slips in Australia. His performance with the bat for Queensland against' ,-" New South Wales doubtless earned him his place, , The third test match commenced at Adelaide on Friday, The Australian ' team was* changed, Hartigan and O'Connor replacing Hazlitt and Cotter. Winning the toss the Australians went in first and were dismissed for the modei-ate score •of 285. Macartney was top scorer with 75. liartigaa-

made 48, Rausford 44, McAlister 28, Carter 24. Both Hill and Trumper were suffering fiMui severe colds and Hill was unable to field for the Australians, his brother taking his place. Fielder and Barnes were the most successful bowlers: The Englishmen have lost five wickets for 259. Gunn 65, Fane 48, Hardstaff not out 51, Rhodes not out 34, being the chief scores. The Australians sadly missed a fast bowler.