ASHES RETAINED

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 6

ASHES RETAINED

THE THIRD TEST MATCH. A NARROW MARGIN. END OF A SENSATIONAL MATCH. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ADELAIDE, January 23. (Received January 23, 7.35 p.m.) Australia won the third test, retaining the ashes, after 20 minutes’ play this morning. Admission was free, and 15,000 people rolled up to see the final phase of the exciting match. The weather was fine and the wicket easy. Gilligan and Freeman, who had a wonderful reception, batted confidently. The start was sensational Gregory's second ball, wide to leg, resulting in four byes. The score went steadily to 357. Then Gilligan popped one from Gregory back to Vic. Richardson at mid-off when only 18 runs were required. He was accorded a tremendous ovation as be left the field. StrudwTck lasted out the over, and Freeman brought victory closer with a beautiful cover drive for four. Strudwick got two, and only 11 were wanted to tie with Australia and 12 to achieve a win, but Mailey, with the second ball of the over, had Freeman caught behind the wicket, and the match ended amidst tremendous enthusiasm, Mailey being carried off the field. It was the closest finish ever witnessed on the Adelaide oval. Details of the score are as follows . AUSTRALIA. First innings ‘ 489 Second innings .. 250 Grand total 739 ’ ENGLAND. First innings 365 —Second Innings.— Hobbs, c Collins b Richardson .... 27 Sutcliffe, c Poneford b Mailey .. .. 59 Woolley, b Kelleway 21 Hendren, lbw b Kelleway 4 Whysall, c and b Gregory 75 Tate, b Mailey 21 Chapman, c Ryder b Kelleway .... 58 Kiiner cV. Richardson bA. Richardson 24 Gilligan, c V. Richardson b Gregory 31 Freeman, c Oldfield b Mailey .. .. 24 Strudwick, not out 2 Extras 17 Total 363 Bowling analysis: Gregory 2 for 71, Colfins 0 for 19, Kelleway 3 for 57, Ryder 0 for 11, A Rachardson 2 for 62, Mailey 3 for 126. A PLUCKY FIGHT. PRAISE FOR GILLIGAN. LORD HAWKE RETICENT. •*“ LONDON, January 22. (Received January 23, 8.50 p.m.) Sid Barnes, writing in the Daily Chronicle, Commenting on the test match, says: ‘Win or lose, the match is one of the pluckiest fights in the annals of the game. Gilligan has done remarkably well as captain. He has earned on against tremendous odds. As regards Parkin’s criticism it would have been far better if Lord Hawke had ignored the matter. He has not made the position easier by his comments, which drag in the whole field of professionalism. Rhodes and Hirst captained Yorkshire in the representative matches. I may add that I should plump for an amateur captain every time, but some of the best captains I have known have not considered it infra dig to consult a professional ’Die Daily Mail says: “It has been a great match, well played to the last, full of interest and spirit. One of the best phases was the wonderfully good feeling shown toward the Englishmen by the vast concourse of spectators. The whole country has been genuinely sympathetic towards our players in their unfortunate run of mehaps.” Lord Hawke, interviewed before leaving on a holiday vist to India, refused to reply to criticisms of his remarks regarding professionals. He said: ‘T don’t worry about it at all, and shall say nothing in reply.” SIX O’CLOCK CLOSING OF MATCHES. THE EIGHT BALL OVER. SYDNEY. January 23 (Received January 23, at 11.30 pjn.) Mr Smith Secretary of the Cricket Board of Control referring to Lord Hawke’s cabled comments expressed doubts whether some of the remarks attributed to him were made by him. Regarding six o’clock closing of matches Mr Smith declared that the Australian Board of Control never asked the M.C.C. to agree to six o’clock in Test matches, the request was made only in reference to country matches. As regards the eight ball over, it was hard to understand what Lord Hawke meant, said Mr Smith, as the Board never asked for its adoption in England. The Australians were quite prepared to play the six ball over in England. The recent conference in Melbourne at winch the English captain and manager were present discussed the eight ball over, but Mr Smith did not disclose the views expressed by the Englishmen on the subject. which will be dealt with by the Marylebone after the team returns to England. A letter from the Board of Control is now en route to England dealing with the discussion in Melbourne. Lord Hawke’s attack on professionals has drawn forth considerable resentful comment in cricket circles. THURSDAY’S PLAY. EULOGY OF WHYSALL’S DISPLAY SYDNEY, January 7 23. The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on the cricket match, says:— From the outset runs came freely, chiefly through the busy' methods of Whysall who, though ’ll at ease with Malley’s bowling, scored freely by means of drives and on side shots off Gregory. With Sutcliffe playing in his customary’ studiously sound and careful manner the initial expectations received an encouraging lift when the unexpected happened. Sutcliffe’s contribution to the innings was an eminently useful one, the merit of which would not be overlooked in apportioning credit for individual performances. It increases his aggregate in this series of Tests to 560 runs, an extraordinarily high average 94.83, a truly remarkable achievement for a player in his first three Test matches. Sutcliffe has certainly been caught in the breeze of success by spreading the sails of patient endeavour and quiet efficiency, but in doing so he has set up a standard of achievement that he will find very difficult to live up to. Whysall is not a polished batsman but what he lacks in that respect he makes up in solidarity and power. He has a peculiar, ungainly stand at the wicket with his feet well apart. He holds the bat well down towards the blade while his stand is suggestive of on-side strength. AU his strokes are made with great power and resolution. Even when on the defensive he hits the ball hard. One specially commendable feature of his batting was his management of Mailey’s bowling. He was always in the same difficulty but refused to be tempted into indiscretion, keeping his natural tendencies to aggression under restraint all the time. He played a splendid innings and was a trifle unlucky to lose his wicket to such a fine stroke as the one from which he was eaught. The splendid partnership of Whysall and Chapman turned the scale in England's favour. England is fighting a grim battle and at the close of play the rhiftnre for yxtocy rest anth her.

CABLE FROM ENGLISH PREMIER. “WONDERFUL UPHILL FIGHT.” (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.*—Copyright). (Reuter’s Telegrams). LONDON, January 22. Mr Stanley Baldwin cabled Gilligan wishing him success, and adding: “Win or lose we are proud of your wonderful uphill fight.” LORD HAWKE’S CRITICISM. “NOT IN INTEREST OF SPORT.” (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Sun Cable.) LONDON, January 21. Sir Edwin Stockton, president of the Lancashire Cricket Club, interviewed regarding Lord Hawke’s criticism of Parkin, said the whole thing was to be regretted. It was not in the interest of sport. The Star expresses the opinion that Lord Hawke has forgotten the war is over and that England is not under martial law. A professional is not under martial law, says the paper. A professional is not a slave—he has the right to express his opinions. Parkin is free to discuss matches in which he is not playing. The public is interested in what such a great player thinks. Jessop declares that the time is coming when a professional will captain the English team. There is nothing derogatory in serving under a man like Hobbs. Fender says he cannot see why the death of cricket should be presumed to follow a professional’s captaincy. The Evening Standard states it is not surprised at the English professionals in Australia protesting against Lord Hawke’s remarks, and says it must be remembered that Lord Hawke’s recollection goes back to the times when nine gentlemen employed two professionals, for what was then regarded as “the tiresome and laborious business of bowling the other side out.” The newspaper expresses doubt whether Lord Hawke’s speech has done much harm. It considers, on the contrary, that it has probably hastened the day when professionals will lead the English team. A BACK NUMBER. » ARMSTRONG’S OPINION OF LORD HAWKE. MELBOURNE, January 23. Commenting on Lord Hawke’s cabled remarks, Warwick Armstrong said: “It is just the sort of thing I would expect Lord Hawke to say,” adding that he thought “it about time Lord Hawke got out of English cricket. Lord Hawke might have done much good for the game, but he had outlived his usefulness and a man more in touch with cricket matters was wanted.” VALUE OF WINNING THE TOSS. VIEWS OF SPOFFORTH. ADELAIDE, January 23. The one-time demon bowler Spofforth has arrived on a visit to Australia. Commenting on the test matches, he said that though England was a better bowling side, Australia was better with regard to batting and nerve. He had always considered Australians better when it came to a question of nerve. Up till now they had had more luck. Spofforth said he thought winning the toss in a test match was worth at least 100 runs. Parkin should have been included in the team. He was the best bowler in England and a man most likely to stop the Australians from getting set. THE NEWS AT HOME. DISAPPOINTMENT AND APPRECIATION LONDON, January 23. (Received January 23, 10.10 p.m.). Many Londoners stayed up in their hotels, clubs and homes to learn the result of the test match. This caused disappointment, but appreciation is expressed of the fine effort to save the game. PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH. AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association). AUCKLAND, July 23. The Plunket Shield match, Wellington v. Auckland, was commenced this afternoon in ideal weather. When stumps were drawn Wellington, who wen the toes and batted first, had made 31G runs for the loss of six wickets. The wicket was fast and in good order. Features of the afternoon’s play were the fine performances by the Wellington captain Collins, who compiled 114 (not out), and Hiddlestone, who made 91. The third wicket partnership between these two batsmen yielded 132 runs, carrying the total from 44 to 176 for three, wickets. Collins gave a very attractive display, batting soundly throughout and scoring with a variety of strokes. He hardly gave a chance. Hiddlestone played bright cricket and after having a couple of very narrow escapes in the early part of his innings, he seined well set for a century when he was caught at the wicket. Auckland’s fielding was patchy, and there were several costly mistakes. Wellington’s first wicket fell before double figures were reached, but after the fall of the second, runs came steadily, and frequent changes of bowling had little effect. Scores:— WELLINGTON. —First Innings.— Hiddlestone, c Garrard, b Cooper .. 9’l Baker, b Player 1 Badcock, b Allcott 19 Collins (ont out) .. 114 McGirr, Lb.w., b Player 26 Banks, Lb.w., b Smith 3 Bernau, b Allcott 29 Extras 27 Total for six wickets 310 Bowling analysis: Allcott took two wickets for 73 runs; Player two for 65; Anthony none for 16; Smith one for 56; Sneddon none for Cooper one for 51,