CRICKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 81, 18 November 1911, Page 6

CRICKET.

START THEIR MATCH AGAINST \ J.C'.l OKI A. VISTIORS MAKE GOOD bbUlUj. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Press Association..; Melbourne, November 17. There was perfect weatner and a good wicket lor die nnvtcu against \ ictona, waicn commenced to-day. Ine attendance was moderate.

Warner, • uainos, Gunn, Sirudwick and \ iao wore-' omitted from the English team. Warner is still abed, but is recovering.

Douglas, u iio captained the visitors, won me toss from Armstrong, and sent Hobbs and ivinnear to die wickotP tb.-dVd Tmw Inig -bf .vuicrovv and Laver,.., • Hobqs 11 quickly witn clean,, .crisp., and, .well-timed cutting, but in attempting to drive Matthews, w.,0 nad relieved Maerbwq lie mishit and Laver made a magnificent catch at point, one-handed. Rhodes succeeucd, and scoring slowly, 5u occupying an hour. Kmnear, in seventy minutes, only scored in. idiocns scored .19 in twenty-eight minutes. At luncheon tno score was i U for one wicket. Steady, cautious hatling, keen attacks and smart fielding were features of tne play. Kilinear gave a chance when 28 off Macrow to Barkeck behind the wickets.

'1 iie century occupied 165 minutes. Rhodes, Ijealen by naver, gob his leg in front. Mead soon, lost Kinnoar, who iiiad. batted carefully ,scoring mostly' on tbc legq Hearne opened diffidently. Foster had only made a single when, he was, badly missed by Macrow at mid-on off Ky le. Mead was batting freely, a, feature being ids tine placing, chicily on the 1 on-side, for seventy minutes, including four tourers.

Kyle- bowled’ expediently, and at one stug-6" Ink ‘ ‘ ttVlrago was twelve overs, eight maidens', eleven runs. Ho is a fast, medium bowler, witli a fine length. On resuming, the batsmen were watchful. Foster, ‘Kith a lovely back cut off Laver for three, brought bis score to do, tin* top score so far. One hundred and fifty occupied 18U minutes. There was nothing attractive about the batting for a long period. Foster reached oU in ninety minutes, v.nen he was badly missed at mid-on oy Smith off Kyle. He then livened up slightly, and with some pretty cuts ami glances 200 wont up in 210 minutes. Douglas' in seventy-four minutes reached double figures, and the spectators cheered ironically, but Douglas was unperturbed. Foster, who was now,playing attractive and stylish cricket on both sides of the wicketj reached his; century in 134 minutes. His score included twelve fours. He was caught in the slips next hall. The attendance was 0000, and the weather and wicket arc’ still perfect. On the whole England’s hatting was unimpressive, and at- times tedious, lacking enterprise, especially before tea. An expert’s opinion is like MacLaren’s; “That older players arq preferable to so many young, ones for the tour.” . , . Englandl has' lost six wickets for 217'. Following are the scores.:- —

Hobbs) c Laver, b Matthews ;K 21 Kinuear, c Kyle, I) Macrow ... 32 Rhodes, Ibw., b Laver ... 28 Mead, c Carkcek, b Kyle ... 34 Hearno, b Matthews ... ... 0 Foster, c Armstrong,) In Laver ... 101 Douglas, not out 18 Suy,tJ,i, HQt,,o,u,t, Ul 1 Extras ... ... ... ... 0 Total for six wickets ' ... 247 Fall of wickets.—One for 32, two for 81, three for 83, four.far 113, live for 139, six fog-247; ; •< •