Second Edition THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 6, 16 December 1911, Page 6

Second Edition THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyngut.) (United Press Association.) Sydney, December 15. The serious business of the Englishmen's tour was inaugurated in perfect weather conditions. There was a big attendance of 17,000. The Australians wore black armhands in memory of the late 11. H. Duff. . ... , t x±ul won the toss and deemed to take advantage of Lie good wicicot, Kelleway and Bardsley opening to Foster and Douglas^ Both were, cautious, runs coming only in singles. At 20, Barnes relieved Douglas, the first four corning off him, Bardsley lata cutting him beautifully. The next ball he snicked to the fine leg boundary. Alter two overs, Douglas again took the ball, Barnes taking the other end. When the"total was 44, Bardslev, in attempting to cut Douglas, tipped the ball, and Strudwick made a brilliant catch —One for 44. Hill opened with a weak stroke, the bail rising dangerously at midoff, but passed the field, however, and reached the boundary, hilly appeared after 56 minutes. The captain quickly found his form, and started punishing the bowlers, glancing and hitting to leg Jus best style. He soon passed Kelleway, who was one hundred minutes in scoring 19. Hearne and Vv oolley took the bowling at 76, and the latter in his first# over caught and bowled Kelleway from a hard drive which returned straight. After lunch, Armstrong joined Hill, and cut Woolley for four off the first ball, and scored two with a straight drive off the next. Play brightened considerably, and the century was hoisted in 92 minutes. Hearne bowled erratically, and the batsmen punished him.

Hill played all the bowlers alike, scoring practically ofl everything to leg, and placing the ball beautifully. With Armstrong, he put on 45, and then played a hard one from Foster to square leg and ran. Rhodes brilliantly returned the ball, and Kill, unable to get back, was run out. He batted for 54 minutes, and hit six fourerp me score was throe for 121 when Trumper joined Armstrong. Ho hit Douglas’ first ball for four, all run. -Douglas, who was bowling a wonderful length, with Barnes at the, other end, kept the runs down, and Trumper was 25 minutes before adding to the score, and Armstrong was almost as quiet. At 18 Armstrong gave a hot chance, returning the ball hard to Douglas, who was unable to hold it. Bowling changes were frequent, and play again became dull, 150 taking 153 minutes.

One reason of. the glow scoring was the excellently placed field, Trumper not using his customary unorthodox strokes. Amstrong brought up his 50 by driving Hearne for four. It occupied 95 minute's hud included seven fours. His chief scoring strokes were powerful cuts and drives. Armstrong --played” forward' to 'the last ball before tea, a googlio from Hearne, which he missed, and _dragged his over, being smartly stumped by Strudwick. The partnership had added 77. After the adjournment, Trumper played more like a champion batsman, and Hearne was particularly punished, as he was bowling a lot of loose

Douglas and Foster again took' charge of the attack, both keeping a good length. Hansford, who was uncomfortable, played several weak strokes, and although, they w(?x(j not actual chances, ottotf' lifia&h, hy the b0w1er5.,.,,, i ■ e. ~ ato *.. . When 26, Trumper scooped Douglas high to the on, and Kinnear was just unable to reach it. It was a narrow escape, and his first bad stroke. A couple of bails later he passed Armstrong’s total, pulling a ball from the off stump to the square leg boundary—a typical Trumper stroke. Two hundred and fifty came up in 226 minutes. Eleven runs later Rhodes cowled his first ball of the match, replacing Douglas. Hansford was an hour scoring 17, a single occasionally three -h slips being bis best stroke. At 26. he cut Barnes high to Hearne at point, and the chance was held. T.:c partnership yielded 80. Minuett was next man. He hit a fourer off Barnes’ first ball at cover. Trumper continued playing faultlessly his late cuts and leg glan.cr p-./iag particularly remunerative, and bringing 300 up in 270 minutes. Minuett batted with great freedom for a novice, and played out time. Scores: — AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Kelleway, c and b Woolley ... 20 Bardsley, c Strudwick, b Douglas 30 Hill, run out ... ... ... 46 Armstrong, st. Strudwick, b Hearne ... • 60 Trumper, not out ... ... ... 06 Hansford, c Hearne, b Barnes ... 26’ Minnett, not out ... ... - ... 22 Extras ... ... 18 Total for five wickets ... 317 WARNER RETURNS HOME. (Received 16, 0.25 a.m.) Sydney, December 16. The weather is dull. Warner’s illness is more serious than hitherto thought. He will not play again on the tour, and.returns to England shortly. Possibly he will never again l>e able to piny cricket. The “Herald” describes the cricket as prosaic. Even the efficient Trumper had a subdued sparkle. The game was at the level of test match seriousness. The “Telegraph” says 'Trumper made Douglas look to his laurels as the “slowest even.” This is a new Trumper with a vengeance. The bowlers were good, but if Trumper purposes to lie dug out there is sore trouble ahead.