TEST CRICKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 2 January 1912, Page 6

TEST CRICKET.

THE SECOND TEST. •AUSTRALIANS MAKE A BAD 'BEGINNING. ALL OUT FOR 184. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) ■ ■ ' *'i A Melbourne, December 30. The second test match of the Englishmen’s tour in Australia started to-day in perfect weather and on a good wicket. In the morning there was an attendance of 26,301. The takings were £llß3. Macartney was omitted from the Australian team, which is the same as that which met the Englishmen in the first test. Kinneir, . Iremonger, Vine, Strudwick and Warner stand out of the English team. There was amazement on the ground and in the city owing to Australia’s disastrous commencement. The wicket was perfect, and up to the lunch adjournment the ball had complete mastery over the bat. Hill won the toss and decided to bat. He sent in Bardsley and Kelleway, who were opposed by Foster and Barnes respectively. Foster bowled a maiden. A remarkilble effect was produced by Barnes’ first ball to Bardsley'. It hit against , the heel of the batsman’s right foot and went thence to the wicket. Hill was next in and shaped uncomfortably to Barnes, who neat him three times in one oyer. Kclleway got in front to Barnes, who immediately made an appeal, but before the umpire’s decision was given Kelleway left the wicket, satisfied that ho was out. Trumper joined Hill, who hit over one from Barnes and was bowled. Armstrong followed, but after scoring 4 was caught at the wicket off Barnes. Ransfoi'd ’ succeeded Trumper. He was slow, defensive and watchful. In pne over he cut twice for 4, the only 4’s got before luncheon. Barnes had Trumper in difficulties, and at the adjournment four wickets were down for 32, of which Trumper got 13 and Rahsford 8. Barnes’ figures at this stage were 9 overs, 6 maidens, 4 wickets, 3 runs. When Armstrong was dismissed Barnes’ average was four for 1.

On the resumption after luncheon the attendance had. materially increased. The weather was clearer, but oppressive. Trumper was bowled by Foster’s second ball. Foster was swerving considerably and bowled well, while Barnes was swinging and turning them well from leg with a good length. Trumper batted for forty-four minutes. Minnett was cheered on appearing, but his innings was short-lived. He was caught at cover. Hordern was also cheered, the spectators remembering his Sydney achievement with the ball. .Hansford was batting cautiously and the runs came slowly. The, first 50 occupied eighty-nine minutes. The crowd cheered at a refreshing leg hit for 4 by Ransford off Foster. Hordern when at.. 6. had a narrow escape.. He cocked a*-* Ball "‘from' Barnhs .' to point, Hearne just failing to reach it. At 62 Hitch relieved Foster -who had taken 1 for•JSvTfie"field- was"’set deep’ and the batsman stole a run from a stroke a few yards, from the crease. Hitch returned rj sjiaDply, ■ -arid Sniitlj was cheered oh brilliantly 1 taking the ball. At 72 Douglas relieved Barnes, whose figures then were: 15 overs, 8 maidens, 5 wickets, 19 runs. Ransford was attractive and effective, but cautious. He received an ovation when the game had been proceeding for ninety-four minutes by hitting two 4’s. • Most of his runs were cut to leg. Cotter was applauded for cutting Hitch to leg to the boundary three times in ;, 6fie>Bverv i - { H(j then attempted an Hifp’oksiUle run -find - his wicket was thrßhn-* \Vb'olle’y , j who at mid-on took Hearne’s return from the boundary. Carter opened prettily, back cutting Hitch. The century appeared for 105 minutes’ play. At 109 Hearne relieved Douglas. Carter cut and glanced Hearne for 7in the first over. At 117 Douglas relieved Hitch, who got one for 47, Barnes relieving Hearne. The crowd became impatient 'at Barnes’' delay in placing his field, and jeered. Barnes thereupon threw the ball down and Would not bowl until the jeering uad cfascd. A section of the crowd cheered Barnes, bat the hooting was renewed r.s ho bowled. Such a demonstration against a successful bowler is rare m Australia. There were*lronical yells when Carter stole a.run and turned Barnes to leg for 3 the next over. Those in the grandstand warmly applauded Barnes as a counter-demonstration to the unsportsmanlike heckling of a section in the outer reserve. Some of the latter shouted “Take your time, Barnes.” Carter quickly readied Hordern’s

'l. and then the tea adjournment was taken with eight wickets down for 129. Barnes and Douglas bowled on the resumption of play. The scoring was slow. Carter was well caught at the wickets. Whitty had scored 3 and the total was 149 when his bails were removed. Believing he was bowled Whitty and others were leaving the field, when the wicketkeeper told the umpire that the ball had rebounded on to the wicket from the keeper’s pad. The innings was continued. The 150 occupied 189 minutes. At 'l6B Foster relieved Barnes, who at slip missed Hordern when at 40 off Foster’s sixth ball. Hordern received an ovation on legging Douglas" to the boundary and securing the top score of 14. At 184 Woolley relieved Douglas and dismissed Whitty with his first ball. Hordern was determined throughout his’ 101 minutes at the wickets. Ho hit five 4’s. The innings lasted 222 minutes'. England fielded well. Hobbs and Rhodes opened England’s innings; facing Cotter and Whitty respectively. Hobbs was easily caught by Carter off the first ball of Cotter’s second over. The scores were as follow: AUSTRALIA—First Innings. Bardsley, b Barnes ... ... 0 Kelleway, Ibw, 1) Barnes ... 2 Hill, b Barnes ... ... 4 Armstrong, c Smith, b Barnes ... 4 Trumper, b Foster ... ... 13 Hansford, c Smith, b Hitch ... 43 Minnett, c Hobbs, b Barnes ... 2 Hordern, not out ... ... 49 Cotter, run out L. ... ... 14 Carter, c Smith, b Douglas ... 29 Whitty, b Woolley ... ... 14 Extras ... ... ... 10 Total ... ... ... 181 Bowling analysis.—Foster one for 52, Hitch one for 37, Douglas one for 33, Woolley one for nil, Hearne none for 8, Barnes, 23 overs, 9 maidens, 5 wickets, 44 runs. ENGLAND—First Innings. Hobbs, c Carter, b Cotter ... (> Rhodes, not out ... • ... 16 Hearne, not out ... ... 12 Extras ... ... ... 4 Total for one wicket ... 38

THE ENGLISHMEN AT THE WICKETS. Melbourne, January 1. It rained slightly overnight. The morning was threatening, out the weather cleared by noon. Warner inspected the wicket and found it slow and easy. The crowd cheered Warner when ho went to the .dressing room, and congratulated Barnes on Saturday’s performance. Fifteen thousand were present at the beginning of play, the taking being £1621. Jhe weather was perfect, and the wicket is lasting well. Details : ENGLAND.—First Innings. Hearne, c Carter, h Cotter ... 114 Rhodes, c Trumper, b Cotter ... 114 Gunn, Ibw. to Armstrong ... 10 Mead, c Armstrong, 1) IVbitty ... 11 Foster, c Hill, b Cotter ... ... 9 Douglas, b Hordern ... ... 9 Woolley, c Hansford, b Hordern 23 Smith, b Hordern ... ... 5 Barnes, leg before, Hordern ... 1 Hitch, not out ... ... ... 0 Extras 16 Total ... 26,3 Bowling Analysis.—Cotter, four for 72; Hordern, four for 66; Whitty, one for 47; Armstrong, one for 20; Minnett, none for 16; Kelleway, none for 27. The wickets fell—-One for 10, two for 137, throe for 147, four for 213, five for 224, six for 227, seven for 253, eight for 260, nine for 262.

CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, January 1. The Canterbury and Wellington match commenced on Saturday at the Basin Reserve. The weather was fine, the wicket favouring the howlers. Play was very slow, only 182 runs being scored in 31 hours. Wellington scored only 81—Findlay 22 (not out), Blamires 20, Patrick 15. The most successful bowler was Bennett, with five for 20; Reese two for 16, Sandman two for 17, Carlton one for 23. Canterbury have lost four for 101—Hayes 33 (not out), Hickmott 20, Reese 10, Carlton 10. Saunders took two wickets for 25, and Bennett did the “hat trick,” howling Little, Finlayson, and Hickson with consecutive balls. The match was resumed on Monday. Canterbury’s ta 1 failed to wag, and the team was dismissed for 163 Hayes 55, Thomas 21, Boxshall 15. Bowling analysis—Saunders six for 52, Patrick three for 41. Wellington started in the second innings well, Bowles and Gibbes putting on 80 for the first wicket, and Blamires and Gibbes 100 for the second wicket. Then a rot set in, Reese thereafter securing six wickets for 17 runs. Wellington scored 238—Gibbes 76, Blamires 65, Bowles 39, Reese captured six wickets for 75, Bennett four for 77. Canterbury now require 157 to win.