BIG CRICKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 40, 12 February 1912, Page 5

BIG CRICKET.

ENGLISHMEN MAKE 370 FOR ONE WICKET. CENTURIES BY HOBBS AND RHODES. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (.United Press Association.) Melbourne, February 11. There was glorious weather and an attendance of 10,000 when the match was resumed on a perfect wicket. Hordern and Cotter began the attack. The batsmen were cautious, scoring 15 in half an hour, against 54 in 35 minutes yesterday. Anticipating a stroke from Rhodes off Hordern, Trumpon moved in to short leg, and the ball fell on the spot he had just left. ■ ■ . ; Hobbs reached 5 in /4 minutes. At 82, Armstrong relieved Cotter, who Dad taken no wickets for 34, and Kellcway replaced Hordern, who had taken no wickets for 26. Hobbs pulled Kelle-way for 12 in one over, and the century went up for 95 minutes’ play, 50 of which occupied an hour oi today’s play. Batting was steady until luncheon,' when the score was to wickets for l37—Hobbs 86, Rhodes 48. On resuming, Hordern and Cotter bowled. The former puzzle.! Rhodes frequently. Rhodes leathtl e 0 in 131 minutes, and J lobes B.J in 143 r nutes. The latter player lecened an ovation, this being b s thud ce-ruiy iu the present senes of test matches. The scoring continued, Hobbs being exquisite, whilst Rhodes was uncertain at times. The Australians’ score, on a tricky wickc-t, was passed in 177 minutes on a vastly diifol'tm; piten. Hobbs cut Minnett .or Mur, bringing up 201 in 186 minutes. Tiie spectators ■ were .rquical at the expense .of tiie Arst/.i’ians’' iu'-ffec-tive bowling, and cried, 1 '“wive the umpires a trial!” and “AYby don’t you retire f” ( • ; • AVheri 124 Hobbs gave a hot chance forward at short leg to Bardsley, oil Kellcway, the stroke producing two. Rhodes ’ cub Armstrong for four, reaching Lis century' iu 220 minutes, his first century' in tost matches. This established a first wicket record.

At the lea adjournment the score was—Rhodes 102, Hobbs 139—n0 wickets for 2-19.

Cotter and Armstrong resumed the attack. The former was palpably tired, and scoring continued freely. At 284, Miunett relieved Cotter—o—7s, and Matthpws relieved Armstrong—o —43. Eleven were scored off Minnett’s first over, and Hobbs, cutting Minnett for four, hoisted 300 in 247 minutes— Rhodes 12L and Hobbs 168.

Frequent changes of bowling failed to keep down the runs. AVhen 178, Hobbs was missed at short leg by Cotter off Hordern, but 36-balls later ho was caught at the wickets. His was n superb innings of 268 minutes’ beautiful playing. He hit 22 fourers, and received an ovation—l—323. Gunn, who was next < man, opened steadily. Rhodes ran to 150 in 300 minutes. At 330 Cotter relieved Hov - deni. In desperation - /-Ransford was given the ball in place of Kellcway—--o—6l. AVhen 156, Rhodes was missed hi the slips by Kellcway off Cotter. Rhodes received ah ovation- on returning to the pavilion. -G; ■ ■ The weather was perfect, and the wicket is lasting well. The attendance wa's .31,795; "and the takings £1442. , Scfdr.es i-H, 5 ) ' , 1 -’• ' AUSTRALIA.

First innings ... ... ... 191 ENGLAND.—First Innings. Hobbs, c Carter, ,b Hordern ... 17S Rhodes, not out'' ... •.;.>* ... 157 Gunn, not out ... ... ... 22 Extras ... • R

Total for one wicket ... ... 370 IS HILL TO BE DROPPED? Melbourne, February 11. Hill has not received : Ap- invitation to go to England. He states: “( don’t know why. Perhaps its non-appear-ance is significant. Maybe they want to drop me altogether without a hearing, but they can go too far. One pleasant thing was.my magnificent reception yesterday by the public.” Sydney, February 11. H.’ll lias not received an invitation to accompany the team to, England. The Board of Control has decided by a majority that it is not desirable that he be included in the team. ENGLISH PRESS OPINION. London, February 11. K The newspapers aro enthusiastic over the cricket record. The “Globe” states that Douglas I,as fully justified , his choice. 'The innings of Hobbs, it says, gives him a place among-England’s greatest batsmen.

The ' “Eveirng News” says that Hobbs eclipsed Darling’s reccrd in 1597-S.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

(Per Press Association.) Christchurch, February 11. The match for the Plunket Shield between Canterbury and Auckland was played in fine weather, but the heavy ruin of 'Thursday and FridayJnul left the wicket slow and the outfield dead. Canterbury won the toss, and batted, but made a poor showing, being all out in a little over two hours. Auckland’s batting was a lot better, Sbeddon and Hemus both performing splendidly, notwithstanding the fine bowling by Canterbury. Scores •. — CANTERBURY. —First Innings. H. B. Lusk, c and b Thompson ... 27 2V. Norman, b Thompson 0 \V. Hayes, b Thompson 5 W. Carlton, b Thompson 10 1). Reese, c Thompson, b Cliff ... 18 R. G. Hickmott, b Cliff ... ... 14 \V. Patrick, c Hemus, b Cliff ... 0 D. Sandman, c Horspool, b Cliff 1 A. \V. Thomas, b Cliff ... ... 1 C. Boxshall, st. Ellis, b Cliff ... 0 J. H. Bennett, not out 5 Extras ... ... ... ... 3 Total 80 Bowling Analysis.—G. J. Thompson, 21 overs, 7 maidens, 32 runs, 4 wickets; C. Cliff, 17 overs, 3 maidens, 37 runs, 0 wickets; F. R. Mason, 3 overs, 12 runs.

AUCKLAN I).—First Innings. JO. \'. Sale, b Sandman 4 llenuis, I) Carlton 34 W. Rrooke-Sniith, b Reese ... 1 Sneddon, b \V. Carlton ... ... 70 (J. .1. Thompson, b Reese ... ... 12 JO. Horspool, b Reese ... ... 0 L. Tavlor, run out ... ... 17 A. Wallace, 1) Reese U F. 11. .Mason, not nut 3 W. 11. Fills, Ibw., b Reese ... 3 Extras ... ... ... ... 31 Total for nine wickets ... 183