“STRATFORD EVENING POST" SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1928. THE FIRST TEST.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 99, 8 December 1928, Page 4

“STRATFORD EVENING POST" SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1928. THE FIRST TEST.

THE defeat of the Australian, cricket eleven in the first test match was so overwhelmning that it can not be regarded, as an indication of the true merits of the respective teams (says the Lyttelton Times). In the long annals of international fixtures probably there is nothing that can compare with this remarkable victory of the Englishmen. That they played good cricket will be admitted, and by no one more readily than their oppon e.uts. The batting was of the dogged variety, and the attack must have been superb. This was the first test match to be played in Brisbane, an it will raise the question of whether the wicket there is suitable for such a , match. The collapse, of the Australians in the second innings cannot have been solely due to the standard of howling, for the side contained batsmen, of proved defensive capacity, and the occasion called for a mighty effort. And the fighting spirit of the Australians is such that they usually rise to tlle occasion, being never more dangerous than when fighting against odds. Doubtless the result will create a demand for d.ras-' tic changes in the representative side for more, experienced men to take the place of the colts but all who have had any experience of the control of these games know that there *is always a period of weakness when promising players have to be given their chance to make good in the topmost, grade. Occasionally, of course, a player appears on the scene who i s master of every phase of the game from, the beginning, but such discoveries are rare. The astounding result of the match at Brisbane must add greatly to the interest in the remaining fixtures, for ,if Wq know the Australians at all, they will bo on their mettle, keen te wipe out tins signal defeat. The game has shown that the visitors are a splendid si e , with batsmen able, to make runs and bowlers who are always They left nothing to chance, but they knowl full well that the display of \ opponents was not up , to the - standard of an Australian eleven, a d that while the first test has gone decisively in their favour, the ***** ing matches have yet to he won.