240 FOR FOUR WICKETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 608, 9 March 1929, Page 13

240 FOR FOUR WICKETS

ENGLAND BAJS IN TEST A CENTURY TO HOBBS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) MELBOURNE, Friday. Th© fifth and last test between England and Australia was begun this morning l . There was heavy rain in the morning, but the wicket was covered and it was not affected and was in perfect condition. There was an enormous attendance. J. V. White is the English captain. The teams are as follow: England Australia White Ryder (capt.). TTobbs Kippax Jardine Woodfull Tyldesley Oldfield Hendren Hornibrook Tate Fairfax Larwood Wall Hammond Bradman Ley land Jackson Duckworth Oxenham Geary Grimmett Chapman was chosen as 12th man for i England. a’Beckett for Australia. J. C. White is the English captain, i opened the batting with Jardine as his j partner. The new test bowlers, Wall and ; Hornibrook, opened the attack for Aus- j tralia. They both commenced in good j form, Hornibrook especially bothering j Jardine. In half an hour Hobbs had ! scored 10 runs and Jardine only five. ! After bowling seven overs at a good j pace and with a splendid length for only nine runs Wall was relieved by \ Oxenham. Hornibrook, who had bowled seven overs for 12 runs, gave j way to Grimmett, who bowled two ! maiden overs in succession. SOLID BATTING The batting was very solid. Jardine i In particular, as usual, lacked enter- j prise. He took 45 minutes to reach j double figures, the spectators cheering ironically. Then he did not add an- | other run for 25 minutes. The crowd 1 was getting very sarcastic.

Soon after luncheon Jardine skied a ball from Wall, and Oldfield running out toward the fence took a welljudged catch. Jardine bated 101 minutes. He hit no fours. It was a tiresome exhibition.

Hobbs reached 50 in 107 minutes and completed his 1,000 runs in test games on the Melbourne ground. Shortly afterwards Hammond made several neat drives to cover, the century being brought up after 129 minutes. The batting had been much more attractive than before luncheon, Hobbs being in particularly good form. GRIMMETT RETIRES

In trying to stop a hit from Hobbs Grimmett was struck on the knee. Play was held up for some minutes. He finished his over with a loose ball, but Hobbs in a sporting manner refused to score off it. Grimmett then retired from the field, a’Beckett taking his place. Grimmett then had bowled 15 overs, nine of which W€:re maidens, for only 18 runs.

When Hobbs had scored 77 he was badly missed in the slips by Hornibrook off Fairfax. Hammond was well caught in the slips by Fairfax, after batting for 76 minutes. He made four boundary strokes, and looked dangerous when he was dismissed. When Hobbs had made 91 he placed a ball from Hornibrook perilously near to Wall at mid on. It was a bad stroke, and a very near thing. Tyldesley commenced confidently and neatly. Grimmett was still off the field after the tea interval, with a bad bruise below the knee, but it is not serious, although it was ill luck for Australia at that stage. HOBBS’S CENTURY There was a great demonstration when Hobbs, in what is probably his last test match, reached the century, which was his first in the present series of test matches. Hobbs waved his cap again and again to the spectators. He was evidently delighted with his success. He had made his runs in 20S minutes. Soon after this Grimmett returned to the field, and he soon had Tyldesley in difficulties. The second century was reached after 235 minutes’ play. Hobbs was then batting very attractively, especially when facing Grimmett. Tyldesley had become very subdued, however, and stood at 20 for 10 overs. Hobbs also quietened down and there was a fairly long period of dull play. ... * „ Hobbs played a great innings foi his side. He batted 278 minutes and hit 11 boundaries. The partnership yielded 89 runs in 95 minutes. Duckworth before seeing was missed by Oldfield, a catch behind the wickets off Ryder. Tyldesley batted 105 minutes and went out in the last over. The attendance was 21,400 and the receipts £1,583. The details of the score are as follow: — ENGLAND First Innings HOBBS, lbw, b Ryder .. JARDINE, c Oldfield, b Wall - J-j HAMMOND c Fairfax, b Wall . . . . TYLDESLEY, e Hornibrook, b Ryder ol DUCKWORTH, not out 3 Extras •• •• l _ Four wickets for 240

PLAYERS IN THE TESTS

The following shows what tests the players have engaged in: ENGLAND Hobbs. —1,2, 3. 4 and 5. Sutcliffe. —1,2, 3. and 4. Mead. —1. Hammond. —1,2, 3, 4 and 5. Jardine. —1,2, 3, 4 and 5. Hendren. —1,2. 3, 4 and 5. Chapman,—l, 2, 3 and 4. Tate. —1,2, 3, 4 and 5. Larwood. —1,2, 3, 4 and 5. White. —1,2, 3,4, and 5. Duckworth. —1,2, 3, 4 and 5. Geary.—2, 3, 4 and 5. Tyldesley. —5. Leyland.—s. AUSTRALIA Ponsford. —1 and 2. Woodfull. —1. 2, 3. 4 and 5. Kippax.—l, 2,3, 4 and 5. Hendry.—l, 2,3, and 4. Kelleway.—l. Ryder.—l, 2,3, 4, and 5. Bradman. —1,3, 4 and 5. Oldfield. —1,2, 3, 4 and 5. Grimmett. —1,2, 3, 4 and 5. Ironmonger.—l and 2. Gregory.—l. Richardson.—2 and 3. Nothling.—2. Blackie. —2,3, and 4. Oxenham. —3, 4 and 5. A’Beckett. —3 and 4. Jackson. —4 and 5. Fairfax.—s. Wall. —5. Hornibrook.—s.

CHAPMAN’S OMISSION

COMMITTEE PICKS TEAM FORM JUSTIFIES ACTION Although it is heralded in Sydney as . ‘first-class cricket sensation,” the •mission of Chapman from the fifth rest is only unexpected from the point >f view that it breaks away from the •onservative English tradition that • ncc the captain is appointed, it is >niy in most exceptional circumstances

that he gives up the leadership in the same series of Tests. Judged purely on form. Chapmans omission is justified by the fact that, since he scored a brilliant century against South Australia in October, he has been a comparative failure with the bat, and England developed such an alarming “tail” in the third and fourth Tests, that it was obvious that the batting needed strengthening. This was a difficult question, because the team’s stock bowlers, White, Tate, Larwood and Geary, have also failed with the bat, and Duckworth, the indispensable wicket-keeper, is not a reliable run-getter. These points were probably fully considered by Chapman, since, although he himself could not make the decision, it is probable that he gave the selection committee the necessary' lead, which would bring about the change without undue friction. If this is so, it. was certainly a great tribute to White and to the sportsmanship of Chapman that the change was brought about.

In addition to being a fine bowler. White is captain of the Somerset team in county cricket in England, and should be quite capable of leading the side competently with the experience of four Test victories in which lie played no small part. The selection of the English team on tour is in the hands of a committee consisting of the manager, captain, vice-captain and two other players. A Sydney message says the newspapers there describe Chapman’s relegation to twelfth man as a first-class cricket sensation.

General regret was expressed when it was learned that. he had been dropped. He was most popular with the Australian cricket crowds.

PRAISE FOR HOBBS

UNWITHERED BY AGE CHAPMAN’S EXCLUSION Reed. 12.39 p.m. LONDON, Friday. Heading an article, “Age Cannot Wither Him Nor Custom Stale His Infinite Variety,” Mr. P. F. Warner, in the “Morning Post,” says he saw Hobbs’s first test century, made in

Melbourne in 1912. Seventeen years after that, at an age when inexorabh time had generally laid his withering blast on a cricketer’s skill, he scored his twelfth test century.

“Hobbs is a master. He has suggested that this may be his last appearance in tests, though it is a question whether future selectors will agree. His fame is for all time. “Though he received more flattery adulation, hero-worship and praise than any other cricketer, he always has been most modest and most unassuming.”

Mr. Warner, commenting on th r absence of A. P. F. Chapman fron the English test team, says his bnttiru is disappointing, but his wonderful fielding is a positive inspiration. H« is the sort of cricketer who make an incomparable catch which wins match. Furthermore he has uncom mon ability as a leader. Mr. Warner is sorry he will -not I" in at what is hoped will be the kil of the kangaroo. He says the thirand fourth test matches gave the rb finite impression that there is littU to choose between the two teams. II pins his faith on England, but th* will miss Chapman’s fielding. H< regrets that Ames has not had chance in a test match. He prophesies a big batting future for Duck worth.