TEST CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1924, Page 9

TEST CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA V. ENGLAND.

THE HOME TEAM BATTING. 282 FOR THREE WICKETS. . TWO. INDIVIDUAL By Telegrapii.—Press Assn.—Copyright.. Received Dec. 19, 9.45 p.m. . Sydney, Dee; .19.The first cricket test between Australia and England opened here to-day. Australia took fijist strike and when stumps were drawn had lost three wickets for 252. Collins made 114 and Ponsford 110. 'Tiie weather was fine, and bright and the wicket was in good order. The attendance was 35,000. The teams were Australia.—Collins (captain), W. Bardsley, Mailey, Oldfield, Hendry, Ponsford, Kelleway, A. Richardson, V. Richardson, Taylor. England.—Gilligan (captain), Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hendren, Chapman. Hearne, Woolley, Tate, Freeman, Strudwick and Sandham.

Collins won the toss and elected to bat, opening with himself and Bardsley. Tate was in splendid condition and the batsmen took few liberties with him. Bowling with a slight. - wind he main? tained a good pace. Freeman ateo was puzzling and kept an excellent length. It was a'slaw one of his that Bardsley snicked into Woolley's hands at fine slip. Scoring was slow, the half century taking fifty-nine minutes to compile. Collins batted nicely, on the leg with singles. The fieldsmen let little past them, and Chapman, Sandham and Freeman made some especially fine returns. CENTURY IN HIS FIRST TEST. Ponsford, who was making his first appearance in * test cricket, batted forcibly, but Tate kept, him thinking. He 'played Freeman and Hearne more freely, however, and made his fifty in 117 minutes, displaying nice judgment in placing his strokes. Collins also played cleanly, and passed fifty in 150 minutes.. He left off balls mostly alone, but sent a good many off Tate away to square leg till Gilligan placed Freeman there. ‘

The century appeared in 151 minutes. Tate was temporarily relieved by Gilligan after bc/wling nineteen overs for 46 runs. With the score at 105, Collins, who was then 42, gave a dimcult chance for a catch to Hendren. : ,

Just before tea batting became more vigorous and play livened up. .Woolley seemed unable to get the balls up. Hearne caused uo trouble. Both Collins and Ponsford showed skill in pulling the fast bowlers to square leg. This stroke and drives to mid-on probably produced the most runs. Two hundred appeared in 210 minutes’ play. Collins reached his century with a drive to the boundary off Hobbs after 215 minutes at the crease. Twenty minutes later Hendren caught him in slips. The Australian skipper hit nine fours and- iris partnership with -Ponsford lasted ISO minutes. The board read one wicket for 46 and then two for 236. Collins had an enthusiastic reception on returning to the pavilion. ♦ THE FIELDING SOUND. The running of Ponsford and Collins between the wickets was a little uncertain, but it improved as the game .went on. Ponsford made one or two flukey strokes, but the,, ball landed in open spacer. Hie timing wa.s excellent. He played carefully and took no risks. Freeman’s first ball after tea narrowly missed his wicket.

The Englishmen’s picking up was exceptionally good and frequently evoked hearty applause. Strudwick was in good form behind the wickets. Ponsford reached hie hundred with a single after 206 minutes batting, but retired twentytwo minutes later. His score included eight fours. A. Richardson was batting attractively but the fielding was pretty sound. Stumps were drawn with the score at 28'2 for the loss of three wickets. Details: AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Collins, e Hendren, b Tate 114 Bardsley, c Woolley, b Freeman .... 21 Ponsford. b Gilligan 110 A Richardson, not out 21 Taylor, not out 1 Extra* 15 . - Total (for three wickets) .... 28*2