CRICKET

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13916, 29 May 1909, Page 6

CRICKET

TOl'R OK AUSTRALIANS. THE FIRST TEST MATCH. MARRED BY RAIN. Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, May 27. The first test match begim to-day at Birmingham. The following were the teams finally selected :

England.— A. G. Maclaren (Lancashire), captain, C. B. Fry (Hampshire), A. O. Jones (Notts). G. L. Jessop (Gloucester), A. A. Lilicy (Warwickshire). G. H. Hirst (Yorkshire), G. 'I hompson (Northamptonshire), J. T. Tyldesley (Lancashire). (.'. Blythe (Ivcuti. J. B. Hol)l)s (Surrey). W. Rhodes (Yorkshire). ' Australia. —"\Y. Bardsley (New South Wales). M. A. Noble (Sow South Wales", V. Hansford (Victoria). W. W. Armstrong (Victoria), V. Trumper (New South Wales). J. A. O'Connor (South Australia), W. J. Whitty (South Australia). S. E. Gregory (New South Wales), A. Cotter (New South Wales), C. C. .Macartney (New South Wales), and IT. Carter (New South Wales). Drenching rain fell up to 1 o'clock to-day, and inspections of the •■.round were made at 4 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., and it was arranged to start at o p.m. if no rain fill in the interval. Noble won the loss and decided to hat. Play commenced shortly after •"> p.m. Hirst and Blythe opened the attack r.gainst Colter ami Bardsley. Cotter, after making a couple in the second over, dropped an easy catch into Hirsrs hands at mid-oif from a ball howled by Blythe. The first wicket fell at five. The wicket was of the softest description, and a plentiful supply of sawdust was requisitioned. Armstrong filled the vacancy. In ihe fifth over Bardsley was taken nicely by Maclaren in the slips, left-handed, off Hirst. Two for seven runs. Trumper joined Armstrong. After being in progress for a she rt time, play was stopped owing to the dusky condition of the weather. The players came out again at (i ..'clock. Trumper sent up an easy caUli at mid-off in the third over. At 0.1-j p.m. the light appeared to be against play, which then ended for the day. Except for the bad light, the weather towards the close was line, but the wicket was soft. The attendance numbered 4000. The following are the scores: — AI'STIiATIA. Ist Innings. Cotter, c Hirst, b lilyilie 2 Bardsley. c .Maclaren. b Hirst 5 Armstrong, not out !•> Trumper. e Hirst, b Blythe ]0 Th.ee wickets for '&