CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6091, 31 January 1898, Page 3

CRICKET.

STODDART'S TEAM V. AUKTEALIA. THE FOURTH TEST MATCH. Uiiited Press ABsociati.. n _By Electric TelegraphCopynglit. Beceived Jan. 3., 9 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 31. There was a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon, but uuleß3 there is a further fall of rain it is not likely that the pitch will be affected. NOTES ON SATURDAY'S PLAY. Be>eived Jan. 31, 10.20 a.m. ' With the thermometer at a hundred and seven iu the shade and a hundred and fifty-six in the sun it is no wonder that the attendance at the test match was not so large as waa expected. Preparation had been made for thirty thousand, but the actual attendance was a little under twenty thousand, the receipts totalling £JO'S. In the matter of the test matches which have already gone before this seasun, the present match furnished its sensation, tor atter losing six of ttieir best wickets iu short order for a miserable 58 runs, the Australians made a fine recovery. The early disusters followed each ether in rapid succession. M'ueod was the first to g°- He played Hearne hard on to the ground, the ball dribbing slowly on to his wicket. He tried at the last moment to save it, but was too late. Darling was dismissed by one of those catches which the Englishmen had missed one after another at Adelaide, but they did not miss them on Saturday. There was more trouble to follow. Gregory came in, and Richardson bowled him first ball. Iredale tried to cut Hearne, hitting too late, and was caught a: the wickot. Noble did not dq much better. He had returned one or two perilously near to iJearne, and Hearne made great dashes at them, but the batsman did this once too often, and the bowler took a pretty catch close to the ground. Hearne's average was improving, for i whereas his nrst two wickets had coat 9 runs, his first three had cost but 11. The position with half the wickets down for 32: runs was sufficiently remarkable, and waa to be attributed more to the weakness of the batting than to anything else. Much, however, was due to the bowling, and the fielding was better than the bowling. With the dismissal of Trott, just after the luncheon adjournment, came a turn iu the tide, and things began to look brighter for the Australians. For the recovery Hill was principally responsible, but the great-' ness of his performance must not be allowed, to dwarf that of Truuible, who helped to add 155 runs for the, seventh wicket. Trumble was there to keep the wicket up, and kept • it up for very . nearly three hours. He played almost wholly a defensive game and left his partner to do the run-getting.. Trumble gave a chance at the wicket about a third of the way through the innings, but otherwise was safe, and his batting, though slow, was never quite dreary. His success was all the more conspicuous after the downfall of the batsmen in front of him. This downfall it is not possible to explain. The bowling was good but not brilliant, at anyrate not nearly good enough to account for such a collapse. Those who insisted that any explanation was better than none, presently cast the blame upon the wicket, which before th commencement of the game had worn a lovely appearance. It . was - impossible however, to fix the responsibility there. The umpires declared the wicket excellent at the start. Trott stated that there was nothing to complain of. Iredale and Noble thought it very slow at the pavilion end, while M'Leod described as a bit choppy. Taking the testimony in bulk it is fair to conclude that there was not much wrong with it. It seems that of late it has become- the cua{ om on the Melbourne Ground to cover the wicket with a tarpaulin over night, if there i8 the remotest; possibility of rain. On Friday the ground was watered, and in the evening the tarpaulin was laid down. The result was that the moisture came to the surface, and was confined there by the covering. The moisture, however, soon evaporated, and after the luncheon adjournment the wicket was fast and true. • Hill's innings was one that will always liagerin the minds of those who saw it. He made 182 out of 274 runs put on while he was at the wickets. Never once did be look like getting out. For just one over he was in difficulties against Hearnej but before and after that he had the bowling at his mercy, and for the most part of the time flogged it right well. There waa an interval, when he went more slowly, and that ■was when there was some danger of the Australians being out by the tea adjournment. Bain was expected yesterday,, and it waa important that the Englishmen should not get an opportunity on. a good wicket before .it came ; but thanks to Trumble, the collapse was averted, and as soon as.Hill recognised this he returned to his merry pasting game. Kelly played steady cricket, but his chief mission evidently was to keep up the wickefc for Hilltebenefit. . Bain, fell yesterday in the form of a heavy thunderstorm, but it soon cleared again. The present indications do not point to the wicket being anything worse than slow. The Government meteorologist, however, predicts unsettled conditions. Beceived Jan. 31, 12.10 p.m. It is another sweltering day, rendered more oppressive by a northerly wind enveloping the city with the- smoke of numerous bush fires. The rain yesterday was very restricted in area, and no further fall has occurred. The wicket is probably improved rather than otherwise. Beceived Jan, 31, 2,35 pun. Nine for 303. Kelly 32, Jones not 11. Beceived Jan. 31, 2.38 p.m. i Australia all out for 323 runs.