THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16307, 23 December 1920, Page 8

THE FIRST TEST MATCH.

AUSTRALIA WINS BY 377

RUNS,

By Telegraph--Brcaa Association—Copyright,

Australian and j>.Zi. uab.o Association. SYDNEY, December 22. , Tho fifth day’s pmy m tho teat match commeiicou m not wuailicr. Tho wicket was wearing oaeouenuy. r iaga wero at liaifmasi, ami ii lo Austra.ians were wearing biaeu arm banus in memory ol Ur Tozer. .Hobbs and Hearno teuiud down to cautious batting, declining to touch anything except loose delivoaes. ilaucy, wuo was not uti.iaad on the previous uitenioou, failed to terrify the batsmen, Hobbs atimg ono over the lenco to long ou. Armstrong then endeavoured to separate tho pair, Ins first over bung a maiden, 'iho following over Hobbs scored a single oil the Australian skipper, bringing up the livid century. Hobbs thou stopped across the wickot to place Arm strong to on, but the bowler sent down one ot hia famous straight leg breaks and got Hobbs leg before wicket, Hondreu opened his account by scooping Armstrong to square leg Ui the Umcc, but immediately slackened again. Opposing ilailey, Tio despatched the Hrst Trail to the boundary, but played back tor the remainder of tho over.

After luncheon the batsqien wore again adopting cautious methods, until Gregory broke through Hearno’s defence with a splendidly pitched bull, which look his ok stump, Woolley Kit Mailey lor three founi. hut in playing forward missed tho ball with his foot raised from tho crease, Oldfield effecting a smart bit o[ slumping. 4—16—170. Tho advent of Douglas created interest, in new of _ tho English capraia’s discomfort facing Mailey. He sprang on tho last ball of the over, which was delivered outside Urn log stump, Armstrong, standing at short line leg, a few yards iron, the flumps,, brilliantly accepted a remarkably hot catch. Douglas was the most surprised man on the ground, and remained in the crease until the umpire was officially appealed to. When given out lie pointed ,io the .ground, indicating bump ball, tho crowd ridiculing tho contention as Dougins set out for tho pavilion. HbodtS forced the pace when opposed to Mailey, hitting several boundaries in (lie first couple of overs. Tlie 200 mark was reached in 211. minutes. Hcndren later registered 50 no f, result of 104 minutes’ patient haUins. Or. resuming after tea Armstrong tried Gregory and Kollway, the latter in his first over finding Hendron’s middle peg. S—ss— Model!, tihapdr," ronndontly, executed se-veraf fine all round tho wicket shots, hut exercised na much caution es if tho match .wne^ hanging in iho balance. Taylor in tho outfield earned applause by cutting off boundaries. His work throughout the match was of tho highest class. Hitch daringly hit out to Gregory, lifting him safely to the outfield for two. Tv hen 10 he stepped down the wicket to Australia’? fast howler mid hit him l’.r."d to Tny T or at extra mid on, that player making a fine catch. Armstrong rcnlaor/l Gregory with Mailer, whoso first ball wns -i full loss. Rhodes hit it over the bowler's hoad,_ and the catch was taken by Ryder IntoJil Kdkj; to Macariney at exHa mid off but that usually safe fle'danum dropped tho catch. Two balls later KsllcwaV bowled Parkin's middle peg, with England’s ri;^ 0 Australia thus winning by 577

Total «87 The wickets fell as follow One fet 40, two for 80. three for 140, lour for 162, five for 173, six for 176, seven for 214, 1 eight for 219, ten for 267, Bowling Analysis.—Hesrnc, three wickets for 77 runs; Woolley, two for 35; Parkin, one for S3; Wnddinqton, one for 35; Hitch, none for 87: Douglas, none for 14, Wadi dington bowled ono no-ball.

Total 581 The wicket? foil as follow:—One for 123, two for 231, tlu'co for 241, four for 282, five for 332, eis for 519, won for 536, eight .for 540, nine for 573. Bowling Analysis.—Parkin, three wickets for 102 rune; Douglas, two for 79; Woolley, two for 90; Hcarne, ono for 21; Hitch, none for 40; Waddingtou, none for 53; Rhodes none for G7. Eearnc and Waddington eaos bowled ono no-ball.

Total . . ... 190 Tho wickets foil as follow: —One for 0, two for SC, three for 70, four for 143, live for 140, aix fox 150, seven for 165, eight fox 189. nine for ISO, ten fox 190. Bowling Analysis.—Gregory, three wickets for 56 rune; Mailey, three for 35; Ryder, two for 20; Kellewty, ono for 10; Arm*

' The wickets fell as follow; One for 5 two for ICS, three for 140, four for 170. five ioi 173, six for 231, seven for 201, eight for -/I, nine for 2<9, icn for 231 forc'dIth?ee 1 th?ee tor 70 runs, Relleway, three for 45; Maher nono for * OS ;, Arm = troTi K. for 12; Ryd«; none lor 1, Macartney, none for 7.

ENGLISH CRITICISM.

CONGRATULATIONS to the WINDERS, keen public interest. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Au.trslUn ami N.Z Cable Association, (Received December 23, 5.15 a .m.) LONDON, December 22 Though the result of the match against New South Males was regarded in Eu-dand as snowiiij,* that Australia's cricket strength had boon underrated, both m Australia and Lngiand, the play m the Test Match surprised .and disappointed followers of (1m game. But they are by no means downhearted. It is pointcu out that the last team, after losing the first game, won the tevuaindcT.

Critics are especially struck by fbo Aus Italians batting so coiisistentlv. They G‘ on aider tlio team has quite eight dencndabL batsmen, and though England comparatively tails oil, <ho side contains great bats man who only need to strike form to viva r. very good Recount of themselves Australia's victory i 3 accepted ungrudmrody and many tributes are paid to the deseed patient pa'ling which is the histedo Australian game in matches without a time limit, and was thoroughly justified in this match. This feature is regarded as lessening the disappointment over the EngliGi bowlers Dncmins weakness in the second innings, but there is some miMoti. chancet;. Armstrong's display and Goi'.im! s century m his find Test Mat-h are _ the subject or many eulogies. The progress of the mate?! was watched with .he g.ea.sst. interest all ore* th« country. ' 0

ARMSTRONG COMPARED WITH GRACE.

United Service. (Received December 23, noon.) r) , LONDON, December 22. iae newspapers unite in a. chorus of praise .ox the Australians’ Li'Aiiuv. p;iiTiculcriy

Armstrong's, winch ‘ “ The Times ” describee as the most brilliant of the match, and tho greatest ho has ever displayed. Other papers liken.Armstrong to Ur \V.' G. Grace. Despondency is expressed as to England’s prospects in tho remaining Tests on account of Australia’s batting strength. The "Guardian” says tho English’ team was absurdly below its true form. An ordinary county eleven could hardly have fared worse.

The " Evening News ” says tho Australians ware superior in every department except holding.

AUSTRALIAN COMMENT.

ENGLAND OUTPLAYED.

Australian and N.2. Cable Association, 1 Received December 23, noon.)

. _ SYDNEY, December Qo. J.ho “Daily Telegraph" states .hat England s innings was not worth discussing, in i /‘lone playing enterprising cricket. •Judged by tho standard of his colleagues, his innings was a' masterpiece. The best wo can say o: tho Englishmen is that they lought to the end, but not in a. generous m °od| several disputing decisions, which went on to the end of the match. They did not show first-class cricket, and forced •>en ,°T lini( f n lb at England was not worth ° , ’A 1 ’- 13 j’ 1 an i’ ono innings. Parkin was a lai.ure and ’ never looked liko bowling anyone.

Tho Sydney Morning Herald” says that Aus.ra.m, collectively and individually, outplayed England this time, but though tn§ nw.i-gin of victory was tremendous, it is not to be taken as a criterion of the remainder , A’. ser !, e3, . Tt has previously happened that the English team has been outplayed jn v.io first match and won the rest. England log; the _ match on Saturday when the hatting - gofc into diQiculties with Mailcy. J. hence e, victory (or Australia seemed assured, and missed chances contributed to tiie victory. Collins, Macartney and tvellaway were allowed to compile scorns which should have been reduced by SO per ££ n A 'The writer pays a fine eulogy to •n ’ v; b° tooks with tho greatest players oi the past, ant! prophesies renown for Gregory and Jiailoy as first-class bowlers, -die best team on the day won nil along the line. Douglas’s team is yet below its proper form, Neither aide is as good 93 in 1011-12. All havo deteriorated, which is duo to absence Irom serious cricket during tho war The Australian batsmen gave a gone sound defensive display. Armstrong's innings was the most polished display. of the match, and seldom if ever has a. better perlormnnce been seen.

UMPIRE'S RULING QUESTIONED,

- Aus,tri ' ,,a " ">'d N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 33, noon.)

~ . SYDNEY, December 32. ,° running out of Wadding-ton led • to much comment. Waddingtmi disputed the mccibioii with the umpire,' Jones, whoso ru'r-.r wa .» widely motioned. Vulsou, the vicccaptaiu of tli«* English team.' who cabM t.- Loudon the decision in connection with Waddmgtta's nri out, has apologised to Jones, the umseverity of hia comments. wileon’u cable described the decision ro shameful; ATTENDANCE AND CATE. Austrshnii and N.2, Cable Association. (Received December 23, noon). SYDNEY, December 23. ll«nn n aU j ml £' oo ‘ h r. rive C,OVS totalled '*lo® 86 ***** amounted to

Following are tbo « C owvAUSTKALIA. First Innings, Macartney, b AYuddinglon , , , ).9 Collins, run out . 70 0 Struclwlck b Hearne . . 22 Kolleway, run out . Armstrong, at Strudwick b TVoolloy . 33 . 12 Gregory, c Stnuhvick b Woolley . . 3 Tavlor, Ibw b Hearne . . , . 3$ Pellew, o Hcndren b Hearno , . , 36 Eyder, run out 8 Oldficli, o Hobbs b F«Mn . , . 7 Hailey, not out . . . a . Extras . , , , . 10 . 11

Second Innings Collins, c Weddington b Douglas 104 Bsrdslay, b Hcarinj , Mace/Giey, b Douglas . . . | Taylor, c Woolley b Parkin , ! G9 - 51 Pcllcw, Ibsr b Woolley , , . 16 Kellevray, c Russell t) Woolley . , Armstrong, b Parkin .... > 158 Ryder, run out . G Gregory, run out . 0 Oldfield, c Strudwick b Parkin , . 16 Maifey, not out , , „ 0 Eitraa . . , . , . as

ENGLiVKD. First Innings. Russell, b Kelleway a Hobbs, b Gregory . , -10 Hcarne, c Gregory b Mailey . 24 llendren, c Gregory b Ryder Woolley, c Mailey b Ryder 113 C2 Douglas, st Oldfield b Medley 21 Rhodes, c Gregory fa Mni’ey a Hitch, c Kelleway fa Gregory . a Waddington, run out . , Parkin, not out . . , 7 4 Strudwick, Ifa-.r b Gregory . 3 Extras . . . 7

strong, none for 2. Second Innings. Russell, o Oldfield b Gregory . . 5 Hobbs, Ibw I) Armstrong . , ilearno, b Gregory . , t • 59 Hentlren, b Ke.lewny . . , • 06 Woolley, st Oldfield b Mailey , * • 16 Houglaa, c Armstrong b Mailey . 7 Rhodes, c Ryder b Mailey . • 43 Hitch, c"Taylor b Gregory . , . 19 Waddiugton, b Jvelloway , , I'arkin, b Kelleway ... . 3 • 4 Strudwick, not out . , , . Extras • • • . 1 • i . 9 Total oat