The Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1921. THE ASHES RECOVERED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16331, 21 January 1921, Page 6

The Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1921. THE ASHES RECOVERED.

The victory of the Australian team in the third test match secures the “ashes” once more tor the Antipodes. It, was a brilliant win, and Armstrong will receive many well-deserved congratulations. The deciding factor in the contest, of course, was Australia’s second innings score of 582, towards which no fewer than three of tlie players contributed more than a century apiece. It was a big task which faced the Englishmen, and they made a plucky and meritorious attempt to perform it. Their last innings was a good fighting one, marred only by the failure c? a couple of players from whom big scores might have been expected. The result of the match definitely asserts the superiority of Australian cricket. There was an impression that the Englishmen had not struck form in either c.l the previous tests, and that if they onco “ got going ” they would astonish tho Australian public. 11 is probable, however, that, their effort reached its maximum in this all-important test, hut it still fell short of the Australian standard. The result is bound to bo received with great disappointment in England, where the team was regarded as a strong and representative ono. Tho loss of the “ rubber ” may detract from the interest of the remaining matches, but the result may be that livelier cricket will be provided for the spectators. Complaints about the slowness of cricket have been so general that even representative players will have to take notice of them. The popularity of the game is firmly established, but it may bo undermined by a persistent neglect cf the demand for a livelier pace.