WARWICK ARMSTRONG.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16452, 14 June 1921, Page 3

WARWICK ARMSTRONG.

ALL-ROUND CRICKETER. A GREAT RECORD. Warwick AVindridgo Armstrong, the Australian cricket captain, is forty- j two years old (says the Sydney j “ Sun.”) Born, in 1879, he first appeared in' big cricket for ATctoria. in 1899, and of recent years has proved himself a tower of strength to the team. Regarded by some at the commencement of last season as too old to shine in the field, lie wielded the hat to such good effect that his critics were silenced. In his first season lor Victoria, Armstrong did not play a conspicuous part, but the following year was well to the fore. Against South Australia he made 113 and 102. and he just managed to reach the half-century against New South WalesIn’ the succeeding season he made his debut in test matches. In the second game at Alelbourne against Ai’Laren’s team, the Victorian carried his bat in the first innings for a patient four, aud in the second, with It. A. Duff, added 120 for the last wicket, his contribution being 45 not out. Armstrong was one of the chosen fifteen to visit England in 1902. ITis best attempt there was to add 428 for the sixth wicket with Al. A. Noble in the match against Sussex at- Brighton. His contribution was 172 not out. Against the Queenslanders who visited Victoria in 1904-5 he made 200. So consistent was he that season that he was among the first six to be selected for the 1905 tour of England. In England lie demonstrated what a formidable all-rounder be was. Against Somerset at Bath lie carried his bat for 302. and the Gentlemen of England could not dismiss him in an innings of 248. Throughout the tour he bowled well, and took 130 wickets at an average cost of 17 runs per wicket. He was at the top of the batting average with 48-00. In New Zealand in 1906 bo created a record for Dominion cricket by knocking up 335 against Southland. (Tu 1914 Crawford scored 354 for Australia against South Canterbury). At Alelbourne in November, 1911, against South Australia, he scored 230. And then, to further impress the cricketing world that he was a batsman to he reckoned with, scored five centuries—ls 7 not out and 245 in the one match against the AYheatfielderA Armstrong has played 65 innings in tests, eight not out. for 2020 runs, averaging 35.45. His highest score is 158. Hr ]ms passed the century mark on four occasions. As a bonier he delivered 6027 balls, from which were scored 2076 runs, for 66 wickets, an average of 31.45. The big A'icforian has scored 31 centuries in first-class cricket—eleven against New South "Wales, six against England (four in tests), three against Queensland, two against New Zealand, one in a- South African test, and one for Australian XL v. the Rest of Australia in 1908. No other Australian batsman can lay claim to more ‘ 1 not out ’ three figure \miings- His. number 11. And no other batsman in the world has ever made more centuries on the Alelbourne Cricket Ground than he, with 16.