DEFENSIVE BATTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16470, 5 July 1921, Page 7

DEFENSIVE BATTING.

ENGLAND’S GOOD RECOVERY.

DOUCLAS’S LONG STAND.

TENNYSON HERO OF INNINGS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, July 4.

The weather at Leeds this morning was dull, cool and overcast. A large crowd was present for the resumption of play in the test match. The wicket was unchanged. The Australians were wearing sweaters when play was resumed, there being quite a nip in the air. M’Donald opened at the northern end. In his second over a* rising ball, which broke* the shoulder of Ducat’s bat, fell into Gregory’s safe hands at fine slip.

joined Hardinge, who shortly afterwards had a lucky escape. He touched a ball from Gregory, which went through his legs and rolled closfi to the off stump. Hardinge opened brightly with some nice strokes to the off off M’Donald, rousing the crowd to much enthusiasm. They cheered wildly at every single. Armstrong relieved Gregory after throe overs, the score being 41, and there was great applause when Hardinge immediately got him past point to the boundary. England’s misfortunes, however, continued to fall thick and fast. Within half an hour of the start Hardinge went leg before to Armstrong. He had shaped attractively. Jupr, joined Douglas and rattled on 14 while Douglas was getting 4. Then Jupp tipped one from Gregory into Carter’s hands.

(Received July 5, 9.6 j a.m.) LONDON, July 4

While Douglas and Jupp were together one section of the crowd maintained a running fire of comments on Douglas’s slow batting, but the fielding had lost none of its dash, and M’Donald was getting plenty of life out of the pitch _

Considering England’s sad position, it was no surprise that the play was mostly defensive- Armstrong, when bowling to Douglas, had a long straight line of six neldsmpn stretching from Hendry at third man to Taylor at long-otf. Douglas pleased the crowd by pulling Armstrong squarely to the ropes, but he proceeded cautiously. The advent of Brown, a left-hander, who came in ol 67, did not accelerate the rate of scoring, both waiting for loose balls, of which there were vorv few. Ninety minutes produced 70 rum, making the total 92, when M’Donald displaced Gregory, Brown immediately getting him to the ropes at deep leg and sending up the century in 125 minutes. He repeated the' stroke against Aimstrong in the following over, and again twice at M’DonalJ'y expense This was the only bright patch in an hour’s cricket, and it put the crowd in the best of humour. Gregory’s picturesque fielding in the slips was frequently applauded. Mailey and Hendry came on when the partnership had realised 50 in seventy minutes. Brown was playing a safe and steady game, making no mistakes with loose deliveries. He pulled Mailey behind the wicket for four, and drove Hendry, who got plenty of pace off the pitch. The newcomer was justifying his selection bv in plucky, dogged stand, and showed enterprise in stealing singles, but Douglas vainly tried to get Mailey past the field. Brown reached 50. The total was 150, after one hundred and eighty minutes, when .M’Donald replaced Hendry.

Douglas. batting with remarkable patience, also reached his 50, bub shortly afterwards Mailey tempted Brown to hit a slow off-break, and Armstrong at extra cover took an easy catch. The score was then 164. and'the partnership had lasted two hours. M’l>onaid’s first ball of his next over knocked White’s middle stump back. Seven for 165.

Hie crowd was surprised when Tennyson appeared, and gave him an ovation. A most remarkable stand followed, considering that Tennyson was batting with an injured hand. He turned the first ball almost to the ropes for two, and drove Mailey for four. This bowler failed to accept a return next ball. After this let-off Tennyson seemed fairly comfortable, ntirl a period of bright batting ensued. Two hundred appeared in 235 minutes, despite changes in the bowling. Tennyson, from whom least was expected, scored taster than his predecessors. Douglas also livened up, finely turning several of Gregory’s and Hendry’s to the ropes. It was a gallant fight to avoid a fol-low-on, the crowd cheering every stroke, especially when Tennyson hit Gregory high to the boundary. Armstrong replaced Hendry at 225. Tennyson reached his 50 in an hour, during a sensational over ofl Gregory’s, driving and cutting him past point and through the slips, all boundaries. This brought on M’Donald at 239, of which Douglas claimed 70.

The crowd cheered England's wounded hero, who was making big history. Fortune, too, smiled on 'him, numerous lucky runs coming his way. Wanting only five to avoid a follow-on, Arm-

strong got Douglas with a leg break The partnership added 88 in seventy five minutes.

Douglas, who had gone in at 30 and come out at 253. batted four hours. The crowd rose and cheered him to the pavilion. Parkin changed the Test mfitch atmosphere *by his amusing antics on facing Armstrong, whom he pulled to the boundary, thus saving the followon amid a scene of the greatest excitement,. ,

Gregory, with a fine catch, then ended Tennyson’s splendid innings, and •as Hobbs < ould not bat England were out for 259. England batted 290 minutes and thus far it was a remarkable clay’s cricket, opening with a long period of defensive batting against great odds, and when the hour was blackest changing to a dashing, confident light by England’s two captains. When the Australians went to tho wicket for the second time the weather was dull. The attendance was 22 000. Bardslev and Andrews began batting to the bowling of Douglas and "White. Tennyson, with his hand heavily bandaged, fielded at mid-oil. At eight Andrews drove White high and hard to long off. Ducat ran up and got las hands or*, the ball but failed to hold itHe was a little late. Bards ley when thirteen gave Heame a chance in the slips off Douglas, who was bowling excellently and had the left-hander "tied up throughout the over. After these escapes both batsmen set themselves to knock the bowlers off their length and succeeded to the extent that at fifty in thirty-five minutes Jupp and Parkin replaced them. Both displayed bright cricket, Andrews batting in sparkling style. Parkin bowled fast without mixing them. Jupp, who is also above the medium pace, quickly found the spot find sent back Barsdley at 71 with a clinking ball. Macartney joined Andrews, who within an hour of the start, reached 50, pulling. Parkin to the ropes and cutting him to the boundary. Douglas relieved him in the next over. Macartney did not start as dashingly as usual', but notwithstanding a damaged linger, which was obviously paining him, made some characteristic

shots, including a glorious off-drive from J upp. The century appeared in eighty minutes, of which Andrews had made 63. He continued confidently, though, like Macartney, he became sedater as tho afternoon closed, but anything loose went to the boundary. Tennyson changed the bowling frequency and ten minutes before the close Macartney gave an easy return to Woolley. With the total at 139 Carter, who had a reception, played out time with Andrews. Following are the scores:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Bardsley, c Woolley b Douglas # . 6 Andrews, c Woolley b Douglas , . 19 Macartney, lbw b Parkin ... 115 Pellew, c Hearne b Woolley . , .52 Taylor, c Douglas b Jupp . „ .60 Gregory, b Parkin 1 Armstrong, c Brown b Douglas . . 77 Hendry, b Parkin ... 0 Carter, b Jupp 84 M’Donald, not out - . „ - 21 Mailey, c and b Parkin , , . . 6 Extras 26 Total .... . 407 Bowling Analysis.—Douglas, three wickets for 80 runs; White, hone for 70; Parkin, four for 106; Hearne, none for 21; Jupip, two for 70; Woolley, one for 34. The wickets fell:—One for 22, two for 45; three for 146, four for 255, five for 256. six for 271, seven for 271, eight for 333, nine for Second Innings. Bardsley, b Japp 05 Ardrews, not out . * ’ * rg Macartney, c and b Woolley ... 30 Carter, not out ; . „ . .3 Extras *7 Total for two wickets a , .143 ENGLAND. First Innings. Woolley, b Gregory . \ . . 0 Hardinge, lbw b Armstrong . . .25 Hearne, b M'Donald 7 Ducat, c Gregory b M’Donald ... 3 Douglas, b Armstrong . . . .75 Jupp, c Carter b Gregory . . .14 Brown, c Armstrong b Mailer . . .57 White, b M’Donald , . . . 1 Tennyson, c Gregory b M’Donald . . 63 Parkin, not out Hobbs, absent . "ft Extras ~ .1 l \ 9 Total 2b9 Bowling Analysis.—Gregory, two wickets for 47 runs; M’Donald, four for 105; Armstrong, two ion 44; Mailey, one for 38; Hendry, none for 16. Them were no byes in the nine extras in England s score. Of the number six came kora no-balls. HOBBS HAS APPENDICITIS. LONDON, July 4. Hobbs tras ordered by liis doctor not to play. His complaint has been diagnosed as appendicitis. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 5, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 4. Hobbs will be operated on immediately for appendicitis. AVERAGES. LONDON. July 4. Following are batting and bowling averages:— Batting. Macartney 72.60 Mead ...... 71.75 Ducat ...... 65.83 Bardsley 64.68 Hardinge .... 62.67 Douglas 54.69 Woolley 50 Jupp 45.34 Hearne . . . . 44.92 Gregory .... 43.68 Pellew ..... 35.94 Taylor' . . . . . . 34.11 Collins . . . . . 32.25 Armstrong 32.15 Brown ...... 30.59 Bo,wli ng. Wickets. Average. Armstrong . . .52 12.13 White .... 89 12.69 Rhodes • . . . .68 13.92 Gregory ..... 65 J 1.24 M’Donald . . .71 14.63 Douglas . . .86 16.02 Woojley . . . .62 18.15 Parkin . . .52 IS.7C