GREGORY OPENS HIS SHOULDERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 11

GREGORY OPENS HIS SHOULDERS.

SCORES 102 NOT OUT AGAINST LEICESTERSHIRE TEAM.

That streak of steel and • sinew, known as J. M. Gregory, made the pickets clatter at Leicester yesterday. Playing for Australia he ran up a merry 102, and was still unbeaten when stumps were drawn. Thus does the man from Sydney answer London, critics who professed to see in the Holyport match signs of an Australian cricket eclipse.

GREGORY LASHED OUT.

By Telegraph.—Frees Assn.—Copyright. Reuter's Telegrams. (Received May 4, noon) LONDON, May 3. Australia batted first against Leicestershire. and had lost nine wickets for 305 when stumps were drawn. The attendance was 10,000. The wicket was fairly good and the weather fine. Collins won the toss and opened with Bardsley. The bowlers were Skelding and Geary. Bardsley knocked three off Geary in the first over, this being the only scoring stroke in the first five overs. Bardsley had a narrow escape in Geary's second over, nibbling dangerously at an off ball. Runs came slowly. Bardsley scored the first boundary by square cutting Geary. The batsmen .were taking no risks and waiting for loose balls. When the total was fiftyfour Bardsley was bowled by a huge turn from the leg. Macartney suffered the same fate two balls later. A feature to this stage was the unexpected success of Bale, whose performances hitherto had not been in-, spiring. Taylor opened shakily, and when nineteen essayed a low drive which was well held at short leg by Shipman. Frequent changes in the bowling were made. Collins was batting patiently, but the crowd was impatient and there were many exhortations to him to hit. They cheered when he scored a gentle single, and renewed vigorously when Geary held a hot return. Collins occupied the crease for three hours and hit four fours. Ponsford and Andrews attempted to force the game, but the fielding was very keen throughout. Gregory was shaky in the first over. He twice nibbled at Skelding’s fast, short volleys, and was nearly out. The game then became brighter, Gregory imparting much needed life, after a series of big hits, from which only singles resulted. Ponsford, when forty-two, was badly missed by Skelding. at mid-on, off Lord. Gregory was similarly missed off Shipman in the next over. Gregory scored three boundaries in succession off Skelding, and in the same over Ponsford snicked a fast ball into the hands of Geary, at second slip. The partnership added 102 before it was dissolved. C. E. Kellawav, in the “Daily Express,’’ declares that the wicket was good, giving an opportunity to attempt somthing like hatting. Nevertheless, the batting aff& lunch was dull, neither Collins nor Taylor showing any enterprise. The Ponsford-Gregory partnership was easily the brightest. In thd"closing stages there was an exciting over. Gregory, in a race against time to reach the century before play stopped, lashed out, scoring a four, a six, and a four off successive balls from Geary, and won the race by sending the last ball of the day to the leg boundary. The crowd accorded him an ovation. Gregory gave a magnificent display of forceful driving and clean cutting.

GREGORY BATS IX BEST STYLE. The Australians were ver} r gloomy when half the team was dismissed for for 118, but made a splendid recovery owing to Gregory batting in his best style. Fie was in difficulties only a few times, and was in marked contrast to the earlier batsmen, who were unable to play with confidence, obviously feeling the effects of their short practice. They were unanimous in describing the pre-lunch wicket as funny. Good bowling, backed, by fine fielding. made runs hard to get. Collins commented that he did not expect to meet better bowling anywhere. Another Australian expressed the opinion that Leicester would win the County Championship if the batting were equal to the bowling. IRONIC APPLAUSE FOR COLLINS. Collins’s slow play prompted ironical applause, but it appeared as though he was seeking match practice. It has been arranged for the players to go to London by motors in the event of a strike. Six cars have been placed by their owners at their disposal for the remainder of the tour. POOR PLAT, SAYS CRITIC. Colonel Philip Trevor, writing in the “Daily Telegraph,” states: Despite the performance of Gregory and Ponsford, the Australians disappointed their admirers. Leicester’s batting was slow, without being easy, cramped and without confidence. The majority hugged their bats to their legs and made no effort to place the ball between the fieldsmen- It is difficult to believe that the majority of the men have' been playing test cricket for half a dozen years. They obviously are not enamoured of slow wickets. AUSTRALIA. First InningsH. L. Collins, c and b Geary 43 W. Bardsley, b Bale ...... 33 C. G. Macartney, b Bale 2 J. M. Taylor, c Shipman b Skelding 19 J. S. Ryder, lbw b Bale 16 W. 11. Ponsford, c Geary b Skelding 56 T. J. Andrews, b Skelding 8 J. M. Gregor}-, not out 102 W. A. Oldfield, b Skelding 0 S. Everett, b Skelding 8 C. Grimmett, not out 9 j Extras 9 Total for nine wickets 305

STRIKE NOT TO BE LET STOP CRICKET.

Aus. and X.Z. Cable. Association. (Received May 4, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 3. Mr Lacey, secretary of the Marylebone Club, stated to-day: “So far as wc can say at present, we have no intention of allowing the cricket to be interrupted by the strike.”