England’s Cricket Now Seems On Up Grade Once More.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17915, 3 August 1926, Page 4

England’s Cricket Now Seems On Up Grade Once More.

BUT BOWLING GIANTS ARE CONSPICUOUS BY ABSENCE, AND HOBBS IS GETTING OLD.

EVEN if she lias not yet won back the Ashes England feels that her cricket revival lias begun in earnest. The London correspondent of the 6f Star,” in a budget by mail, tells of recent happenings.

(Special to the “ Star. ") LONDON, July 1. The fear that three days would not suffice to enable a definite result to.be reached in the second test match between England and Australia at Lords was unfortunately realised. The wicket was wholly in favour of the batsmen, and though Carr, the England captain, took the thousand-to-one chance of forcing a win by a sensational declaration on the last day, tfie Australians were never really in danger of deleat. It might have been different, if England had had the good luck to win the toss and bat first, but, when the visitors secured this advantage, they were safe unless they collapsed in a A\ay that could not be expected. But the play was very cheering from an England point of view. Indeed, there was a complete revival. Not since the war has English cricket appeared to such marked advantage. .In drawing the match the Australians owed nearly everything to Warren Bardslev. Going in first, he batted to the end of the innings, and was not out when the last wicket fell. His score of 193, too, was the highest ever made in a test at Lords. He was at the crease for over six hours, a fine physical feat in itself for a man of his age, and throughout he commanded the bowling. Only once did he give a chance to the fieldsmen. That was after he had passed the century, and was missed by Strudwick behind the stumps. Macartney's Fine Show. But the other Australian batsmen, with the exception of Macartney, were disappointing. The latter played in inimitable style for thirty-nine, and, when he was then caught by Sutcliffe, it seemed as though England were fortunate. This impression was strengthened in the Australians’ second innings, when Macartney stayed in to the close of play, and made 133 not out. Australia's score of 353 was a good one, but not exceptional having regard to the conditions, and it was significant that Bardslev made more than half the runs. There was naturally some concern as to what sort of reply England would make, but it was quickly dispelled. Hobbs and Sutcliffe faced the bowling with the utmost confidence, and for the fourth time put on over a lmndred for the first wicket. The Yorkshireman missed his century, being out at 82, but Hobbs went on and passed three figures. Batting in great style, Hobbs scored with , the utmost freedom until he was in sight of his century. Then he slowed dbwn in a remarkable manner, taking almost, an hour to get the last ten. For his dilatoriness he was criticised, but it was obvious that he was tiring, and also that he was naturally very keen to pass the three-figure mark. Perhaps a little time was lost, but I do not think if England had been represented by a team pf Jessops, they could have forced a win. The England innings was a complete triumph. After the Ifobbs-Sutcliffe partnership had been broken, Woolley, Ilendren and A. P. F. Chapman carried on the run-getting in exhilarating style. Ilendren got another century, Woolley 87, and Chapman was 50 not out with Hendren at lunch time on the final day. No Bowling Giants. Thus, for the loss of three batsmen, England obtained 475. and were 92 in front. It was then that Carr startled the old stagers of Lords by declaring. What was the alternative? To go on batting, get, say, two hundred’ up, and then send the Australians in. That would have made a "draw a certainty. Carr had never any hope, as T have said, of winning the match,- but he made the attempt. There was another reason which justified his decision. His declaration was bound to impress the Australians with the moral advantage England had gained.

There was naturally great disappointment that the match had to lie left drawn, and the feeling is stronger than ever that none of the tests is likely to be finished in three days unless the pitch is a bad one. The trouble is that neither side has a decisive bowler. America Again. For the fifth time in the last six years the Open Golf Championship has gone to America. Bobbie Jones, the amateur, was the winner, and, to mark still further the supremacy of the Americans, four of them finished in the first four places. Abe Mitchell was the first of the home men, and he was as many as eight strokes beind the leader. From the British point of view,

the championship was a sore disappointment. Indeed, the home men suffered an almost complete rout. Nothing like it has ever been seen before, and the best hope was that the form was all wrong. From the first day, when Hagen set up a record for the course with a wonderful round of 68, the Americans carried all before them. At the end of the second round there was not a single British player with the slightest chance of catching them. On the final day. when the nervous strain was over, Abe Mitchell recovered in great style, but it Avas then too late.

Our Tired Pros. From the start Hagen and Jones were, the favourites, and the profes* sional made such a great start that his success was generally expected. But it seems quite impossible for the professional to play a round without making some mistakes, and, when he Avent out a second time, he squandered strokes and lost all his ad\'antage. Indeed, when the second half of the test began, Jones led the field by two strokes. A strange stroke of fate coupled the two men AA'ho Avere to finish first and second, and there was a grim struggle betAveen them throughout the day. Jones’s ri\'al Avas a young player, A. Watrous, and by a superb round of 69 he went ahead, gaining an ad\*antage of two strokes as compared Avith Jones. The amateur quickly drew leA-el, but then fell away again, and when only five holes remained to be played, the professional retained his ad\ - antage. Then, however, when he appeared to be Avinning. he suddenly cracked, and Jones, seizing his chance, finished with a lead of tAvo shots. When Ilagen Avent out for the last time, he kneAV that he had to do a round of 71 to. Avin, but he took 76. The British professionals played like a lot of stale and tired men. Not one of them did himself justice. At the same time, Jones’s Avas„a Avonderful record. For the seventv-tAvo holes, he maintained an aAerage of three o\*er fours, and that is the best performance that has eA-er been accomplished in the championship. Lawn Tennis Championships. Throughout her amazing career Mile Lenglen, the lawn tennis champion, has been in trouble of some sort or other. It started Avith her visit to America, when after losing a set to Mrs Mallory, she collapsed and retired from the court. Unfortunately she has never enjoyed god health, and this has probably accounted for Avhat inay be called her eccentric conduct. Now in the championships at Wimbledon she has been the sensation, the final phase of Avhich was her retirement. On one of the. days, she Avas due to play two matches, a mixed doubles Avith Borotra as her partner, and a single, but, Avhcn she was due to go into court, she Avas not on the ground. In fact she did not arrive until an hour later, and, after the centre court gallery had been kept Avaiting some time, another match Avas substituted. When the French girl arriA*ed, she said that she Avas not aware she Avas down to play in the mixed doubles, and she indignantly refused to play* twice on one day. Why had she not been told about her matches? The real point Avas, of course, why she had not troubled to find out. as eA*ery* other player is expected to .do. On the strict letter of the law, she ought straightway to haA-e been scratched. But the authorities Averc placed in a difficult position. Exit Suzanne. Suzanne is such a great attraction that there Avould haA-e been bitter disappointment on the part of the public if she had been, put out of the championship. After this mix-up, the French girl became ill. Once more she arrived late, and once more she was excused. But after this she declared that she Avas too umA-ell to play any more, and she retired from the meeting. So that Avas the end of Suzanne for one year, and, angry at what she declarer! the disgraceful treatment she had received, she vows that she will never play at Wimbledon again. Save for the fuss and excitement oA-er the Lenglen affair, the tournament has proceeded on sober lines. There haA-e, of course, been surprises, the first of real note being the defeat of the American, Yinqent Richards, by IL Coohet, the young Frenchman. But the other American representath-e, 11. Kinsey, reached the final. In this he Avas beaten by Jean Borotra, the winner in 1924. France had three players in the semi-final, Kinsey’s success being «at the expense of J. Brugnon, and Borotra\s OA-er Cochet. In the ladies’ CA-cnt, Mrs Godfree won the championship.