ENGLISHMEN PLAY DRAWN MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 24 December 1928, Page 12

ENGLISHMEN PLAY DRAWN MATCH.

FINISHED 69 SHORT OF OPPONENTS’ SCORE. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEWCASTLE, December 13. The match between the English team and Newcastle-Hunter River was drawn. The Englishmen received a surprise when the/Hunter team declared its innings closed with nine wickets down for 350. The man who did not get a strike was Starratt. The Englishmen received a greater surprise when they discovered that they were sixty-nine short of the home side’s score at the end of the match. R. 11. Bettington. the slow bowler, had a very successful day. He captured four wickets for ninety-six, besides taking three catches. At one stage his bowling average was three for eleven. He was also responsible for much fine fielding. That he did not get more wickets was not his fault. Several ridiculously easy catches were missed off his bowling. For example, Larwood was twice dropped and Bettington had Hendren and Ames tied up with his accurate length. He was given a great ovation on returning to the pavilion. He seems certain of inclusion in the next test team, and it seems equally certain that a couple of others will make their way into big cricket shortly. Tate said that he was agreeably surprised by the quality of the bowling, batting and fielding. Chapman too uttered similar statements. The wicket was perfect. There were about 10,000 spectators. Scores:— NEWCASTLE-HUNTER RIVER. First Innings. O. Osland, c Tate b White 76 Cummins, b Tate 3 Moy, run out 18 Henderson, st Ames b Hendren .. 60 Bettington, b Hendren 53 Barbour, b Freeman ••••.. 22 Davis, c White b Freeman 37 Bramble, c Hendren b Freeman .. 16 Oakes, stpd Ames b Freeman 22 O’Brien, not out .’ 19 Hill, not out 17 Extras 7 Total for 9 wickets (dec.) 350 Bowling analysis.—Tate, one for 54; White, one for 71; Freeman, four for 118; Geary, none for 45; Mead, none for 30; Hendren, two for 25. ENGLAND. First Innings. Chapman, c Cummins b Hill .... 19 Tyldesley, Ibw b Bettington 13 Mead, b . Bettington 6 Ames, c Bettington 30 Freeman, lbw b Bettington 0 Hendren, b Hill • • 2 Tate, c Davies b Oakes 49 White, c Osland b Bettington 12 Larwood, c Bettington b O’Brien . 92 Geary, not out 23 Duckworth, c Bettington b Oakes 18 Extras • • 17 Total 281 Bowling analysis.—Hill two for 55; Henderson, none for 17; Bettington, four for 96; O’Brien, one for 59; Oakes, three for 22; Moy, none for 15.—Australian Press Association. “ BOWLER TREATED LIKE A SLAVE.” LONDON, December 23. The “ Observer’s ” special critic says: “In cricket, as everywhere, we reap what we sow. For many years it seemed to us that the last person considered in Australia was the bowler. Matches of undetermined length, with eight ball overs and artificially prepared wickets carefully protected from rain left the bowler like a slave chained to a galley. The root of the trouble in Australian cricket is the glorification of the batsman for the attraction of the spectator and the humilitation of the bowler to serfdom. Possibly the Australian associations had not thought out the effects. They cannot be blind to them any longer. They could not expect the events of 1919-25 always to recur. “ The last team sent to England was manifestly deficient in bowling. Nothing shows the barrenness of the bowling this year more than the reliance on Blackie and Ironmonger, who are both beyond middle age. Australia’s primary duty is to search for young and competent bowlers and give them experience now, even if they are below the previous Australian standard.

“ The strength of Chapman’s company rests on post-war players. Sutcliffe, Hammond, Jardine, Chapman, Larwood, Duckworth and Tate are largely post-war players. The average age of these seven is twenty-eight and a half years. Larwood pre-eminently represents the triumph of youth. “ To every cricketing country a lean period comes. England momentarily has great batsmen and great bowlers. The captain is notable for his alertness in the field. He is a gallant leader, who is never depressed nor afraid, and he is not over talkative.”—Australian Press Association —United Service.