AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16811, 1 June 1926, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN.

0 MIDDLESEX MATCH. AUSTRALIANS AT THE WICKETS. INNINGS CLOSED FOR 489. LONDON, May 30. The Australian cricketers this morning resumed their match against Middlesex at Lord's. The visitors continued their first innings with the score at 357 for four wickets (Andrews not out 120, Taylor not out 1). The weather was warm but cloudy and the wicket was good. Durston and llaig commenced the attack. Andrews quickly played himself in. lie pulled Durston to leg in the second over and a boundary hit followed. The attendance at Lords to-day was 15,000. Andrews then hit a boundary off , llaig, whom he also drove to the on twice for four; Taylor sent up the 400 with a lucky leg boundary off Durston. This total had taken 320 minutes to obtain. Off the next ball Taylor was well caught at ilrst slip low down by Hendren. He had scored 14. Andrews was caught by Stevens off Allen for 104. Andrews batted 105 minutes. When 15S he was badly missed at the stumps when going out to one from Stevens. His is the best knock of the tour, being crisp and brilliant with a larger variety of strokes than hitherto. He hit 22 fours. Stevens' bowling was poor. He was unable to find the length. Gregory and Ryder played attractively , both sending Allen to the boundary. Ryder gained many runs ! from neat leg glances, and then succumbed lo a magnificent ball from Allen, which swung in low. Gregory punished llaig severely, hitting him for a six, four, and one in one over to leg and the next over off the same howler he knocked four, two. four and six. Allen secured Oldflcld's and Grimmelt's wickets with balls similar to the one with which he dismissed Ryder. Gregory's score included two sixes, and six fours. Allen's average to-day was five wickets for 30 runs. Middlesex's Second Strike. Gregory and Macartney opened the bowling when Middlesex sent Stevens and Lee in. When lie had two on the board Stevens scntan apparently easy return low to Gregory, which the latter failed to hold. Gregory's length was variable, and | the bail was rising dangerously. Both 1 batsmen played him easily, giving ! Eardsley, on the leg boundary, plenty of work. Neither was so sure when j facing Macartney, being unable to judge his break. Grimmett's guile. | was a material factor in keeping down i runs. He sent down three successive j maidens lo Hearnc, who was safe, but i was unable to get him away. Everett could not find his length, I the balls mostly pitching short. Hearnc dealt Willi long hops effectively. After tea Grimmett's length became slacker and Ihe batsmen did not hesitate io take advantage thereof. When the total was 130, Hcarne tried lo turn Gregory to leg, but missed the ball, which removed his bails. He played solidly for two hours and hit five fours. Bo exhibited clean cutting. His partnership with Stevens added 10S to the total. Stevens drove Grimmett powerfully to the leg and off boundaries. The fielding generally was of a high order. RyderFs pace was slow. He relied largely on a leg break. Hendren played freely and had a lucky escape when 10. Bardsley and Andrews, both attempting a catch off Macartney, collided, lie was eventually well held by Wpodfull at point from a hard cut. Stevens' batting was streaky. In his .second spell with Hie ball Everett improved his length, which was more consistent, but still lacked sling. Stevens, on reaching the century after three and a-half hours' batting, was heartily congratulated all round. The feature of the Australian innings was the number of no balls. Over a dozen were bowled on Saturday and more to-day, some of which were sent lo Hie boundary. .The innings closed for 459, the individual scores being:—

AUSTRALIA. —First Innings. Bardslcy, b II panic 10 Woodfull. <: Hendren. b Durston 3 Macartney, c Tanner, h Haig .... 41 Collins, c Tanner, b Haig 00 Andrews, e Stevens, b Allen .... lGi Taylor, c Hendren, b Durston . . Li Kyder, b Allen 22 Gregory, not out -Hi Oldfield, b Allen 4 Grimmett, b Allen - 0 Everett, b Allen 0 Extras 21 Total 480

■ Rowling analysis: llaig took two wickets for IGO, Durston two for 76, Tanner none for G 5, Allen five for G 3, Stevens none for 57. Hcarno one for i .'. 1, Lee none for three. MIDDLESEX. \

Stevens, not out tli Lee, 1) Gregory Ilearne, b Gregory r >o Ilcndren, o Woodfull, b Everett 10 l’ruee, b Everett b Allen, c Grfmmctt If Mann, c Andrews, b Everett .. r> Extras 0 I ~ j Total for G wickets

Stumps were drawn. FRESS COMMENTS. RUN-MAKING MACHINE. All the Sunday papers and weekday cricket writers are emphasising that the Australians’ run-making machine lias at last revealed itself. They admit that the Middlesex howling was hv no means mediocre, but Hie Australians worn it down solidly and effectually, but should have Hogged it more towards the close of the day. Mr Trevor, writing in tiie Daily Telegraph, heaps praise upon Andrews, who made the best display of the tour, with the exception of Macarlnev’s against the Marylcbonc Club. Andrews is a stylist, if that consists of doing what he set out to do without apparent effort. Collins worked for runs hard and successfully; likewise Bardslcy broke his spell of illsuccess. hut is slid not at his best.