AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16812, 2 June 1926, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN.

MIDDLESEX MATCH. HOME TEAM MAKE 349. A DRAWN GAME. (Received June 2, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 1. Tiie cricket match Australia v. Middlesex was resumed this morning. The weather was warm and overcast, 'flic wicket was wearing well. Tiie attendance at Lords to-day was 4000. Stevens (not out 114) and HaiS continued Middlesex’s first innings. Haig did not wait to play himself in. lie touched a rising ball from Gregory and it went to the boundary over the heads of tiie slips. Then he drove one off Gregory, which was misflelded by Macartney and yielded four. Haig followed ibis up by driving Ryder first to the boundary and then to the on boundary in the same over. Mistiming one from Gregory in the following over he was well taken at second slip low down by Woodfull. Tanner followed and was caught by Andrews ofr Gregory for two. The score was then 2G5 for eight wickets (Stevens, not out, 122). While Haig did not refuse to take risks, Stevens was content with occasional singles to Bardsley at Longleg or to Taylor at third man.

Gregory started with a good length but later fell off.

With the board showing 8 wickets for 2G5, Murrel joined Stevens and with a fair slice of luck gathered in a number of fours through the slips. He was rather unhappy when facing Ryder, his strokes being often late.

After the third century had been passed, Stevens, while not abandoning caution, scored some excellent boundaries off Collins and Grimmett, Murrell following suit. This partnership was most valuable and arrived' just in time to save a follow in. Slovens, after being 312 minutes at Hie crease, was unlucky in going out to a bait which previously lie had played with ease. His exhibition was very solid throughout. He never gave the semblance of a chance and hit twelve fours. The score was then 341, and Murrell continued vigorously, hut after Go minutes of bright punishing cricket, he was howled by a half volley from Grimmett. He was most courageous where Hie majority of batsmen would have been cautious owing to tiie slate of the game. Ilis score included ten fours. Australia’s Second Strike. Durston and Haig were tiie opening bowlers in Australia’s second strike. Taylor was soon off tiie mark, cutting and sending Durston to leg in an an attractive manner. The first overproduced four, two and four Woodfull assisting by taking two fours from Haig with on drives all being run. Woodfull was putting force into his drives. Tanner and Allen then took up the attack and Hie change of bowling led to a diminution of runs, both batsmen treating Allen most respectfully. In his second over this bowler completeiv beat Taylor, rooting his off stump. The first wicket had yielded 70 runs.

Allen was variable, being sometimes magnificent and calling out all Woodfull’s powers of defence; aL other limes he was pitching short, the batsmen scoring behind the wicket without effort.

Wood full when 62 sent a very hard return to Tanner, who was unable to do more than get bis finger to it. Ryder was getting into bis stride when he misjudged an off break from llearnc, who relied mainly on the leg turn.

Woodfull continued freely and delightfully. He pulled Hearne in excellent fashion, when 75 lie survived an appeal for leg before from Lee.

Oldfield when four gave Lee a warm but apparently easy return, which was dropped. ■■

Both batsmen proceeded to drive vigorously, Woodfull especially bringing off some forceful drives to the on.

Ilcarno and Lee were both inclined to overpitch the ball and gave Hie batsmen plenty of opportunities to hit out, but their strokes were all along the carpet. Woodfull reached his century with a magnificent off drive from Lee, having been at the wicket 150 minutes. The next ball he was caught at the wicket. He had hit nine fours, the total being then IS9. The closing stages of the innings were mostly in the nature of practice. Oldfield did iho major portion of the balling. He made some attractive leg strokes and off drives. Gregory also hit out powerfully. MIDDLESEX. —First Innings. Stevens, b Collins 149 Lee, b Gregory 13 Hearne, I) Gregory 09 Ilendren, c Woodfull, b Everett 19 Bruce, b Everett • 6 Allen, c Grimmctt 11 Mann, c Andrews, b Everett . . 5 Haig, o Woodfull. b Gregory 21 Tanner, c Andrews, b Gregory .. 2 Murrell, b Grimmctt 01 Durston, not out 3 Extras " Total 349 Bowling analysis: Gregory took four wickets for 73, Macartney none for 34, Grimmctt two for 92, Everett three for 75. Ryder none for 47, Collins one for 21. AUSTRALIA. —Second Innings. Woodfull, c Murrell, b Lee 100 Taylor, b Allen 25 Andrews, c Alien, b Hearne IS Collins, c Durston, b Tanner .... 2. Ryder, b Hearne I' 2 oidficld. not out 43 Gregory, not- out 2, 8 Extras s Total for 5 wickets 939 Bowling analysis: Durston none for 37, llaig none for 10, Tanner one for 27,’ Allen one for 25, Hearne two for 74’ Leo one for 48, Ilendren none for four. The match was drawn. AN OFFICIAL’S REMARK. RESENTED BY AUSTRALIANS. REPORT TO THE AUTHORITIES. (Received June 1, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. II- is understood a leading English ollieinl has been reported for a remark In the umpires regarding a decision at Bristol. lie is alleged lo have said: •"11 m ought In know what the Australians are.'’ Several Australians, when told, resell led l'no statement, and decided to notify Ihe controlling authorities. (Received June 1. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. The Bristol incident related lo the Australians’ appeal due to the had light on llie first day. It is undcr(Continued at foot of next column.);

stood the Marylebone Club is inquiring into the complaint. ALLEN’S CRITICS SILENCED. EVERETT SCATTERS STUMPS. LONDON, May 31. Allen, the young express bowler, silenced Ihe criticism of his selection for Hie English trial match, lie was always troublesome, and polished off five Australians sensationally, the last three wickets not costing a run. He was bowling better than on Saturday, and his pace beat batsmen like Gregory. Everett also disturbed the stumps, which he scattered seven times during (lie day al the nursery end, where the batsmen were oflen palling Ihe wicket. Allen was born in Sydney and came to England in his boyhood. He is a real Cotter, but is less sturdy than an Australian. The bowling was. collared in the llearnc-Stcvens partnership. Belli batsmen were very steady, and looked like lasting a week. Everett was disappointing at the first try, but was better at the second. He needs, however, to improve. it seems clear from the match that if the wickets arc good the scoring ia the Tests will lie exceptionally heavy and no results will be achieved.

HOUOUR FOR STEVENS. FIRST CENTURY AGAINST VISITORS LONDON, June 1. Colonel P. C. Trevor, writing in the Daily Telegraph, says: “Stevens had the honour of making the first century against the Australians. He was coolness personified. He has been batting most consistently this season, and he lias the temperament for a big occasion, whether it be in batting, bowling or fielding. Allen al first could not keep his direction or find bis length, but when he 'got the. ball under control he met with continuous success. The more Gregory’s colleagues failed the more fiercely that batsman hit. He was especially severe on llaig. Neither Hearne nor Slovens tool: liberties, but they made the Australian bowling look innocuous. 1 ”