Cricket 1912

F eb . 24, 1912. CRICKET : A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME- 25 still unbeaten when the innings was declared. Apart from a chance when 72 he made no mistake, and the vigour of his strokes can be gauged from the fact that he hit two 6’s and forty three 4’s. With Rhodes he put on 206 for the second wicket and with Hearne 264 for the third. Both the latter played good and sound cricket, but they were quite overshadowed by the brilliant Woolley. The innings of 574 lasted only four hours and a half, and during its course not a single maiden over was sent down. Tasmania’s task was hopeless when they went in again, but the side gave a much better exhibition than in their first innings, when they were got rid of for 124 on a good wicket. Hudson and Martin set a good example by putting on 88 for the third wicket, and subsequently Paton (who gave no chance and hit sixteen 4’s) took part in a series of useful stands, adding 67 with Hudson, 80 with McKenzie and 86 with Boddam. When it seemed possible that a draw might result, Hitch took three wickets without a run. Added interest attached to the return game with Vic­ toria, as it had been set aside as a benefit for Blackham. The State was not at full strength, but Armstrong was in his best batting form and his feat in making 171 without being dismissed was a great one. Owing not a little to the terrific heat, England had half their men out for 125, but Hearne and Douglas saved the possibility of a complete collapse by adding 218 for the sixth wicket. The former hit twenty 4’s in his admirable 143, and after his departure Smith helped to put on 84 for the seventh partnership. Douglas played a most valuable game for his side, though at times his rate of scoring was very sedate. He hit a 5 and fourteen 4’s during the five hours and 27 minutes he was in. When the Victorians went in at the end of the second day they were worn out by the heat and were quite unable to do themselves justice. When stumps were drawn six men were ou t for 84 and, despite useful displays by Armstrong and Brown, the side had to follow-on 272 behind. Again a poor start was made, for despite an innings of 40 by Seitz five men were out for 98, and as, owing to the death of his child, Matthews had been obliged to retire from the game, the outlook was very black. But Armstrong proved in his best form, and for just over two hours and a-quarter played masterly cricket. Some of his strokes were very powerful, and among his hits were seventeen 4’s. McKenzie helped him to add 138 for the sixth wicket, and McDonald stayed whilst 68 were put on for the ninth. Armstrong was missed when 25 by Strudwick in the long- field, but McKenzie’s play was faultless. England won by eight wickets. B y winning the fourth Test, at Melbourne, England secured the rubber. Upon gaining choice of innings, they sent Australia in as the wicket was soft after rain—a state of affairs which accounted for the non-inclusion of McLaren, Queensland’s fast bowler. As events proved, it was a good move on the part of Douglas, for by the end of the day Australia had been got rid of for 191 and England had scored 54 without loss. Both Barnes and Foster bowled admirably, and only Minnett, who made 56 out of 82 in 80 minutes, could do much against th em : he showed plucky cricket, though, taking risks, his play was not faultless. The result of the match was foreshadowed on the second day, when Hobbs and Rhodes took the score to 323 before the first wicket fell, and the total, when stumps were drawn, was 370 with only one man out. It was a magnificent display, notwithstanding that the bowling lacked sting and variety and that the batting was not faultless. Hobbs, the first to leave, scored 178 in four hours 28 minutes and, hitting well all round, made twenty-two 4’s. Rhodes, whose stand with Gunn for the second wicket realised 102, reached three-figures in a Test match for the first time : his innings, which lasted three minutes under seven hours and contained fourteen 4’s, was described as “ a really great exhibition of solid, sound batting.” Australia’s fielding, which had been poor on the Saturday, improved considerably on the Monday, when Gunn, Douglas and Foster were all dismissed by brilliant catches. Gunn played beautifully for his runs, but Foster’s was the most attractive batting seen in the match. When the latter was dismissed Armstrong had taken three wickets whilst only five runs had been made off him. Woolley brought off some fine hits, “ Ut of the others only Mead reached double-figures. Still, the total reached 589— a record for Test-match cricket— and when the Australians entered upon their second innings it was with arrears amounting to 398. Of their batting in the final stage of the game but little need be said, for the score sheet tells its own story. Only Ransford and Carter showed any confidence, and in less than three hours and a-half the innings was over for 173. Douglas’s bowling came off the pitch with a dangerous nip, and Foster also was assisted by the pace of the wicket. It is evident that the English bowling was a most important, if not the chief, factor in the winning of the rubber. In the course of a letter to tho Editor of Cricket, written from Melbourne during the second Test match, Mr. Warner sa id :— “ Barnes’ bowling yesterday on a perfect wicket was marvellous— such length and flight, and ho turned them from leg a lot. It was probably the greatest piece of bowling ever accomplished. At one time he had five wickets for 6 runs, and before lunch four for 3 after an hour and ten minutes’ bowling. Everyone is agreed it was an extraordinary performance.” The bowling of Barnes and Foster and the batting of Hobbs and Rhodes in the series of games have been extra­ ordinarily good. Considerable interest centred in the return match with New South Wales, the holders of the Sheffield Shield, especially as the first game between tho sides had been ruined by rain. The Englishmen won by eight wickets, and some such result had been foreshadowed when, as tho result of the first day’s play, they led b y 77 runs with eight wickets in hand. Foster bowled magnificently on a perfect pitch, taking seven wickets for 36 runs : only Barbour, who batted cautiously for 80 minutes, could make much headway against him. Hobbs and Rhodes again proved their value as a first-wicket pair by making 94 together, and the latter stayed until he had scored 119 in three hours 28 minutes by faultless cricket. On the second day England’s last eight wickets went down for 132, Hazlit taking six of them in 150 balls for 29 runs— capital work, considering the state of the wicket. The State opened their second innings well, Gregory and Trumper running up 81 together ere the latter was run out when thoroughly set. The subsequent play was dominated by the batting of Gregory, who (missed when 132) carried his bat through the innings for 186, a display marked by excellent lato cutting. He received uneven support, though Macartney helped to add 82 for the third wicket and Emery (who hit eleven 4’s in his 65) 144 for the eighth. Hobbs did some useful bowling upon going on with the new ball at 201, getting rid of Barbour, Kelleway and Collins in quick succession. Set 195 to win England, owing chiefly to Rhodes, made the runs for two wickets. The Yorksliireman obtained his second hundred in the match and his third in succession. He gave no chance, hit fifteen 4’s and with Gunn added 137 for the second wicket. I N T E R -S T A T E M A T C H E S . The Christmas match at Melbourne between Victoria and New South Wales resulted in an easy win for the latter by ten wickets, notwithstanding they were without Hordern and R. B. Minnett and lost the services of Bardsley when that great batsman had settled down to a good game. The Victorians were playing an uphill game from the start, for they lost Seitz to the first ball bowled and had four men out for a single. Kortlang was so much hurt by the ball which got him l.b.w. that he had to be carried off the ground. Fortunately Armstrong played admirably at a critical time, and received very good support from Hartkopf, who showed sound defence. But the innings, which was interrupted more than once by rain, closed for 166. The visitors experienced no difficulty in obtaining the lead with several wickets in hand. Emery was caught at 85 for a useful 43, and after Bardsley’s retirement Trumper joined Kelleway and made 58 out of 77 in 57 minutes by very bright cricket ; he hit nine 4’s and fell to a good catch at short-leg. Gregory gave valuable assistance, but chief honours rested with Kelleway, who played sound, defensive cricket for three and a-half hours. The last-named offered a difficult chance to slip when 18 and was almost run out when 95, but made no other mistake — if mistakes the incidents mentioned can be termed. When Victoria went in the second time, with arrears of almost 200, only two men—Kortlang and Matthews— made much resistance. The former, bringing off many