100 Years Ago: 13-18 December 1924

Juniors force draw in rain-marred match

Sydney: Australian Juniors v M.C.C. (three-day match, not first-class)

Day 1

Another Hobbs and Sutcliffe Stand

AUSTRALIAN JUNIORS 169 (S L Josselyn 47, A Callaway 35; A E R Gilligan 2/36, J W Hearne 2/38, A P Freeman 4/56). M.C.C. 95/0 (J B Hobbs 50*, H Sutcliffe 40*).

The Australian Juniors team was captained by the great former Australian captain, Monty Noble, now aged 51, but unfortunately he was bowled by Arthur Gilligan without scoring today. The Juniors were not a strong side, and by the close Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe had put together another strong opening partnership for M.C.C.

Day 2

No Play — Rain

AUSTRALIAN JUNIORS 169. M.C.C. 95/0 (J B Hobbs 50*, H Sutcliffe 40*).

Day 3

Hobbs and Noble Star

AUSTRALIAN JUNIORS 169 and 93/7 (M A Noble 41*; J B Hobbs 4/15). M.C.C. 319/5 dec (J B Hobbs 114, H Sutcliffe 68, J W Hearne 29, E H Hendren 54, A Sandham 31*). Match drawn.

With the second day’s play washed out, no result was possible in this match, although the all-round performance of Jack Hobbs took M.C.C. close to victory. He and Herbert Sutcliffe put on 144 for the M.C.C. first wicket, and he went on to pass his century. When the Australian Juniors batted again, Monty Noble decided to open the batting himself, and it was a good thing for his team that he did, for he batted through the rest of the day to save his team with 41 not out. Jack Hobbs turned demon bowler, opening the bowling and taking four quick wickets at the other end to leave the Juniors 27 for four at one stage. But the middle order gave Noble better support and they managed to force a draw.

Johannesburg: Transvaal v S B Joel’s XI

Day 1

Transvaal Flops, Tyldesley Stars Again

TRANSVAAL 109 (A H C Cooper 16, V H Neser 31; A S Kennedy 6/46, C W L Parker 4/35). S B JOEL’S XI 224/2 (J C W MacBryan 40, P Holmes 56, G E Tyldesley 103*, C A G Russell 22*; A E Hall 2 wkts).

The pitch at the Old Wanderers ground was easy-paced, but Transvaal put in a dismal batting display and were quite unable to counter the excellent bowling of Alec Kennedy, who bowled unchanged and was well supported by Charlie Parker. The only batsman to pass 20 was the former Oxford University wicket-keeper Vivian Neser, who came in at 35 for four and scored 31. The English team fielded superbly.

Jack MacBryan and Percy Holmes gave the Jolly Souls a strong brisk start, but after MacBryan left at 74 Holmes slowed right down and consolidated the innings, along with Ernest Tyldesley. They passed the Transvaal score with only one wicket down. Holmes eventually took 2¼ hours to score 56, but when Jack Russell came in Tyldesley began to score more fluently. He reached his century in only two hours just before the close, when the tourists had more than doubled the Transvaal score with only two wickets down. They both fell to Alfred Hall, the man rejected by Lancashire after the recent season.

Day 2

Transvaal Fight Back

TRANSVAAL 109 and 116/3 (N V Lindsay 49, M J Susskind 37*, H G Deane 1*) S B JOEL’S XI 349 (G E Tyldesley 147, C A G Russell 36, G Geary 23*; A E Hall 4/103, W E Duff 3/75, C D Dixon 3/105). Overnight score was: S B Joel’s XI (1) 224/2 (Tyldesley 103*, C A G Russell 22*).

The close of play score yesterday suggested that Transvaal were heading for a big innings defeat, perhaps in two days. However, today they fought back well, although it will probably not be enough to save them the match. When they finally separated Ernest Tyldesley and Jack Russell, after a third-wicket partnership of 97, wickets began to fall steadily, and only George Geary after that passed 20. Tyldesley was finally out for 147 in just under 3½ hours, having hit a six and 20 fours, but he was dropped twice. None of the Transvaal bowlers were very effective, except for Alfred Hall.

Transvaal went in again with a deficit of 240, but they put up a better show this time, reaching 98 before the second wicket fell. Then they lost two wickets quickly, but Fred Susskind is still there with Nummy Deane, a recent South African tourist to England, and they will carry on the fight tomorrow.

In Bloemfontein, Orange Free State completed a victory over a seriously weakened Griqualand West side by an innings and 57 runs in two days. Colin Maritz scored 160 for them and Bernard Susskind, a young brother of Fred, scored 102.

Day 3

Susskind and Deane Fail to Save Transvaal

TRANSVAAL 109 and 354 (M J Susskind 88, H G Deane 118, H J Sutherland 31; G Geary 2/79, A S Kennedy 3/80, C W L Parker 4/120). S B JOEL’S XI 349 and 117/2 (G E Tyldesley 55*, C A G Russell 38*; A E Hall 2 wkts). S B Joel’s XI won by eight wickets. Overnight score was: Transvaal (2) 116/3 (Susskind 37*, Deane 1*).

Transvaal put up a good fight against the tourists, but they could not make up for their dismal performance of the first day. The overnight pair of Fred Susskind and Nummy Deane stayed in and put yorking a fine partnership, worth 146 for the fourth wicket before Susskind was finally out for 88 after lunch. Deane, showing the real talent that he was rarely able to reveal in England, went on to reach a fine century in two hours and ten minutes, but he did not have much support from the tail, who with more determination might have forced a draw.

The Jolly Souls needed 115 to win in an hour and three-quarters. Alfred Hall again dismissed both the openers, this time with only 21 on the board, but Ernest Tyldesley was again in superb form, and Jack Russell was more fluent than in the first innings. They formed an unbroken partnership worth 96 and the tourists cruised home with a quarter of an hour to spare.

ENGLAND TEST TEAM

The England team for the First Test match which starts in Sydney this Friday, 19 December, has been announced. It is as follows:—

Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Jack Hearne, Frank Woolley, Patsy Hendren, Andy Sandham, Percy Chapman, Maurice Tate, *Arthur Gilligan, Tich Freeman, +Bert Strudwick.

The only real surprise is that Dick Tyldesley has been left out, as England decided to play an extra batsman. This is quite a risk, given the strength of the Australian batting. England have only four frontline bowlers in their team — Gilligan, Tate, Freeman and Hearne, and Hearne could be a risk, given his susceptibility to illness, injury or inconsistency. Woolley will no doubt need to back them up, though he is becoming a more reluctant bowler these days, and is not usually very effective on Australian pitches — and neither is Hearne, for that matter. Both have just recovered from injury. If one of the main bowlers breaks down, England will be in real trouble. Tyldesley, or perhaps Johnny Douglas, in place of Sandham might have been a wiser option.

The top six batsmen are a very strong combination, while the brilliance of Chapman in the field ensures his selection. But in a timeless match of eight-ball overs — although only five hours’ play each day — against such powerful Australian batsmen, England are taking a big risk. The key man is Tate, who is most probably a better bowler than anybody Australia have at present (and it could be argued that Hobbs is a better batsman). If he can do serious damage to the strong Australian batting line-up on what is expected to be a superb batting pitch, anything could happen.

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