100 Years Ago: 9-11 December 1924

M.C.C. dominates in Toowoomba

Day 1

Toowoomba: Toowoomba (XIII) v M.C.C. (two-day match, not first-class)

Hearne Back in Action

M.C.C. 277/2 (J B Hobbs 24, J W Hearne 149*, H Sutcliffe 90, M W Tate 2*). TOOWOOMBA to bat.

The day after their match against the Australian XI, M.C.C. were scheduled to start a two-day match against Toowoomba and District, who played 13 men, although fielding only 11. Due to the travel arrangements, the match did not start until the afternoon. M.C.C. batted on an easy pitch. Jack Hearne has now recovered from injury and showed magnificent batting form, showing rare fluency for him as he scored freely all round the wicket. There was controversy as Herbert Sutcliffe on 90 was run out backing up, well out of his crease, by the bowler before he delivered the ball. M.C.C. were not happy about a method of dismissal which they considered against the spirit of the game, as no warning was given, but some of the home side felt that Sutcliffe was showing arrogance and disrespecting them by his attitude.

From ACS member Mark Catley: “[Monty] Noble [in his book on this tour] describes Sutcliffe’s dismissal (after ‘painfully accurate batting’) as ‘correct play’ and adds: ‘Unless batsmen at the bowlers' end are kept strictly within limits they would soon be half-way down the pitch before the ball was delivered.’”

Day 2

Innings Victory

M.C.C. 394/3 dec (J W Hearne 174*, M W Tate 94). TOOWOOMBA 181 (F R Drews 52; M W Tate 2/17, A P Freeman 6/48, J W Hearne 3/27) and (following on) 87 (A E Gill 18; J B Hobbs 2/21, R Kilner 7/36, A P Freeman 3/21). M.C.C. won by an innings and 26 runs. Overnight score was: M.C.C. (1) 394/3 dec (Hearne 149*, Tate 2*).

M.C.C. continued their innings for almost an hour, while Maurice Tate hit about him and just failed to reach a century. When he was out M.C.C. declared, with Jack Hearne still there on 174, after batting for about 3½ hours and hitting 2 sixes and 24 fours. Tate hit 2 sixes and 14 fours; it is a small ground and boundaries were easy to hit.

Toowoomba were bowled out for 181 in 2½ hours, with few of their batsmen able to handle their bowling. When they followed on the spinners cleaned them up in 70 minutes for only 87, giving M.C.C. an easy victory.

AUSTRALIAN TEST TEAM

The Australian team has been chosen for the First Test match against England, which will start on the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday 19 December. It is as follows: —

*Herbie Collins, Warren Bardsley, Bill Ponsford, Arthur Richardson, Johnny Taylor, Vic Richardson, Charles Kelleway, Hunter Hendry, Jack Gregory, +Bert Oldfield, Arthur Mailey. Twelfth man Tommy Andrews, reserves Jack Ryder and Albert Hartkopf.

Ponsford and the unrelated Arthur and Vic Richardson will be making their Test débuts for Australia, while Tich Freeman is expected to do likewise for England.

The great strength of the Australian batting is very evident, especially when such a batsman as Charlie Macartney can be left out, although apparently his health has not been good. Alan Kippax and Bill Woodfull are two more fine batsmen who cannot find a batting spot in this powerful Australian team, not to mention Tommy Andrews as twelfth man.

The bowling, as expected, is not as strong as it was in England in 1921. The loss of Ted McDonald to the Lancashire League and now to Lancashire itself is a great blow, as he was their finest bowler. Gregory is back, but his form so far this season has been erratic and he was not a great danger when New South Wales played M.C.C.

Mailey is still there, a very difficult bowler when in his best form, as he was in the 1920/21 tour, while the rest of the bowling will no doubt be shared between Kelleway, Hendry and Arthur Richardson. Kelleway will fill an important rôle in the side, especially as a steady medium-pace bowler who can block up an end for long periods when Australia does not have the attacking options she used to do. He has been selected despite his recent refusal to play for New South Wales, as he said he was liable to lose too much money playing for his state, who rejected his request for ‘special financial consideration.’

Unless the weather interferes with the pitches, a high-scoring Test match and series seem to be in prospect, with these timeless matches lasting the best part of a week — or more!

OTHER NEWS

John Guise has been elected captain of the Oxford University team for next season and Claude Taylor as secretary.

M.C.C. has consented to allow the whole of the pitch to be covered for 24 hours before the start of a match in England. This should reduce the instances when play is seriously delayed at the start of a match because the pitch is too wet, but the outfield is fit for play.

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