Australia v England 1920-21

In the second Test the Englishmen suffered defeat by an innings and 91 runs. It is not at all likely that in any circumstances they would have won the game in face of a total of 499, but they had dreadful luck in having to bat on a wicket more or less ruined by rain. Hearne started playing, but was taken ill after the first day, and no more was seen of him during the tour. Macartney was kept out of the match by an attack of gastritis. The Australians scored 282 for six wickets on Friday, and were batting about seven hours and a half, the second afternoon being far advanced when their innings came to an end. Bardsley and Collins gave their side a capital start by scoring 116 together for the first wicket, but the chief batting honours were divided by Pellew and Gregory. Not out 33 on the first day, Pellew scored his 116 in just over three hours his play being in every way admirable. He and Gregory put on 173 runs in less than two hours for the eighth wicket. Gregory was very brilliant, hitting twelve 4's. England began badly, two wickets being down for 32, but Hendren stayed with Hobbs, and at the drawing of stumps the score was 93. Drenching rain set in soon after midnight, and early on Sunday the wicket was under water. However, play was quite practicable on Monday, and in scoring his 122 under the altered conditions Hobbs played, from the English point of view, the finest innings of the tour. He was batting, in all, for three hours and a half. Hendren, playing with extreme care, helped Hobbs to put on 142 runs, but no one else did much against Gregory's bowling. Following on, the Englishmen lost five wickets before time was called, and on the fourth day the match was soon over.