Match reports

Australia v England 1920-21

Played at ADELAIDE, Friday, Saturday Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, January 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20

15-Apr-1922
Played at ADELAIDE, Friday, Saturday Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, January 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20. Australia won by 119 runs. In an extraordinary game which lasted six days and produced an aggregate of 1,753 runs, the Englishmen suffered defeat by a margin of 119, but inasmuch as they ran up totals of 447 and 370 the result, though it settled the question of the rubber, said a great deal for the batting strength of the side when the men really found their form. On the first day the Australians scored 313 for seven wickets but they would no doubt have been all out if some chances after lunch had been accepted. Four wickets were down for 96, but thenceforward the batting asserted itself. In first and out seventh, Collins obtained his 162 in something over four hours and a quarter. He played finely and hit nineteen fours but he had quite his share of good fortune.
Saturday was a very good day for the Englishmen as after Parkin, by capital bowling, had finished off Australia's innings, they scored 233 for the loss of four wickets. Woolley, not out 73, played the best and most attractive cricket. On the following day he was hurt by a ball from Gregory and soon fell to a catch in the slips. Russell, the other not-out on Saturday, played wonderfully well, and with Douglas's help secured for England a useful lead on the first innings. In getting his 135 not out, he was at the wickets four hours and ten minutes, hitting a six and twelve 4's. Three Australian wickets went down for 71 before the drawing of stumps, England finishing the third day in a very flattering position. Kelleway, not out 19, was missed at slip by Fender off Howell's bowling before he had made a run and for this blunder, as events turned out, a terribly high price had to be paid.
On the fourth day the Australians carried their score to 364 and lost only two more wickets. The batting of Kelleway and Armstrong presented a marked contrast. Kelleway, still in at the end of the afternoon with 115 to his credit, played a stone-wall game, but Armstrong was superb, scoring 121 out of 194 runs made while he was at the wickets. On Wednesday the English bowling was again completely mastered. Pellew hit brilliantly for over two hours, his 104 including thirteen 4's, and Gregory was almost as vigorous. Kelleway's innings lasted just upon seven hours. England required 490 to win and, as the wicket remained sound, the task was not quite impossible. However, as might have been expected, it proved too heavy. Hobbs was not out 50 at the drawing of stumps, and so long as he stayed in on the following day there was just a chance. He was bowled by Gregory soon after luncheon, being out third wicket down at 183. His innings, which extended over two hours and a half, was one of the finest he played during the tour. Woolley failed and after that the result, despite some excellent batting, always looked a certainty.