Australia v England 1924-25

Played at MELBOURNE, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, February, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18. England won by an innings and 29 runs. The rubber having been decided by Australia winning three matches off the reel, the fourth Test naturally lacked something of the enormous interest taken in the previous engagements, but the players showed no slackening of endeavour. England had the satisfaction of gaining a great victory by an innings and 29 runs. Arthur Gilligan at last called correctly to the spin of the coin by Collins. The difference that batting first made to the Englishmen could scarcely be over-estimated.

Hobbs and Sutcliffe, scoring 126 together, opened with a three figure partnership for the fourth time in the series of matches. The first day produced 282 runs for two wickets, Sutcliffe claiming just half the total, but he was out first thing in the morning. Batting four hours and fifty-five minutes without serious fault, Sutcliffe hit fourteen 4's in a great innings of 143 - his fourth 100 in the tour's test matches. At the wickets for two full days, England put together their highest score, the exact time occupied being nine hours and thirty-five minutes. Not one of the leading batsmen failed; indeed all showed to advantage. Sutcliffe and Hearne put on 106, and Whysall and Kilner added 133 - the best stand of the match.

Showers interfered with play on the Monday handicapping the bowlers, and the impatient crowd by invading the ground did more damage to the pitch than was caused by the slight rain. Getting down five wickets for 109, England gained a big advantage, and, though Taylor and Andrews raised the score to 168, they were separate in the morning and the last four wickets fell for 96 runs. Tate, Hearne and Kilner bowled best on a pitch that dried fairly easily in the absence of much sunshine. Australia after batting nearly four hours at their first attempt followed-on and lost four men for 175 before the third day ended with six wickets to fall and arrears still amounting to 104.

The pitch seemed perfect in the morning but Tate was irresistible, dismissing four men for 21 runs. Indeed the innings was finished off for an additional 75 in an hour and a half, having lasted altogether four hours and twenty-five minutes. The Englishmen were congratulated on all hands and cheered enthusiastically for gaining what was the first victory over Australia since August, 1912. The number of people paying was 51,176 and the gate amounted to £6,636.