Australia v England 1920-21

Toss: England. Test debut: England - A.Dolphin.

The fact of the rubber having already been won by Australia did not seem to affect the interest taken in the fourth Test match. Owing to an injured thumb Russell could not play, but the loss of his batting was far outweighed by the absence, through illness, of Macartney from the Australian eleven. For the first time in the series of Test games Douglas won the toss, but his side did not make by any means the most of their good fortune in batting first on a perfect pitch. They took the whole of the first day to score 270 for six wickets, and on Saturday the innings was quickly finished off. Makepeace, who played wonderfully well and did not give a chance in his 117, had a good deal to say when he returned to England about the difficulty he experienced in getting runs against the excellent bowling, backed up as it was by matchless fielding.

On a Melbourne wicket in fine weather a total of 284 was obviously not good enough. Collins and Bardsley gave Australia a good start by scoring 117 together, but when six wickets had fallen for 153 the position suggested a great fight. It was mainly due to Armstrong that a lead of 105 was obtained. Though suffering from a recurrence of malaria he played a great innings, being in for nearly three hours and a half. He and Gregory added a hundred runs during their partnership.

On going in for the second time the Englishmen gave a good display, but in order to have a real chance of winning they would have required at least another 150 runs. The task of getting 211 was easily accomplished, Australia winning by eight wickets. Ryder and Gregory hit off the last 130 runs together. It was not one of Gregory's matches as a bowler, but by scoring 77 and not out 76 he had a big share in the victory. Mailey, though at times freely punished, had a triumph, taking thirteen wickets - nine in the second innings.