Lord's, in brilliant sunshine, a full house, and England had the toss on an ensy-paced wicket. Batting all day and scoring at an unusual pace for a Test Match, we were never really masters of" the situation, Someone was always ketting dut, or looked like getting out, with the exception of Duleep, and he gave at least) two distinct chances, the one in the sixties being more or less of a sitter to Weodfull at mid-wicket, Hobbs batted with Jers confidence than T have ever seen im show on a big. occasion, but our spirits were revived by some gloricue strokes by Woolley, who, apparently, thought it advisable to get busy before Grimmete was put on. 'The latter at once had in' difficulties; indeed, only Duleep, Hanrmond and Hendren played Grimmett with any confidence in this innings. Hammond was clean bowled by him with the wrong un after playing im really well, and then Hendyen was caught at deen long leg. off a shot which only an artist could attempt—a beautiful hook off a short one from Fairfax, taken shoulder high and plumb in the middle of the bat, This piece of bad luck, must offset the missing of Duleep ty Woodfal', as Hendren was playing in his very best form and locked certain, for a big score.
Meanwhile, Duleep played lovely cricket, his cutting being a delight He has not Ranj's jumping out to drive, but otherwise his style is absurdly ieminiecent of his famous uncle, who was a proad onlooker in one of the boxes. Chapman shaped like a great schocltoy and wondered why he was in the side. We were to learn the reason later.
Tate gave Duleep much needed assistance and the pais ran between the wickets better than any other pair of our batsmen. Duleep was out when having a ¢9 at Grimmett, rather unnecessarily, 1 thought, a hho must have known th: Chapman not intend to declare that night Te possibly vould have bela to have put the Aastralians in for 45 minutes or so with our score at 350, There was a little life in the wicket, if only'a little, and Tate or Robins might have secured a cuxple ims that night. The Australians had had along day in the field and the light is never very clever at Lord's after 5.20 pam. However, we had got 405 by the end of the day, even if they were not obtained very convincing ly, and 1 overheard & well-nowa old cricketer remark:—They can never beat us in this mat® now."
But we were to' learn a lot of things tofore the last ball in this match,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.