Australia v England 1911-12

Played at Melbourne, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, February 9, 10, 12, 13. England won by an innings and 225 runs. In the fourth Test match the Englishmen put the seal on their reputation, giving a most brilliant and convincing display of all-round cricket, and winning by an innings and 225 runs. As they had already won two matches, out of three, the victory gave them the rubber. The first day"s play went far towards determining the result. Heavy rain had made the ground soft, and Douglas, on winning the toss, put Australia in. At first his policy did not seem likely to answer, the score reaching 53 before the first wicket fell, but Barnes and Foster afterwards bowled splendidly and, despite Minnett"s hitting, the innings ended for 191.

Hobbs and Rhodes were not out with 30 and 23 respectively at the close of the first day, and on Saturday they set up a Test match record, scoring 323 for the first wicket. They were together for just upon four hours and a half. Hobbs, who was first to leave, hit twenty-two 4"s in his superb 178. At the drawing of stumps, the total was 370 for one wicket. On Monday, the Englishmen took their total to 589. Rhodes beat Hobbs"s score by a single run, and was then caught at the wicket. Though not by any means free from fault, his innings, which lasted nearly seven hours, was a remarkable display of careful batting. The Australians went in for a few minutes at the end of the afternoon, and on Tuesday they failed, being all out just after the tea interval for 173. Douglas bowled in great form. At one point he had sent down fifteen overs for 21 runs and four wickets.