CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1926, Page 3

CRICKET.

[Reuter Telegrams.] RAIN STOPS PLAY. LONDON, June IT. Rain restarted early this morning and was., still falling at 11.45, The barometer clearly regurds the tests as a huge joke. After a gloriously fine Sunday had raised the hopes of cricket enthusiasts the glass went back as far as it could, and a soaking ruin continued throughout the morning, converting the ground into a morass fior hours. Any attempt at cricket could only be a mud lark. The absence of wind and sun -makes it impossible for the ground to recover. Notwithstanding the appalling conditions, some hundreds of season ticket holders took their seats and prepared for a long wait, while the crowd inside the locked gates numbered two thousand.

NO PLAY. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. There was no play in the test cricket match, owing to rain. LONDON, June 14. Heavy rain continued till one o’clock.' Then, after a short spell, a heavy drizzle set in and continued without interruption, and all idea of play was abandoned without further inspection. A TEST CHAT. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m,-) LONDON, June If. A recurrence of the wash-out at Nottingham has stiffened opinion in favour of allotting more time to test matches. Mr MacLare'n said the rain had sounded the death knell of three days’ tests. Mr Jessop said it was about time the Counties were taught to think Imperially and withdraw their objection to releasing men to play the matches to a finish. It is understood there is a possibility of influential circles taking up a scheme proposed by Clem Hill, "1 !0 says he prefers five tests played to a finish, and thinks the suggestion before the Imperial Conference of five tests each of four days, is little bettei than the present arrangement which is merely one serious game and four games of bat and ball for the sake of the gate. Hill says he understands the Counties oppose the five played to a finish, as it is equivalent to five County, players being unavailable for ten County matches. Therefore the most practicable plan would be to- play three matches, allowing a week each. “ I hoist the Australians with their own petard,” said Carr describing the test toss, ‘‘for I used an Australian ' penny, the gift of a South African friend. It was bard luck that the first slice of luck should be ruined by typically English weather, but I shall use that penny for all the tests a loch may captain.” - AUSTRALIAN FIXTURES. June 16—Yorkshire, at Sheffield. June 19—Lancashire, at Manchester. .Tune 23—Derby, at Derby. ' June 26—Second Test, at Lord’s. June 30— Northampton, at Northampton.