CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1926, Page 1

CRICKET.

FOURTH TEST.

THE PLAY -STOPPED.

AFTER HALF A DOZEN RUNS.

[Reuter Telegrams.]

LONDON, July 24. Maurice Tate, the English bowler, will take the field to-day against the Australians at- Manchester, charged with tho responsibility of vindicating tho honour of his father. Apropos of this fact, there is something in the nature of a cricket romance, as is explained in a letter from Fred Tate (Maurice Tate’s father) to the Secretary of theLancashire Cricket Club. The letter is as follows: “My wife and I will love to see that test, as Maurice is playing. Tho twenty-fourth of July is my natal day, and twenty-four years ago I was proud to represent my country in this very match, when I missed a difficult catch which has been the subject of daily talk ever since. I sincerely hope that my son and Mr Carr will redeem it this week.”

Curious to relate, the 1902 match, which is the • one referred to by Mr Tate—when the Australians won by three runs—started precisely on tho same day and date us this one.

(In the match in question the bowler who took the last English wicket was 'the Victorian, (Saunders. Darling, who then captained the Australians, stated afterwards, the winners felt the strain they were under during the final stages of the game. It is also said that Saunders, with his fifth ball, sent along one, that he could occasionally produce, of an almost unplayable sort).

THE PLAY. LONDON, July 24. The fourth test match commenced to-day. Tho weather had been threatening all Friday night. Rain fell early this morning, hut there was not enough to affect tho pitch.

Although tho rain earlier in the week made for wn easy wicket, a quarter of an hour before play was due to start, rain began to fall heavily. It continued intermittently till 12.45 p.m., when, after an inspection of tho wicket, Bardsley and Carr tossed. The former won and decided to hat. THE TEAMS. The teams were ms- follows: »

England.—Carr, Stevens, Hobbs, Strudwick, Woolley Hendren Sutcliffe, Kilncr, Tate, Root, and E. Tvldesley. Australia.—Bardsley, Woodfull, Macartney, Richardson, Gregory, Ponsford, ■Andrews, Ryder, Oldfield, Grimmett, and Mai ley. Although tho toss took place before 1 p.m., play did not start till 2.42 p.m. Woodfull and Bardsley went in. Woodfull received the first hall from Tate. He edged it dangerously between Sutcliffe and Hendren at first and second slips,•'’Wc ball going to the boundary. Woodfull next hit a single, thereby bringing Bardsley opposite to Tate.

Tate unsuccessfully appealed for leg before off his first hall to Bardsley. Only ten balls were bowled by Tate and Root, when the rain came again and sent the players to tho pavilion. Half an hour later the pitch was under water, and shortly after four, play was abandoned for the day. Following are tho scores:— AUSTRALIA —First Innings. ■Woodfull, (not out) 5 Bardsley, (not out) 0 Extras 1

’Total for no wickets 6 LONDON, July 25. The “Observer” expresses the opinion that Manchester rain washed away the three days limit for the tests. 'The fourth day can no longer he denied.

COUNTY CRICKET. LONDON, July 23. Middlesex in the first innings made 196 (llcarno seventy-two), and in the second 222 (Bruce seventy-one, Mann lil'ty-two). Staples took 5 for 60. Against Notts, first innings 223 (Carr ninety-eight) and second 120. Heame taking 5 for 16. Middlesex won by seventy-five runs.

Surrey, first innings 112 (Fender (not out) sixty-one). A. E. Gilligan took 5 for 54 and' second 375 (Ducat sixty-one, Holmes sixty-nine) against Sussex first innings 399 (Duleepsintiiji seventy-six. Wensley, seventy-seven, Cook 103). The match was drawn. • Yorkshire, first innings 237 (Leyland 118) and second 251 for 3, declared (Holmes 108, Oklroyd 109), against Hampshire, first innings 174 (Darnell seventy-eight). Smith took 4 for 48 and Rhodes 4 for 15) and second 151 for 2, (Newman, not out, fifty-eight). Tho match was drawn. Somerset, first innings 255 (Eariic fifty-four), MacDonald taking 5 for 89 and second 129, R. Tyldesley taking 4 for 25 and Watson 4 for 19), against Lancashire, first innings 392 (E. Tyldesley 120, thus making a century in seven consecutive matches, Makepeace. seventy-seven Iddon fifty-five). Lancashire won by an innings -nd eight runs. Playing for Kent against Leicester, Woolley made 106. and Freeman took 5 for 41. . Kent won. For Worcester against- Gloucester, Root took 7 lor 92. For Gloucester, Mills took 5 for 107. The match was drawn. Em- Warwick against Northants Quaife made 107. Partridge took 5 for 73. For Northants Clark took o for 74. Warwick won. For Essex against Glamorgan, Bussell made 103 (not out). Nicholls took 5 for 89. Hipkin 5 for 55. i“>r Glamorgan, Mercer took G 01 -* Essex won. Rain interfered with pla>.

THE LEADING AVERAGES. LONDON. July 24. The leading cricket averages are as follows: — RATTING.

Gregory is at the bottom of the list with 700 runs, IS wickets, and an average of 38.88.

Ings. not runs. avgo. outs .... 25 1 1835 76.4-5 Tylclesley Macartney Woodful Snndliam Hendren Chapman ... 33 .... 19 .... 21 . . 2S 33 20 26 3 o 3 2 8 3 3 2001 1051 1038 1487 1429 918 1226 66.70 61.82 57.66 57.19 57.16 54.00 53.30 Bardsley Hardinge ... 22 32 .. 27 1 3 3 1112 1533 1257 52.95 52.86 52.37 Bussell Richardson Tavlor is 34 7 1367 19 7 600 placed forty-second 50.62 50.00 with 21' innings, aging 18.80. 1 not out, 271 > runs, bowling. runs, wkts.. arcrug© Rhodes Geary Macartney 1083 ... 1502 .. 691 . 370 78 13.88 94. 15.96 45 15.53 39 16.10 .... 1585 97 16.34 Grimmett 805 48 16.77

Tyldesley ... 1345 79 17.02 Cox ... 955 56 17.0-4 Mercer ... 1346 78 17.25 Mailer ... 1279 74 17.28 Macaulay ... 1476 84 17.57 Richardson .... ... 633 35 18.08 Ryan ... 1360 74 18.37