FIFTH CRICKET TEST

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1930, Page 6

FIFTH CRICKET TEST

NO PLAY YESTERDAY. RAIN FALLS IN TORRENTS. POSSIBLY NO PLAY TO-DAY. LUnited Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] y . LONDON, August 21. It was raining heavily this morning at 9.50, and the Test match wicket was covered. Steady rain fell duiing the night. It was decided at lunch that there could be no play to-day. Bain was falling in torrents. Cricket writers in England look upon the game as already won by Australia. The forecast for to-day was showers with bright intervals. Once 1000 or 1200 runs are made on the wicket at the Oval, anything is likely to happen. There was still a keen interest to-day, and the crowd were disappointed at no play being possible. The English batsmen, it is considered will endeavour to retrieve themselves. It would be better for all parties concerned if the Test match was made to end on the fifth day, but this is now possible. Rain was falling steadily at 11 a.m. and Wyatt and Woodfull inspected the wicket at noon. Feeling reference was made at the pavilion to the death of, Charlie Bannerman, who was the first man to reach a century for Australia in England. Bannerman also- took 24 wickets in England for 31 innings. At 12 o’clock the captains inspected the wicket, and it was decided to have lynch early, and to inspect the wicket again at 1.50 p.m. Rain, however, came down in torrents at 1 p.m. and a ; little later it was decided to abandon play for the day. There is also very little likelihood of play resuming again to-morrow, in the ppiniqn of the groundsmen. : Later in the day rain was still coming down in torrents, and the ground was .under water, so play to-morrow is unlikely. SYDNEY PRESS JUBILANT. SYDNEY, August 21. The press here is delighted at the Australians’ strong grip in the final Test. The heading in one instance is: “The Ashes Look Fine.” Another headed is r “Larwood Does His Worst —Don Does Ijlis Best.” The writers describe Don Bradman as the greatest batsman in history. Thousands of people have had very little sleep during the Test, listening to the wireless reports into the early morning.

ENGLISH CRITICS RESIGNED TO DEFEAT. LONDON, August 21. * The newspapers, following AVednesday’s play, are practically resigned to England’s defeat, and they are even speculating whether she can be saved by an innings defeat. Mr Bennison, in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “Nothing short of a miracle can deny Australia aii overwhelming and deserved victory. As batsmen, bowlers, and fieldsmen, they have proved the better team. In Bradman, Australia lias produced one of the most astonishing batsmen of all the ages. Mr Wignall, in , the “Daily Express,” says: “The plain tale is that England has been outplayed, outgeneralled, and outspirited, and also largely outfielded. The Australians have proved better than the best ,t*iat England has been able to find, i “The Daily Herald” says: “The match has revealed to the world the most wonderful batsman of all time — Bradman.” , Air P. F. Warner, in the “Morning Post,” says: “Australia is well on the way to victory. Bradman and Jackson’s batting was magnificent.” Chapman, writing, in “The Daily Mail,” says. “It is impossible to see how Australia , can be prevented from gaing a comparatively easy win. Yesterday I said that Bradman was a menace to English cricket. To-day I will go further. , I think he will he the death of it if he comes over more than once.”

WICKET SATURATED. (Received this day at 9.40 a.m;) LONDON, August 21. After lunch the captains inspected the .flooded pitch and abandoned play for the day. The ground was absolutely soaked and ,the wicket saturated. It is quite possible there will be no j>lay to-morrow.