Play Impossible

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 897, 14 February 1930, Page 1

Play Impossible

THE THIRD CRICKET TEST

Heaviest Rain for Years

FE heaviest rainfall in 24 hours which has drenched Auckland in the past six years made all hope of play impossible today in the third and final cricket Test of the present series, England v. New Zealand, which was to have commenced at Eden Park at 11.30 a.m.

The wicket was covered yesterday in the event of the worst coming, but the rain, which commenced late in the afternoon, continued to fall steadily throughout the night and was still falling this afternoon. The New Zealand team assembled at Auckland yesterday and everything was in readiness for the big day, for the third test is the vital one of the series. The perfect weather which prevailed for the Auckland-M.C.C. game promised well for the test match, but all too soon fickle fortune cast off the mantle of summer and replaced it with her winter cloak. According to statistics supplied by the official Government observer at Auckland, the rainfall for the 24 hours from 9 a.m. yesterday totalled 3.28 inches, which is the heaviest since May 24, 1924, when a fall of 5.10 inches was recorded over a similar period. This naturally caused much disappointment among cricket followers, many of whom had flocked to the scene of the battle from all parts of the Dominion. Officials of the game from Its headquarters in Christchurch who are in Auckland for the match include: Mr. Dan Reese, president of the New Zealand Cricket Association: Mr. A. T. Donnelly, chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council, and Mr. W. H. Winsor, hon. secretary of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council. QUESTION OF EXTRA DAY Talking to a Sun man this morning, Mr. Winsor said that the council was naturally disappointed that the game had been interrupted by the weather, more especially as there had been only two days’ play in the first test at Christchurch. On the Friday and Monday of the Christchurch game the gate takings had amounted to £650, and had playbeen possible on the Saturday also the council expected to clear a £1.400 gate. Mr. Winsor was pleased that the fine weather had enabled the Auckland Cricket Association to make a handsome profit on its match. When questioned regarding the possibility of having the time for the test extended next week, Mr. Winsor said that the chances were very remote. He pointed out, however, that although the test was scheduled to conclude on Monday next, the visitors’ next match, versus Waikato at Hamilton, did not commence till Wednesday morning. Thus, if the wet weather continued the test might possibly be extended for one day, if necessary. The New Zealand Cricket Council would have to consult the captain-man-ager of the M.C.C. team, Mr. A. H. H. Gilligan, on whose decision the chance rested finally. Under the laws of cricket, however, this appears to be a very remote possibility. At an early hour this afternoon prospects of the match being commenced tomorrow morning were far from bright. Eden Park has stood up to the downpour very well, although pools of water had gathered on the ground in front of the pavilion. If play is at all possible on the third •day, Monday, the match may yet be

played to a conclusion. The effect of a hot February sun on the damp Eden Park wicket would make the position decidedly interesting, as the match would then automatically become a one-day fixture—that is, if no balls are bowled on the first two days. The laws of cricket governing oneday matches are: — (1) The side which bats first and leads by 75 runs shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow its innings. (2) The match, unless played out, shall be decided by the first innings. Prior to the commencement. of a match it may be agreed that the over consist of five or six balls.