THE FOURTH TEST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 158, 29 July 1909, Page 3

THE FOURTH TEST

PLAY STOPPED BY RAM. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrign London, July 27. Dull weather was experienced at the start of play to-day hj, the match at Manchester between Australia „i.d England. The wind was less, but til • wicket was soft. Fourteen thousand watched the game. Th c particulars arc as follow:

ENGLAND. First Innings i,„ AUSTRALIA." " rirst Innings .. , ,- In its second innings Australia ; ,« 8 lost two wickets for 77 Gregory, b. Hirst ' -, Bardsley, c. MacLaren, b. "Blytlie 33 -Macartney, not out .. ' :I ,j The Australians made a''very'quiet start, only five runs .ommg ,„ the first !-Iu 0VB '?- , Ba ™* and Blythe bowled well and the fielding was moderate. At 10, Hirst came on for Barne, „,„i his seoond ball found Gregory's middle stump.—One for IG.

Bardsley was timing indifferently at the start. Sharp replaced Hlvtlie,' and Macartney joined Bardsley. The latter improved, but gave a chance mur t ie oil to the wicket keeper when 17, off Wiarp's first over. scored .jnic-klv and in excellent style, although the pitch was very dead. When the hall century was up several changes were made in the bowling. -Hirst was tried, Rhodes, and then Blythe again. The latter in his first over dismissed Bardsley, MacLaren getting the batsman in the slips. But. Bardsley hit two fourers off the fatal over. He batted 85 minutes for his score. Macartney in 50 minutes had 33 to his credit by delightfully clean driving. He hit 5 fourers. Rain then set in and there was no play up to luncheon. After luncheon rain continued. Most of tJi© spectators departed, and play for the day stopped at four o'clock.

UNPROPITIOUS WEATHER. Received 20, 0.10 a.m. London, July 28. Nine hours' continuous rain fell yesterday. The night was fine and the' morning sunny. The wicket was too soft to start at 11 o'clock.

The first test, played at Birmingham, was won by England by 10 wickets; tile second test, played at Lords, was won by Australia by 9 wickets; whilst the third test, played at Leeds, was won by Australia by 120 runs.

THE TRIANGULAR MATCHES. London, July 27. The Imperial Cricket Conference suggests that each country shall visit aud be visited by each other country every four years, and that no country shall pay visits in two successive seasons. It proposes that the first triangular contest shall be held in 1912, England, Australia, and South Africa each playing six tests in England, each meeting the others three times, and each taking half of the grass gate of fie matches in which it participates.

VISIT OF LORD HAWKE'S TEAM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Wednesday. Tlie Wanganui Cricket Association is smarting under the treatment meted out to it by the New Zealand Cricket Council over the visit of Lord Hawkc's team. It is not disposed to contribute the suggested guarantee towards the Australian team. A similar proposal to that now made was forwarded to the cricket associations in 1903, but when the profits were divided the cricket council refused to pay the losses sustained by tlie smaller associations.