PLAY PREVENTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1938, Page 7

PLAY PREVENTED

BY HEAVY RAIN AUSTRALIA V. MIDDLESEX. THE INCIDENT AT THE OVAL. (Recd This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 25. Heavy rain prevented any play in the match between Australia and Hampshire. Concerning the incident at the Oval during the Australia v. Surrey match, Bradman has . issued the following statement: “It is regrettable that some spectators at the Oval disapproved of my action, but I feel that it would have been tolerated had they known the true position.” Bradman then gives a list of the injuries which his team mates were suffering from and concludes: “Whilst I am sorry the move was unpopular no reasonable being can refuse to admit that the remainder of the tour must receive adequate consideration.” AUSTRALIAN AVERAGES. » FIFTEEN CENTURIES SCORED. (Notes by “The Bowler.”) The batting averages of the Australian cricket team, now in England, up to and including the Surrey match, are as follow: —

Fifteen centuries have been scored by batsmen in an innings, and three batsmen have each made over 200 runs in an innings. The details are: — Bradman, 258, 137, 278, 143. Fingleton, 124, 111. Brown, 194. McCabe, 110. Badcock, 108, 186. \ Hassett, 146, 148, 220. Barnett, 120. Chipperfield, 104. Considering that the team has only played 7 matches to'- date, and 8 innings, the centuries above referred to show that the Australians are a fine batting combination. A most interesting discussion took place a few days ago, between ardent supporters of the Aussies and English cricketers, respecting the merits of the players in the two countries and also as to England’s chances in the Test matches. The discussion ended quite abruptly as the Aussie supporter stated in all “earnestness,” that a cable had been received from England, forfeiting the first Test.

In. N.O. Runs Av. Bradman 6 0 876 146 Hassett 6 1 712 142.4 Badcock 7 0 574 82 Brown 6 1 369 73.8 Barnett 6 3 213 71 Fingleton 6 0 401 66.83 Walker 2 2 60 60 Waite 6 1 237 47.4 Chipperfield 6 1 209 41.8 McCabe 5 0 190 38 White 3 1 38 19 O’Reilly 3 0 28 9.33 FleetwoodSmith 2 2 9 9 McCormack 2 0 14 7