THE THIRD TEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1938, Page 7

THE THIRD TEST

POOR PROSPECTS OF PLAY TODAY DOWNPOUR IN MANCHESTER YESTERDAY UNFAVOURABLE OUTLOOK By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. (Recd This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. As the result of rain all day on Sunday at Manchester, play in the Test match on Monday is very doubtful. NO PLAY ON SATURDAY OWING TO ( HEAVY RAIN LONDON, July 9. Play was impossible today in the third Test match between England and Australia at Manchester owing to rain. At 4 p.m. the umpires decided to abandon the game for the day. After early morning rain the weather became brighter later in the morning, but the afternoon again brought heavy showers. The Australian Associated Press says that further heavy rain soon after the abandonment raised doubt about a punctual start being made on Monday. Saturated ground in the neighbourhood of the wicket is the principal obstacle and not all the apparatus devised in Manchester’s experience of washed-out matches was sufficient to- provide the fieldsmen with a foothold. Absorbent rollers, blankets, the towing of two light rollers round the outfield behind a motor-car and the laying down of new sods and turf from adjoining pitches had so little effect that the umpires, to whom the captains handed over the decision, needed only a few minutes to reach the decision to abandon play, of which there was never much hope. Assuming a draw here and another, in keeping with the ground’s reputation, at Leeds, the Test series may, therefore, begin and end at the Oval. One of the umpires, Mr Reeves, says that it is the worst pitch he has ever seen, and Ernest Tyldesley describes the action taken in an effort to make the ground playable as unprecedented. About £4OOO has been received from booked seats and there will be no refund, but the turnstiles will not be opened. Australia, and all the counties will suffer a loss. Seventy thousand spectators were expected on the first two days. Bradman has had a recurrence of the trouble in his right knee, from which he has suffered several times on the tour. Although it is occasionally painful, it is not believed to be serious. THE BRADMAN INCIDENT DECISION WILL BE REVERSED BY BOARD OF CONTROL LONDON, July 9. Private information from Australia indicates that the Board of Control will reverse its decision not to allow Mrs Bradman to join her husband in England at the conclusion of the present tour. ? ENGLISH AVERAGES BATTING AND BOWLING. DEMPSTER FOURTH ON LIST. (Recd This Day, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. The following are the leading English batting and bowling averages:—

D. C. S. Compton is tenth with 1173 runs, average 53.31, L. E. G. Ames twelfth with 732 runs and an average of 52.28, and J. Hardstaff fourteenth with 678 runs, average 48.12. Bowling.

H. Verity is seventh with 81 wickets, average 17.67, M. S. Nichols eighth with 92 and 18.80, T. F. Smailes tenth with 65 and 19.70, Wellard fifteenth with 83 and 20.62. C. J. Barnett and T. W. Goddard, who are in the third Test selection, do not appear in the averages. HARROW V. ETON MATCH ENDS IN DRAW. < — LONDON, July 9. Rain stopped play in the cricket match between Eton and Harrow at Lord’s today. The match was drawn. Scores: Eton, first innings, 230 (Thomas 66). Harrow, first innings, 200. Eton, second innings, 118 (Hayward five for 40). Harrow, second innings, 16 for one wicket.

Batting. Runs Average W. R. Hammond 1724 82.09 E. Paynter 1506 68.45 W. J. Edrich 1452 66.00 C. S. Dempster 912 65.14 P. A. Gibb 1212 63.78 G. Geary 612 61.20 L. Hutton 1116 55.80

Wickets Average W. E. Bowes 53 12.43 M. Leyland 36 15.72 E. R. T. Mayer 59 16.33 J. C. Clay x 46 16.47 R. J. Pollard 104 16.50