PLAY ABANDONED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1938, Page 7

PLAY ABANDONED

IN THE THIRD TEST FURTHER FALL OF RAIN. FOUR DAY MATCHES MAY NOW BE DOOMED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. LONDON, July 12. Play has been abandoned in the third Test match between England and Australia which was scheduled to have begun last Friday at Old Trafford, Manchester. Further rain this morning removed any possibility of play. Drizzling rain was falling at 9.30 a.m. and the weather was so dull that the factories round the ground were working by electric light. The “Daily Herald’s” cricket writer, Charles Bray, says that the unplayed Test has perhaps done more for the game than any recent Test. “I go so far as to say,” he adds, “that we will never again see four-day Tests in England against Australia. They will be either five or six days.” The representative of the Associated Press at Manchester states that the allotment of five days, or even six, would not have produced a result in the third Test at Old Trafford. As the Test is a complete washout, however, the probability of five-day matches on future tours, which would not interfere with the county championship more than four-day matches, is greatly strengthened. The London “Daily Herald’s” correspondent, referring to the abandonment of the Test, states: “Almost the sole topic of conversation during the days of waiting has been the length of future Tests. I am amazed to discover such an influential body of opinion supporting six-day matches. These would not take cricketers from their counties for more than two matches, which already happens anyway with four-day Tests;" PAY TO PROFESSIONALS. FOR STANDING BY (Recd This Day 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 12. Eleven English test cricket professionals will receive £5O for standing by for four days. WARWICKSHIRE TODAY SCORES IN 1934 MATCH The Australian Cricketers, commence a match today, against Warwickshire. On the 1934 tour, the game was drawn, as rain prevented the match being completed. The Australians, in their first innings, scored 221 runs, and in their second innings, made 185 runs, for 4 wickets. The County, in their, first innings totalled 179 runs.

Grimmett was the most successful Australian bowler, securing 5 wickets for 76 runs.

The fourth test match will be played at Leeds, commencing Friday, July 22.