THE ABANDONED TEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1926, Page 7

THE ABANDONED TEST.

SUM OF £6000 TAKEN. COST OF HALF-HOURS PLAY. TIME LIMIT CONTROVERSY. (By Cable.-Tress Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, June 16. Though there was a loss in takings at the Test match at Nottingham, f(i000 was taken, chiefly from 5/ and halfguinea booked seats. This is easily a record for threequarters of an hour's play. Colonel Philip Trevor, "writing in the "Daily Telegraph," says he is convinced the huge majority of English cricketers approve of four day Tests, but any attempt to introduce unlimited time matches will he strenuously resisted, as a direct challenge to the principle of tlie game. Spectators arc already complaining, not without reason, of the slow, dull batting to which the Australians as well as the English are addicted. He says: "Let us make any sacrifice of convenience, but be firm in declining to sacrifice principles. — (A. and N.Z.) RAIN AGAIN. YORKSHIRE GAME HELD UP. NO PLAY ON FIRST DAY. (Rcc-clved 2 p.m.) LONDON, June 10. The Australian cricketers were to have commenced a match against Yorkshire at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, this morning. but up to mid-day the ground was not fit for play. Several days of rain had played havoc with the pitch. The weather cleared early this morning, but the ground then was in such a state that a punctual start was impossible.

As the result of an inspection of the pitch at 11.30 a.m. it was decided to again inspect it at "2 p.m. The sun made its welcome appearance before noon and Is now materially assisting in the process of drying the nit eh. Collins and Lupton made another inspection of the wicket at 2.15 p.m., and after a long consultation decided to reinspect it at 4 p.m. The morning's sun raised false hopes, for it disappeared after a few minutes. Absence of sun and wind made recovery of the pitch a long process. Another long discussion accompanied the third inspection of the pitch at 4 p.m., and as a result it was decided to abandon all idea of play to-day.— (Renter.) SOUTH AFRICAN'S VIEWS. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, June IC. G. A. Faulkner, the ex-South African cricketer, writing in the "Westminster Gazette," advocates allotting six days for the Tests. lie says Sydney Smith's criticisms of the English selectors should not be taken too seriously. There was no suspicion of sharp practice in withholding certain players, "which was due to an exhibition of more foresight and horse sense than previously had been shown. After all, if ever" cricketers thought, schemed and experimented it is the Australians."— (Sydney "Sun.")