TEST CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 45, 23 February 1931, Page 7

TEST CRICKET.

CAPETOWN INCIDENT.

Over-Sized Bails Cause Delay

And Protest.

LUCK FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

CAPETOWN, February 22. The fifth Test match between the English cricketers and South Africa was begun yesterday at Durban. There was only SO minutes' play owing to rain. The teams were as follows:—South Africa: Cameron, Bell, Christy, Cochrane, Dalton. McMillan. Mitchell, Siedle, Taylor, Viljoen and Vincent. England: Chapman, Wyatt, Hammond, Leyland, Hendren, Turnbull, Farrimond, Tate, Voce, White and Peebles. Chapman won the toss and put South Africa in on a drying wicket. Fortunately the wicket dried slowly and was on the easy side. The start was delayed for 2.> minutes because the bails were of an incorrect size, owing to a mistake by the manufacturers. It was found that every combination of the bails available made the wickets !H inches wide, instead of the regulation nine inches. Finally it was decide*: to cut down the bails. Chapman lodged an official complaint with the South African Board o£ Control, which acknowledges that the complaint is legitimate, as the delay might have had a serious effect on Chapman's tactics. Chapman relied mainly on the spin bowlers, who were supported by such good fielding that Siedle and Mitchell were able to score only 27 runs in an hour. Tate was the most dangerous bowler. The scores were as follow: — SOUTH AFRICA.—First Innings. Mitchell, not out 23 Siedle, not out !> Total for no wicket 3 - ... 32

AFRICAN CAPTAIN.

CAMERON" APPOINTED,

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

DURBAN, February 22.

H. B. Cameron has been appointed captain of the South African cricket team to tour Australia next summer.

INDIES CRICKETERS.

GOOD START AT SYDNEY.

SYDNEY, February 22.

The West Indies cricketers began a match against New South Wales yesterday on the cricket ground. The visitors batted first, and gave a bright display on a perfect wicket in genial sunshine. The home team's bowlers, excepting McC'abe and Chilvers, were not impressive. The fielding was loose and very many runs were given to'the visitors from overthrows. The field was badly placed. Roach, Headley and Conistantine gave the 10,000 spectators many thrills while stealing runs with splendid running between the wickets. Headley at length lost his wicket in this manner. Rain occurred at 5.40 p.m. and play ceased. Details of the score are a3 follow:— WEST INDIES.—First Innings. Roach, b Theak 55 Martin, b McQuirk 8 Headley, run out 70 Grant, c Davidson, b Hunt 3(3 Sealv, b McCabe : 58 Constantine, b McCabe 41 Wight, run out 4 Barrow, c Kippax, b Chilvers .. 20 Scott, c Hunt, b Chilvers 17 Francis, st Davidson, b Chilvers ... <5 Griffith, not out 1 Extras 14 Total 333 Bowling: Theak took one wicket for 95 runs, McQuirk one for 44. Hunt one for 53, Chilvers three for 5(3, McCabe two for (32, Bennett none for 15.