THE ABANDONED MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 6

THE ABANDONED MATCH.

On Monday morning about 11 o'clock it was announced from IYA broadcasting station that the wicket at Eden Park was in perfect condition and that play would be resumed. Later, about noon, it was further broadcast that Whitelaw and Mills were batting, one having scored 11 and the other 5 runs, not out. The weather having improved at 1 p.m., I took tram for Eden Park, arriving there at about 1.30. No play was then going on, but about 200 spectators were apparently waiting for the teams to come out and resume the match. As a few others were going in, I paid my entrance fee of 2/ and joined the crowd. It was then quite fine, but about two o'clock a slight drizzle of rain blew across the ground for* a few minutes and then ceased. Two cricketers thereupon strolled over to the pitch, glanced at' the ground, much as a couple of thrushes looking for worms, and after a few words with two umpires who had followed them, returned in thoughtful mood to the pavilion. The umpires then picked up the stumps which were lying on the grass, tucked them under their arms, and sauntered back after the two cricketers. Rumour then circulated that play had been abandoned— though the weather meanwhile was improving. Realising that play would not be resumed, I returned to the gate and requested the return of my two shillings, but was" told by the official at the turnstile that this belonged to the Cricket Association. When I paid at the gate on entering not a word was said as to there being any risk of play being abandoned. As a matter of fact, the weather, though cloudy, was fine, and likely to improve, as indeed it did during the afternoon. No notice whatever was affixed at the gate to warn the public that the match might not be continued in the afternoon and that, in such event, gate money could not be returned. E.F.W. [We are informed that play was not abandoned until 2.10 p.m., and that up till then gatekeepers were advising patrons that they were paying money at their own risk.—Ed.]