WET WICKET.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18682, 4 May 1926, Page 9

WET WICKET.

AUSTRALIANS CAUTIOUS. COLLINS WAITS FOR DRIES GROUND. (bt cable—pbxss assoctatios—coynsiMw.) (Stdsk "So-" Sebvici.) LONDON, May 2. "Leicestershire was willing, but the Australians were shy," is how the "Weekly Dispatch's'' correspondent sums up the situation. Tlie wicket was fit enough at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, under clear skies, for even nothing-venture cricketers, but the canny Collins turned on his heel, after glancing at the wicket as if he had vowed beforehand not to tolerate discussion of play. The Leicester captain and players throughout remained expectantly in the dressing room. If the weather continues fine, the pitch should bo in excellont condition. The wicket is already dry, and the outfield is drying rapidly, under the influence of a good wind. ' The team still finds the bleak winds trying.

VISITORS WIN THE TOSS. (AUSTBALIAX AXD K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, May 2. Speaking at ' a dinner given by the Leicestershire County Club to the Australians, H. L. Collins related an amusing incident of the team's first match at Maidenhead, when he was snapped by a Press photographer tossing, a coin. Subsequently the photographer told Collins to keep the coin, as he could not lose with it. Surprised, Collins inspected the coin, and found it a "double-header."

Sir Arthur Hazlerigg, proposing the toast of the visitors, suggested, in view of the team's absence of tail, that the national emblem —the Kangarooshould bo crossed with a Manx cat, hoping, however, that the product would not have nine lives. England could not afford that. P. F. Warner said that he feared that if England did not win the Tests he would certainly be stoned to deathPicking the team was like a jig-saw puzzle. Leicestershire's eleventh man, Armstrong, is a now player, from Loughborough. Last season he took 100 wickets and averaged 51 in Leicestershire club cricket.

COUNTY GAMES COMMENCE. (reuter's telxobamb.) LONDON, May 2. County cricket commenced, but owing; to adverse weather only Yorkshire and Essex were able to play, the former losing; four wickets for 119 runs. GAME COMMENCES. (excteb's tblbojbams.) (Eeceivecl May 4th, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 3. In the Leicester match Woodful, Eichardson, Hendry, and Ellis have ben omitted from the Australian team, and for Leicester Lord is included instead of Armstrong. Australia, which is batting, have lost no wickets for three runs (Collins 0, Bardsley 3). There are no details.