RAIN AGAIN STOPS PLAY IN TEST

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 9

RAIN AGAIN STOPS PLAY IN TEST

(Rec. 12.10 a.m.) NOTTINGHAM, June 8. Steady rain during the night continued at Trent Bridge this morning and there seemed little prospect of play before lunch today—the second day of the first test between England and Australia.

The pitch received a steady soaking during the night and is waterlogged. Only the ends of the pitch have been covered, according to test rules. The Australian pace attack was seriously depleted not long before ram halted play evening. • Lindwall pulled a thigh muscle, which may prevent him from taking part in the rest of the game; and Davidson chipped a leg bone when he fell while bowling his tenth over. He will not be able to play for six weeks. These injuries, and the rain, which delayed the start for 55 minutes, took 100 minutes out of the afternoon play and halted play early in the evening, made the first day’s play a melancholy affair. England reached 134 for two 1 wickets, but the only bright features were the attractive test debut of the 24-year-old Worcester left-hander, Peter Richardson, and Colin Cowdrey’s demonstration that he is still a great batsman. Cowdrey, used as an opener, drove confidently with a broad and perpendicular bat at a surprisingly easy opening 10 overs from Lindwall and Miller.

So unpenetrative and inaccurate were Lindwall and Miller that it seemed the young brigade of Davidson and Archer would have to change the guard and take over from this great partnership at long last. Lindwall and Miller stood dejectedly in their fielding positions as Davidson and Archer put some zest and fire into the attack and stemmed, then stopped, what appeared likely to become a complete conquest by Cowdrey and Richardson.

Later, lan Johnson flighted the ball exceptionally well on the true, easy pitch to out-think and defeat Graveney after Cowdrey had been caught flat-

footed by a bumper from Davidson, which the batsman edged to Miller at first slip. Even Richardson, who had delighted the crowd with his crisp and stylish cover-driving, square-cutting and legglancing. was checked after this double disfnissal. Scores:— ENGLAND First Innings P. E. R. Richardson, not out .. 65 M. C. Cowdrey, c Miller, b Davidson - .. .. 25 T. W. Graveney, c Archer, b Johnson .. .. .. 8 P. B. H. May, not out .. .. 31 Extras .. .. 5 Total for two wickets 134 Fall of wickets: One for 53, two for 72.

Bowling O. M. R. W. R. R. Lindwall .. 15 4 43 0 K. R. Miller .. 13 2 31 0 A. Davidson .. 10.4 1 22 1 R. Archer .. 10 . 6 7 0 I. Johnson .. 14 7 26 1 J. Burke .. 1 1 0 0