No Play On First Day Of Third Cricket Test

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 9

No Play On First Day Of Third Cricket Test

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 3 There will be no play in the third test at Headingley, Leeds, today Light rain is falling steadily and the ground is waterlogged. May and Reid inspected the wicket shortly after 11 o’clock and decided to abandon play for the day. The forecast is for further dull weather with periods of rain. There is a strong possibility that play will be impossible to-

morrow and also Saturday Some pessimists suggest that no ball will be bowled throughout the entire period of the test. The New Zealand team will be chosen from: J. R. Reid (captain), H. B. Cave, B. Sutcliffe, L. S. M Miller, J. W. D’Arcy, A. R. Mac Gibbon, J. A. Hayes, E. C Petrie, J. C. Alabaster, J. T. Sparling, W. R. Playle, and N. S Harford

The England team is: P. B. H. May (captain), T. E. Bailey, M C. Cowdrey, T. W. Graveney, J C. Laker, P. J. Loader, T. G Evans, G. A. R. Lock, C. A. Milton, M. J. K. Smith, F. S. Trueman and G. Barker (twelfth man). The New Zealanders are handicapped by lack of recent match practice, because rain kept them idle for most of their two previous games—against Lancashire and Yorkshire.

When Reid and the manager, Mr J. H. Philiipps, visited the ground yesterday morning they found that a thunderstorm during the night had left the wicket waterlogged. It was impossible to use the nets and there were no indoor facilities But the manager of the Leeds Rugby League Club, which has its ground adjoining Headingley offered to provide the club’s jerseys, shorts, stockings, boots and two Rugby balls so

that the New Zealanders could have a run. The team at first practised passing and kicking with a Rugby ball and then to avoid the risk of injuries through tackling they played a game of soccer. Rnads, rail tracks and farm-

lands in central England were still flooded today after another night of rain. But traffic officials reported that the floods were beginning to recede in many places. They said that a 50-mile wide rain belt which crossed the country overnight was not as serious as the torrential storm which hit many counties on Tuesday night. The situation eased slightly tn Sheffield, Yorkshire, which had its worst flood for nearly 100 years yesterday. But a police official said the weather was still “very black.”

Yesterday the river Sheaf became a raging torrent in the city and rose eight feet above normal The banks bu-st and water poured into houses, uprooted trees, swamped roads and railway sidings. It was the worst flood for nearly 100 years. Two villages in Leicestershire were still isolated today but one main road was open. Turnbull Committed For Trial HOBART. July 3. Tasmania’s former Treasurer and Health Minister, Dr. R. J D. Turnbull, was committed for trial today on two charges of corruption which alleeed that he sought a £A20.000 bribe from a Svdney businessman. Turnbull reserved his defence but his counsel. Mr H. Solomon, said he would plead not guilty to the charges. The trial has been set for Tuesday, July 8.