ANOTHER WET TEST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 572, 29 July 1909, Page 5

ANOTHER WET TEST.

DELAYS AT MANCHESTER OWING TO RAIN. AUSTRALIA LEADS BY 105 WITH T'WO WICKETS DOWN IDy TclcarttDls -Press Association -Copyrlcht I London, July 27. At Manchester to-day play was so much interfered ivith by ram that the Australians' socond innings was only advanced to the extont of 77 runs for tiyo m'ekets wjion play ceased. Th.s OTea Australia a lead of 105, with eight wickets to fall. Oa play being resumed, this nitoning, tl)e attendance numbored about 14,000. The spores^are:— AUSTRALIA. Fust Innings , 147 Sj:oond Innings. Gregory, b Hirst ' . ... 5 Bardsley, c MacLaren, b. Blytho ... 35 Macaitney, not out 33 Extras 4 Totpl for tfto wicKeta A. .. n ENGLAND. First Innings . H9 On play being resumed tins morning tho attendnnco numbered about fourteen thousand. TLo weather was Mi at the start, ivith less wind, and the wicket was toft. Gregory and Bardsley opened tho Austialiatis' second innings Play* at the start was very quiet, only five runs coming 'from tho first ino overs. Baines and Bljthe ivere bowling well, but the fielding was moderate At 15 liirst camo on 111 place of Barnes, and his second ball found Gregory's, middle stuinp. Ono for 16 Bardsloy was timing indifferently at tho start. Sharp replaced Blythe with the ball, and Macartney joined Bardsley. Tho latter's play was improving. He gave a chance wide of the wicket-keeper when ho had made 17, Oil Sharp's first over Macartney scored quickly in excellent style, tho pitch was very dead "When the half-rentury went up, several changes in the bowling wero made, Hirjjt and Rhodes going on, then Blytho again. Blythe's first over dismissed Bardsley, MacLaren getting him in the slips, but he hit two fourers ofx tho fatal o\ er. He batted eighty-five minutes for his score of 35 Macartney, who had been in fifty minutee, had 33 to his credit by delightful clean driving, including fi\e fourers. ltain then set in. and play was stopped till luncHpqn-time. After lunch tho ram continued, most of tho spectators departed, and play for tho day was stopped at four o'clock.

THE THIRD DAY. WICKET TOO SOFT FOE EARLY START, ■ y' r (R«c. July 2?, p.SQ £m.) y '' '.'; ' Vni .-••-■ ■ ". London,; July 28. ■.;■. There was nine hours' continuous rain yesterday, but the night was fine. '■ This' morning—the third day of tho Test match—was sunny, but the wicket was too soft to start at 11 a.m. ■■■••■'. '. •■' V

■ TRIANGULAR CRICKET SCHEME. '■'. Loritfon, July 27. The Imperial Cricket Conference, in regard to .triangular.contests, suggests that each country—England, Australia, and South Africa—shall visit and be'visited by each other country every four years, no country to pay visits in two successive .seasons. , .'.' '

.' It is proposed that tho first triangular contest be held in 1912, England, Australia, and South Africa' each* playing"six.tests in England, each meeting tlid others thrico, and taking half the gross " gate "of tho matches in• which . it participates.