THIRD CRICKET TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 9, 11 July 1938, Page 11

THIRD CRICKET TEST

FUTILE DRYING APPARATUS

FINANCIAL LOSS

[ United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 9. Play was impossible today in the third Test match between England and Australia at Manchester owing to rain. At 4 p.m. the umpires decided to abandon the game for the day. After early morning rain the weather became brighter later in the morning, but the afternoon again brought heavy showers. The Australian Associated Press says that further heavy rain soon after the abandonment raised doubt about a punctual start being made on Monday. Saturated ground in the neighbourhood of the wicket is the principal obstacle and not all the apparatus devised in Manchester's experience of washed-out matches was sufficient to provide the fieldsmen with a foothold. Absorbent rollers, blankets, the towing of two light rollers round the outfield behind a motor-car, and the laying down of new sods of turf from adjoining pitches had so little effect that the umpires, to whom the captains handed over the decision, needed only a few minutes to reach the decision to abandon play, of which there was never much hope. Assuming a draw here and another, in keeping with the ground's reputation, at Leeds, the Test series may. therefore, begin and end at the Oval. LONDON, July 10. A drizzly Sunday morning after further rain last night offers little prospect of two clear days' play in the third Test match at Manchester. One of the umpires, Mr. Reeves, says that it is the worst pitch'he has ever seen and Ernest Tyldesley describes the action taken in an effort to make the ground playable as unprecedented. About £4000 has been received from booked seats, and there will be no refund, but the turnstiles will not be opened. Australia and all the counties will suffer a loss. Seventy thousand spectactors were expected on the first two days. (Received July 11, 10 a.m.) LONDON, July 10. Rain fell all day today at Manchester and it is very doubtful whether there will be any play in the Test on Monday.