CRICKET IN ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 23352, 23 August 1939, Page 3

CRICKET IN ENGLAND

THE SECOND TEST COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP [From Our Correspondent.] LONDON, July 27. All hope of the second test match between England and the West Indians being played to a,finish might well have been abandoned when that torrential rainstorm burst over the Old Trafford .ground on Friday afternoon, reducing the outfield to such a state that, if it had not been desired to keen faith with' the public, and add something to the sadly depleted amount that the tourists have made, it is certain no attempt would have been made to play on the Saturday. Manchester has indeed lived up to its reputation as the “ water pot of the universe,” although but for many interruptions especially on Saturday and Monday the match would have been concluded. Perhaps it is just as well it wasn’t. A different result with such conditions would have done nothing but injustice to the beaten side. It speaks volumes for the sport-loving enthusiasts of Lancashire who attended that they should patronise the fixture in such circumstances. Knowing that there was small possibility of a decision they flocked to the ground to watch such princes of the game as Headley and Hammond, Martindale .and Rowes. The English captain did not satisfy his admirers with big scores, but he did set them speculating by making a declaration in each innings. He has been criticised for preferring his fast bowlers to his spinners when the West Indies were batting on Tuesday afternoon. Remembering, however, the success of Rowes in the morning, when he celebrated his birthday by capturing five wickets for 14 runs, one can scarcely blame Hammond for giving him a second chance to show his skill.

A suggestion has been put forward in all seriousness that a cricket eleven should consist of six batsmen and five bowlers, and that when a side has lost six wickets its innings should be over. At Manchester Hammond carried out this idea in a minor degree, for neither in the first nor second innings did Goddard, Bowes, or Copson get a knock. To all intents and purposes the West Indians’ tail might just as well have not gone to the crease. IVhcn +bey began on the last day the tourists bad scored 87 for three in reply to England’s 164 for 7. Yet after the sixth wicket bad fallen for 113 the*last man was back in the pavilion with the total of no more than 133. That England could not force the pace' sufficiently on the somewhat tricky pitch to gain a chance of victory was due to the accuracy of the opposing bowlers. Wickets were lost in trying to hurry things along, and it never looked as if enough time would be left to get the West Indians out a second time. For the visitors, Grant, with fine batting in the first innings, and excellent bowling. Headley, and Constantine, who bowled well in England’s second innings, and amongst the Englishmen, Hutton, who just completed 2.000 runs for the season, Hardstaff, and Bowes, will recall witli satisfaction the otherwise unpleasant test match at Manchester in 1939.

While the county championship competition may have proved a stimulus to first class cricket, nobody will deny .that it has some bad influences on the grand old game. In the struggle for points things are done which would make old-time enthusiasts writhe. It passes the skill of men to devise a scheme which is fair all round. This season, unless both sides have completed an innings, the matches are ignored altogether. A lead on the first innings is worth four points. It follows, therefore, that a county side possessing an average of more than four points a match must have its average reduced.if it does no better than lead in the first innings. In two games on Tuesday there was presented the inglorious spectacle of an eleven endeavouring not to complete its innings in order that a no result should be recorded. The offenders were Yorkshire and Middlesex. The champions were deservedly barracked at Sheffield. Notts had made 200, and the champions, actually occupied more than 100 minutes in scoring 26 runs. In the case of Middlesex they might have declared against Lancashire, but preferred to go on batting until they had left themselves insufficient time to dispose of their opponents. This unnatural cricket has. of course, been brought about by the atrocious weather, which has led in other instances to what are called freak declarations. At Birmingham, Warwickshire closed their innings when 48 runs had been scored without loss. This by agreement with Glamorgan, who in turn declared nt 48 for one. Whatever one may think of such proceedings, it did, at all events, add interest to the remainder of the game, which Glamorgan won after an exciting finish, by three wickets. Leicester, at their fourteenth attempt, have one point in the championship competition. This occurred when they heat Hampshire by four wickets. The Hampshire team have had a most extraordinary experience this season. In 11 of their 18 games they have led on the first innings, yet only on ono occasion has the side been able to force homo their advantage and score a victory. Only Northants and Leicester stand below them in the championship tabic.