FOURTH TEST MATCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 February 1930, Page 2

FOURTH TEST MATCH

WANGANUI’S SPORTSMANSHIP. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 18. It has been definitely decided that there will be a fourth test match between New Zealand and M.C.C. at Auckland on Friday, Saturday, and Monday next. The match between M.C.C. and Wanganui will not be played, while the Taranaki will take place at New Plymouth on Wednesday, February 26, and Thursday, February 27. The New Zealand Council officials at present in Auckland, Messrs. A. T. Donnelly, D. Reece and W. H. Winsor, were delighted at the sporting manner in which Wanganui agreed to forego their fixture. In a telegram to the Council, the Wanganui body expressed its regret at losing the match, but wished the Council every success for the fourth test. The Council are also grateful to Taranaki Association for falling into line with the new arrangements.

The Auckland Association, at a meeting to-night, decided, on behalf of the Auckland public, to thank the Wanganui Association for foregoing its match, thus allowing a fourth test to be played. F. T. Badcock is not available for the fourth test.

APPEAL TO OTAGO. (Special to "Star ") AUCKLAND, February 19. Badcock is still here. Apparently a final effort is being made to induce Otago to reconsider its decision to refuse him leave for the fourth test. LATER. Badcock missed the train last night, and leaves for Dunedin this evening. Leave for the fourth Test was refused by the Otago Cricket Association.

PECULIAR TACTICS.

KEEPING OPPONENTS IN. The game of cricket is not always a game in which runs have to be scored at all costs. When a team is in a bad way through the loss of the toss and has to go in on a treacherous wicket on which it is impossible to score runs, the captain has to use his brains and do a little finessing. If the other side is wide awake to the finessing then mo,re drastic steps have to be taken. Such an incident occurred during the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Queensland at Brisbane two weeks ago. It was impossible to score runs as they are usually scored in Australia, so Oxenham, the Queensland skipper, resolved on the plan of hitting for runs regardless of the cost, so Victoria could go in on a bad wicket. Oxenham and Benstead hit up fifty in double quick time, but wickets fell thick and heavy. Seven were down for 50, and the prospects of reaching even 150 were remote. Oxenham then went out on the field and “chatted” Tlornibrook. Immediately Hornibrook opened out and losl| his wicket, after Scaife had dropped him. Jack Ryder was well aware of the state of affairs and he had other intentions altogether. He wanted Queensland to occupy the wicket for as long a period as possible. Thurlow arrived in his accustomed place, last. There was a chance tc run him out, but Ryder would noi throw the ball in and was hooted by the crowd. Thurlow then stood out of his cerase, but Ellis would not stump him. The same thing happened at the other- end and Ellis was hooted.

Queensland had to do. something, sc Marshall defeated the Victorian plan to keep off the wicket as long as possible by deliberately knocking his stumps over with his bat. However, the finessing finished up a little in favour of Ryder, as his side managed to hold together till stumps with the loss of three wickets for 82 runs. With seven wickets in hand they had passed Queensland’s total of 80. ‘