POSTPONED.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 182, 25 July 1921, Page 5

POSTPONED.

THE FOURTH TEST. A SOAKED~"WICKET. PLAY OUT OF THE QUESTION. London,;July 23. On arrival at Old Trafford the teams found the covered stands well occupied in spite of ram, which had been coming down steadily throughout the night. The wicket was inspected, and it was found that the top was sottish, and would take a finger' impression easily, but was hard below. Spooner, Foster, and Tennyson inspected it at 10.45, followed by Armstrong, Coilins, and Pellew.

There was a light ram at 11 o’clock, and it \ as decided to inspect the pitch in an hour’s time. After a further inspection it was decided that play was impossib’-e.

At 4.45 a ridiculous rumour was current that Tennyson was willing to play, but that Armstrong was not. The latter, interviewed, stated that the rumour was wholly unfounded. In an interview, Harry Foster stated that the English eleven had not been choseir, nor wj}.s the Australian team chosen. The rumours among the 6000 spectators were probably excusable. An official denial was given to the suggestion that the Australians did not desire to play. The unanimous decision was that the wicket was absolutely unfit There was a remarkable scene some 20 minutes after the captains’ inspection. Spectators from all parts of the ground walked to the wickets. Some knelt on the wicket, testing the ground, whereupon many policemen walked out and persuaded them to leave. Others • shouted for the umpires.—(A. and N.Z.) LANCASHIRE v. SURREY. London, July 21. Lancashire made 454 runs Jor nine wickets, and declared. Surrey scored 528 (Shepherd 212). Ernest Tyldesley took three wickets for 33.—(A. and N.Z.) THE HAT TRICK. London, July 23. Playing for Essex against Somerset Louden took six wickets for 54 runs. He performed the hat trick.—(A. and N.Z.) LEADING AVERAGES. London, July 23. Tho batting averages are:—Alead 70.12, Alacartney 64.50, Bardslev 59.50, Bryan 59.31, Russell 54.50, Hallows 51.23, Douglas 49.70, Hardinge 48.72, Chapman 47.72, Oldroyd 46.47, Jupp 45.96, Armstrong 37.47, Collins 36.36, Gregory 35.47.

The bowling averages are:—Armstrong, 66 wickets, average cost 13.50; Rhodes, 86, 13.60; Gregory, 90, 13.77 ; MacDonald, 94, 14.95; White 105, 15.36; Macauley, 84, 15.83; Howell, 50, 16.50; Woolley, 87, 16.74; Parker, 104, 17.17; Douglas, 103, 17.80; Marriott, 62, 18.38; Mailev, 96, 20.02. —(A. and N.Z.) ’