PITCH FLOODED

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 201, 26 July 1926, Page 7

PITCH FLOODED

START OF FOURTH TEST* • INTERMITTENT RAIN. SIX RUNS FOR NO WICKETS. [By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] ' LONDON, Julv 24. The fourth cricket test match, Australia v. England, opened to-day at the Old Trafford ground, Manchester. Every seat had been reserved beforehand. The teams were: England: Carr, Stevens, Hobbs, Strudwick, Woolley, Hendren, Sutcliffe, Kilner, Tate, Root, E. Tyldesley. Australia: Bardsley, Woodfull, Macartney, Richardson, Gregory, Ponsford, Andrews, Ryder, Oldfield, Grimmett, Mailey. The weather was threatening all night. Rain fell in the morning, but not enough to affect the pitch/ although rain earlier in the week made for an easy wicket. A-quarter of an hour before play was due to start rain began to fall heavily, and continued intermittently till 12.45, when, after an inspection of the wicket, Bardsley and Carr tossed. The former won and decided to bat. Pity, however, did not start till 2.42 p.m. Woodfull received the first ball from Tate, and edged it dangerously be tween Sutcliffe and Hendren at first and second slip, the ball going to the boundary. Woodfull next hit a single, bringing Bardsley. opposite Tate, who unsuccessfully appealed for leg before off the first ball lie delivered to him.

Only ten balls had been bowled by Tate and Root when rain sent the players to the pavilion. Half an hour later the pitch was under water, and shortly after four o’clock play was abandoned for the day. The score sheet showed: AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Woodfull, not out 5 Bardsley, not out 0 Extra 1 1 Total for no wickets 6 —Reuter. TEST MATCH LIMIT. LONDON, July 24. The Observer expresses the opinion that the Manchester rain washed away the three days’ limit for tests, and that a fourth day can no longer be denied. —A. and N.Z. cable. AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. SELECTIONIitmCISED. Received July 26, noon. LONDON, July 25. Kelleway says that much comment has been heard from the Australian visitors on the team’s composition. The majority agree that Ponsford should lie included, and should indeed have been played at Leeds. “Why drop Taylor, who is practically the only outfied possessed bv Australia. Even though luckless with the bat, he easily saves a score by his brilliant fielding. Either Ryder or Andrews could be better spared. There is much adverse criticism of Ryder, whose batting, bowling and fielding are far below the Australian eleven standard. Andrews also failed in most of the important games and is not regarded as a test player. As a cover fieldsman he is invaluable, but Griinmett is thought to be his equal. Personally, I fully agree -with the criticism and would rather see Taylor played if only as a fieldsman.”—A. and N.Z'. cable. BETTER BOWLERS WANTED. GAMES TO FINISH FAVOURED. Received July 26, 9.25 a.m. LONDON, July 25. Speaking at a dinner to the Australian cricketers at Manchester, Mr Sydney Smith, the Australian manager, said he hoped that when the Australians return in 1930 there will be no more three-day tests. Ho declared that the crciket laws did not want altering. AVhat was wanted was better bowlers. ’And they were not going to find them by tampering with the laws. < Carr, responding for the English team, remarked that the weather spoiled the first test, Bardsley spoiled the second, and the man who won the toss spoiled the . third. He anticipated the possibility of a six-day match at the Oval and intimated that he favoured playing games to a finish—A. and N.Z. cable. GLAMORGAN TEAM. LONDON, July 24. The Glamorgan team to meet the Australians will be chosen from: Clay, Arnott, Walters, Turnbull, Gemmill,Bates, Bell, Mercer, Rvan, Sullivan, D. Davies, C. Tyson.—Reuter. ASHES.” CRYPTiC SIGNS. AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN’S NEW ADDRESSES. LONDON, July 16. For the purpose of facilitating the receipt of correspondence during the tour, and of assisting the safe transport of. their eighty pieces of baggage, the Australian cricketers have adopted “monomarks.” ,~ This is the latest fashion. Most prominent people including statesmen, writers and artists, as well as business companies, have adopted the code addresses supplied, for a yearly or life by the British Monomark Company, which acquired the invention. Letters addressed with a monomark go to Monomark' House, London, where they are re-addressed with the ordinary names and street addresses, and delivered to the subscribers. Monomarks can be kept secret. Bardsley may now be addressed as BM/TESTS (the letters BM—British Monomark—indicating a British subject. Gregory has selected as his monomark, BM/SLIPS, Ellis is BM/OUT 42 (“out for two”), Oldfield has chosen M/NOLBW, and .Syd Smith is BM/ASHES.