THE FIRST TEST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 15 June 1926, Page 5

THE FIRST TEST

API’AT JANG WEATHER CONDITIONS

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Reuter s Telegrams)

LONDON, June 14

Rain restarted early this morning and was still falling at 11.45. The barometer clearly regards the test as a huge joke. After a gloriously fine Sunday, which raised the hopes of cridket enthusiasts, the glass went hack as far as it could. Soaking rain continued throughout, the morning, converting the ground into a morass for hours. Any attempt, at cricket could only he a mud lark. The absence of wind and sun makes it impossible for the ground to recover. Notwithstanding the appalling conditions some hundreds of season ticket 'holders took their seat's and prepared for a long wait, while the crowd inside the locked gates numbered 2GOO. ‘ NO PLAY LONDON, June 14. There was no play in the test cricket match owing lo ram. Heavy rain continued till 1 o’clock and then after a short sepll a heavy drizzle set in and continued without interruption. The idea of play was abandoned without further inspection.

TIME LIMIT TO TESTS

OPPOSITE VIEWS EXPRESSED

LONDON, June 13.

Sporting Life agrees that the tests ouhgl to be played to a finish. It declares the present English arrangement is farcical and urges that there should be a different Arrangement for the future.

LONDON, Juno 13

The Daily Chronicle says: “No one will ever persuade us to have unlimited tests. Indeed, the timfc influence inspires all that is brignt in county matches.” The recurrence of a washout at Not•ingham has stiffened opinion in favour of allotting more time to test matches.

MaeLaten said rain had sounded the death knell of three-day tests.

.Tessop said it was about time the counties were taught to think imperially and withdraw the objection to releasing men to play matches to a finish.

It is understood there is a possibility of influential circles taking up the scheme proposed by Clem Hill, who says lie prefers five tests played to ;; finish, and thinks the suggestion lielore the imperial conference of five tests each of four days is little better than the present arrangement, ■which is merely one serious game and four games of hat and hall for the sake of the gate. Hill says lie understands the counties oppose five games played to a finish as it is equivalent to five players being unavailable for ten county matches. Therefore the most practicable plan would lie to play three matches, allowing a week each. ‘T hoist the Australians with their own petard,” said Carr describing the test toss, “for T used an Australian penny, the gift of a Mouth African friend. It was hard luck that the first slice of luck should he ruined by typically English weather, hut 1 shall use that penny for all the tests which I may captain.”

TESTS SHOULD BE PLAYED OUT

LONDON. June 13.

The Daily Express is featuring a Melbourne telegram stating that there is a large body of opinion in Australia that, in future English tours should he declined unless the test matches are played to a finish, and ((notes the cable as saying, “Leading amateurs are of the opinion that games should be of at least five days’ duration, if not fought out. County games could he adjusted to meet the change.” The Daily Express gives statistics showing that 1!) out of 47 have been drawn in England, and only 2 out of (!2 in Australia. TinDaily Express editorially supports more time being allotted for the tests, and says: “The Australian way is far better. Tt is the height of nofisense to send a picked team 12,000 miles, and leave to the uncertain arbitrament of climate the question whether the whole tour shall he inconclusive. The requirements of the county championships ought to he subordinated to the demands for international contests,”