FOURTH TEST MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19389, 26 July 1926, Page 9

FOURTH TEST MATCH.

AUSTRALIA V. ENGLAND

LITTLE PLAY ON SATURDAY.

HEAVY RAIN STOPS CRICKET. VISITORS SIX FOR NO WICKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) Renter. LONDON. July 25. The fourth test cricket match, England v. Australia, was commenced yesterday at the Old Trafford ground, Manchester, but rain stopped play when the visitors had made six runs for no wickets. England's team was as follows; —Carr (captain),- Stevens, Hobbs, Strudwick, Woollev, Hendren, Sutcliffe, Kilner, Tate, Root and E. Tyldesley. The Australian eleven comprised the following:—Bardsley (captain), Woodfull, Macartney, Richardson, Gregory Ponsford, Andrews, Ryder, Oldfield, Grimmett and Mailey.

, The weather had been threatening all the previous night. Rain fell early yesterday morning but not enough to affect the pitch, although rain earlier in the week had made for an easy wicket. A quarter of an hour before play was due to commence rain again began to fall heavily and continued intermittently until 12.45 p.m. Then, after an inspection of the wicket Bardsley and Carr tossed. The former won and decided to bat. Play did not commence until 2.42 p.m. however. Bardsley and Woodfull opened for the visitors. The latter received . the first, ball from Tate. He edged it dangerously between Sutcliffe and Hendren at first and second slips, the ball going to the boundary. Woodfull next hit a single, bringing Bardsley opposite to Tate. The bowler unsuccessfully appealed for leg before off his first ball to Bardsley. Only 10 balls had been bowled by Tate and Root when further rain sent the players to the pavilion. Half an hour later the pitch was under water, and shortly after 4 p.m. play was abandoned for the day. The Observer expresses the opinion that the rain at Manchester washed away the three limit for test matches. It says the claim for the allocation of a fourth day can no longer be denied. Details of the scores are:— AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Bardsley, not out 0 Woodfull, not out 5 Extra 1 Total for no wickets . . .. 6

A DRAW EXPECTED.

STRONG BATTING SIDES. BOWLING CONSIDERED WEAK. and N.Z. LONDON. July 24. There was not a single reserved seat left yesterday for the test match. It was predicted that if the weather remained fine the game would almost certainly be drawn as both sides are strong in batting and weak in bowling. The manager of the Australian team, Mr. Sydney Smith, stated to-day that the visitors intended to make a big attempt to finish this match. The Glamorgan team to meet the Australians at Cardiff on July 31 will be chosen from the following:—Clay, Arnott, Walters, Turnbull, Gemmill, Bates, Bell, Mercer, Ryan, Sullivan,. D. Davies and C. Dyson.

CRICKET AVERAGES. HOBBS LEADS ' BATSMEN. RHODES TOPS BOWLING. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 u.m.) LONDON. July 23. The following are the averages for the season to date of the leading English and Australian cricketers: — BATTING. Not Total Innings. Out. Runs. Average. Hcbbs -.-a 25 1 1835 76.45 Tyldesley .. 33 3 2001 66.70 Macartney .. 19 2 1051 61.82 Woodfull i.. vl 3 1038 57.66 Sandham ..28 2 1487 57.19 Hendren a ..33 8 1429 • 57.16 Chapman .. 20 3 918 54.00 Hearue .-a .. 26 3 1226 53.30 Bardsley .. 22 1 1112 52.95 Harding's i.. 32 3 1533 52.8G Mead .... 27 3 1257 52.37 Russell .. 34 7 1367 50.62 Richardson ~ 19 7 600 60.00 Taylor (placed 42nd) .. .. 21 1 376 18.80 BOWLING. Runs. Wickets. Average. Rhodes vr ui 1083 78 13.88 Macartney .• .. 691 45 15. j3 Geary/ ..i .. 1501 94 Parkin ■!..! •• 630 39 Tate . •..! ... 1585 97 16.34 Grimmett. u u. 805 48 16.77 Tyldesley w 134 a 79 H'nCox "'.'.i !«• 955 56 17.00 Mercer ■-.' r. - 134.6 78 17.25 Ma=ley 1279 74 17.28 Macaulay ~ ~ 1476 84 17.57 Richardson i.. &i 3 35 18.08 Ryan 1360 74 18.37 Gl (las°t y on_.list.) ..700 18 38.88

ROMANCE OFTHE PAST. MISSED CATCH RECALLED. " TATE SENIOR'S MISTAKE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. July 23. Maurice Tate will take the field against the Australians at Manchester to-morrow, charged with the responsibility of vindicating the honour of his father. Apropos of this something in the nature of a cricket romance is explained in a letter from Frederick Tate, Maurice's father, to the secretary of the Lancashire Club. He says : " My wife and I would love to' see the test match, as Maurice is playing. The twenty-fourth is my natal day, and 24 vears ago I was proud to represent the country in this very match whore 1 missed a difficult catch, which has been daily talk ever since. I sincerely hope my son and Mr. Carr will redeem it this week." Curious to relate the 1902 match, which is the one referred to, when Australia won -by three runs, started precisely on the same date as to-morrow's game.