THIRD CRICKET TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20491, 17 February 1930, Page 10

THIRD CRICKET TEST.

PLAY AGAIN POSTPONED.

WET CONDITION OF. GROUND.

MATCH LIMITED TO ONE DAY.

NO COVER BY INSURANCE

Heavy rain on Saturday again caused a postponement of play in the third cricket test between M.C.C. and Now Zealand. The match was scheduled to start last Friday, but play on that day had also to be postponed on account of rain. The weather showed signs of clearing about inid-day on Saturday and by two o'clockv about 300 spectators had assembled at Eden Park in expectation of seeing cricket at some stage during the afternoon. A close inspection of the wicket, however, immediately revealed the impossibility of any play taking place, and when the two captains inspected the wicket at two o'clock their decision was a foregone conclusion. Although the pitch had been covered it was waterlogged at either end and a foothold for either the bowlers or batsmen was 'quite impossible. The outfield, too, was in a very Ipad state, pools of water, inches deep, lying in various parts of the ground. Several of the moro enthusiastic spectators worked for over an hour on these patches with buckets and tins in an endeavour to get the water away. A drizzling rain commenced to fall at two o'clock, but even under fine conditions on Saturday afternoon play would have been out of the question. Visitors From Country. One of the most disappointing features about the postponement of play on Saturday was tho fact that a large number of country followers made the trip to Auckland specially for Che match. Even as late as 3.30 p.m. these patrons, arriving by motor-car, were still making" inquiries regarding the prospects of a start being made.

Although in some quarters It was thought the match would be continued tomorrow it will be concluded, weather permitting.. to-day. Ail endeavour was made, before the game to have it extended over four days, but this was found impossible. It is a principle with all M.C.C. teams that test matches be limited to three days, and as stated by Mr. A. H. H. Gilligan, captain of the present touring team, it remains with the powers that be to bring about an alteration. It is a matter when future tours are under discussion that the New Zealand Council should fully go into.

The final test will therefore be confined to one day and a draw is certain to result. Hie ground dried up considerably yesterday. and if no more rain is experienced a start will be made at 11.30 this morning.

A Sporting Klsk.

Questioned whether the test match was covered by insurance Mr. W. IT. Winsor, secretary to the Isew Zealand Ci'icket Council, said such was not the case. Tlioy considered cricket a sporting game and therefore were prepared to take a sporting risk. After inspecting the wicket on Saturday, Mr. 'P. C. Lowry, captain of the New Zealand team, said he had during his cricket experience never seen a ground in such a bad state. The English team will leavo Auckland for .Hamilton to-morrow morning. It will play Waikato there on Wednesday and Thursday, Taranaki at New Plymouth next Saturday and Monday, and Wanganui, at Wanganui; the following Wednesday and Thursday. The Wanganui match will be the final one of the tour. The team" will leave Wellington for England by the Rangitane on Saturday week.

NEXT ENGLISH TOUR.

GENEROSITY OF AUSTRALIAN,

[BY TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday.

A gift.of £IOO toward the cost of sending a New Zealand cricket team to England next year has been made to the New Zealand Cricket Council by Dr. R. J. Pope, of Manly, Sydney. Dr. Pope is well known in both Australia and New Zealand as a cricket enthusiast. He played for Australia in a test match at Melbourne"against A. Shrewsbury's English team in the 1884-85 season. On several occasions since then Dr. Pope has as a spectator accompanied Australian teams to England and New Zealand. While spending a holiday in New Zealand recently with Mr. Hugh Trumble, the famous old Australian player, he saw several of the present M.C.C. team's matches, including the first and second test. For many yeap Dr. Pope has taken a keen interest in tho pi ogress of New Zealand cricket.