BIG CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 19896, 15 June 1926, Page 7

BIG CRICKET

SOAKING RAIN CONTINUES. OUTLOOK NOT HOPEFUL. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. 1.20 p.m.) London, June 14. Rain restarted early in the morning and was still falling at 11.45. The barometer clearly regards the Tests as a huge joke. After a gloriously fme Sunday raised the hopes of cricket enthusiasts the glass went back 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 be 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 seats and prepared for a long wait, while the crowd inside the locked gate numbered 2000. DURATION OF TESTS. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. (Rec. .10 p.m.) London, June 13. The Daily Chronicle says: No one will ever persuade us to have unlimited tests, indeed the time influence inspires all that is bright in county matches. — A. and N.Z. PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FARCICAL. (Rec. 8.10 p.m.) London, June 13. Sporting Life agrees that tests ought to be played to a finish. It declares that the present English arrangement is farcical and urges that there should be different arrangements for the future.—Sun Cable. A CONFIDENT CRITIC. London, June 13. F. R. Foster, writing in the Weekly Despatch, strongly advocates England sending in quick batsmen first for forcing runs. “The Australians are not super cricketers—. they are just so. Man to man we are the better side and, weather permitting, we shall win every test. Our bowling is better and more varied and our batting superior even down to Strudwick.”—Sun Cable. FINE WEATHER. London, June 13. The weather is beautifully fine and there has been no rain since five o’clock yesterday. If it continues the wicket should be fairly hard to-morrow—-Reuter. HOBBS SLIGHTLY INJURED. London, June 13. While running between the wickets on Saturday Hobbs slightly strained one foot, —Reuter.