PLAY IN FIRST TEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 15 June 1926, Page 7

PLAY IN FIRST TEST.

Gamble with the Elements. CRITICS HAVING THEIR FUNG. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON,- June 13. The weather is beautifully ime. There has been no rain since 6 o’clock yes te l'd ay. If it continues tho wicket should De fairly haul to-morrow. AVhile running between wickets on Saturday Hobbs slightly strained a foot. Air Sewell, writing in the “Sunday Herald” says: “Carr’s winning of the toss was worth at least 80 runs, but the advantage was jettisoned by the slow scoring. ■ The old Hobb s would have scored 50 instead of 19 by tho adjournment. Sutcliffe was virtually playing for a place. Both scored slowly, because the bowlers did not allow them to score fast. So long as our acknowledged best batsmen- are held in such semi-subjection, England has poor hope of winning the rubber.” Tho writer points out that the analysis of the receipts showed that the cl-owd were paying nearly £IOO per run on Saturday.

SOAKING RAIN ON MONDAY. LITTLE HOPE OF PLAY RESUAIING. By Cable—Pre«a Association—Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received June 15, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 14. Rain re-started early this morning and is still falling (11.45 a.m.) Tlic barometer clearly regards the tests as a huge joke. After a gloriously fine Sunday, which raised the hopes of cricket enthusiasts, tho glass went back as far as it could. Soaking rain continued throughout the morning, converting the ground into a morass. For hours any attempt to play cricket could only be a mud lark. Tho absence of wifid and sun makes it impossible for the ground to recover. Notwithstanding the appalling conditions. som? hundreds of season ticket holders took their se'ats and prepared for a long wait, while a crowd outside the locked gates numbered two thousand.