ROBBED OF WIN BY RAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19861, 26 July 1934, Page 9

ROBBED OF WIN BY RAIN

INTERESTING ENGLISH COMMENT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 25, 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 25. The newspapers all sympathise with the Australians in being robbed of an innings win by the weather. “The Sporting Life” bluntly says: “One thing has been made clear. England is not good enough to beat Australia in a match without a time limit.” “Lucky England.” “‘Lucky England” sums up the commentaries on the test. England’s luck is emphasised by the fact that a mile from the ground no rain fell. A. E. R. Gilligan writing in “The News-Chronicle” says: “England’s draw was the luckiest on record” Bradman’s Injury. Mr Harold Bushby, manager of the Australian team, says that Bradman has gone to a nursing home in London so that if he requires treatment he can get it. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF RAIN PLAYS ON ENGLAND’S SIDE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyr'gbt LONDON, July 24. Commenting on the Test match, the Australian Press Association says that the weather repeated the history of 1930 in an even more tantalising fashion. A terrific storm at 12.50 of exceptional violence, rendered an early resumption of play impossible and though the rain thereafter was slight, it was sufficient to retard the recovery of the wicket and thus the course of the rubber follows closely the Australians’ experience in 1930 when the weather rescued England. A crowd of 5000 patiently waited throughout inspection after inspection of the wicket, though it must have been hope, rather than faith, which inspired the Australian captain, W. M. Woodfull to make so many visits to the waterlogged wicket. Apart from the bowling, the feature of the day's play was Leyland’s fighting innings. Altogether, he batted 140 minutes. The English captain, R. E. S. Wyatt, in a statement, said: “I do not want to say anything.” Then waving a hand toward the wicket, he added: “It is a draw. What more can I say.” W. M. Woodfull, captain of Australia, said: “It is a great pity that rain spoiled what might have been a hard struggle. It is all in the luck of the game.” Fifth Test Prospects. It is too early to estimate the Australians’ chances in the fifth Test which must, at least, be as good as when they won convincingly against the handicap of the loss of the toss in 1930. There will naturally be an outcry for many alterations in the English side, places in which Mitchell and Hopwood seem to have forfeited.

DRAWN GAME IN FOURTH TEST