NO PLAY IN THIRD TEST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21087, 13 July 1938, Page 7

NO PLAY IN THIRD TEST

Game Washed Out by i Rain SUGGESTED EXTRA FIXTURE Financial Losses Substantial United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received July 12. 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. At Manchester at 6 a.m. a slight drizzle had been falling since 4.45 a.m. It was announced later that the third test match had been abandoned. Drizzling rain began at 9.30. The weather was so dull that the factories round the ground were working by electric light. Value of Hold Up Mr Charles Bray, cricket writer in “The Daily Herald” says: “The unplayed test has perhaps done more for the ' game than any recent test. I would go so far as to say that we will never again have four-day tests in England against Australia. They will be either five or six days. Almost the sole topic of conversation during the day’s waiting has been the length of future tests. I am amazed to discover such an influential body of opinion supporting the six-clay tests, which would not take cricketers from the counties for more than two matches, which already happens with the four-day matches. The Associated Press correspondent at Manchester says: “The allotment of five days and even six, would not have produced a result here as the test was a complete wash-out. However it strengthens the probability of five-day tests on future tours, which would not interfere with county championship, more than four-day matches. EXTRA TEST SUGGESTED CAUTIOUS ATTITUDE OF M.C.C. By Telegraph —Brest; Association LONDON. July 11. There is strong advocacy of a Manchester proposal to abandon the Australian matches against Scotland and Durham in favour of a substitute Test match at Manchester from August 4 to August 8. It is understood that Lancashire is favourable. It is thought that the counties would willingly release their Test players for the sake of the extra pool to the counties. Advocates of the proposal point to the precedent of extra test matches against New Zealand in 1931.

The Australian Associated Press states that the Lancashire officials naturally favour the suggested substitute Test at Manchester, but the idea seems to be principally the product of wet weather boredom and is without solid backing. The manager of the Australian team (Mr W. H. Jeanes) says the suggestion is good, but he thinks nothing will come of it. Sir Pelham Warner, chairman of the M.C.C. Selection Committee, cannot see how fixtures can be re-arranged. It is recalled that New Zealand in 1931 was granted three Tests instead of the one originally arranged, but that scarcely constitutes a precedent for the scheduling of six Tests instead of five. The financial aspect is the strongest reason for the proposal. Seeing that no Test between England and Australia has been completed at Manchester in 33 years, there is no reason to suppose that a change in date will produce a result if the present match is abandoned without a ball being bowled. The losses to the cricket authorities, and to trades connected with the match, may be £25.000. of which the Australian Board of Control’s share will be about £4OOO.