Cricket: Test drizzles to a costly end

By RICHARD BOOCK

JOHANNESBURG - The weather-plagued third cricket test between New Zealand and South Africa has left the Gauteng Cricket Board facing losses of more than R1 million ($291,800).

The test was drawn yesterday after persistent rain allowed only two days' play, leaving South Africa with a 2-0 series win and the board with a financial headache which it could see coming, but could do very little about.

The board had hoped to gross about R1.7 million over the five days of the test, and had anticipated a total gate of about 55,000, a figure reduced to 8000 when the test was called off half-an-hour early yesterday.

"There was no way of defraying our costs," board treasurer Roger Hogarth said.

"We are pre-commited to running costs for security and catering, and all other associated services."

Last year's final test between South Africa and England at Centurion suffered a similar fate and meant losses of R800,000.

On that occasion, rival captains Nasser Hussain and Hansie Cronje made history by forfeiting an innings each and agreeing to a run-chase, which resulted in a two-wicket win for England and a lot of scrutiny from the recent King Inquiry into match-fixing.

Replying to New Zealand's first innings total of 200, South Africa finally resumed at 18 for one on the final day, but showed no sign of following Cronje's lead as the day wore on, eventually reaching 261 for three when stumps were drawn, with Boeta Dippenaar managing a maiden test century.

"I thought what happened last year at Centurion was good for the game," captain Stephen Fleming said afterwards. "But it obviously carried a bit of baggage and wasn't going to happen this time.

"Perhaps it's something we've got to look at - we're sports entertainment and when you turn up on the morning of the game knowing that nothing is going to happen, it's not that exciting for the players, let alone the spectators.

"Maybe promoting the game by setting up matches is the way to go, but we've also got to be wary of the way things are with international cricket at the moment."

South Africa skipper Shaun Pollock said his side did not want the series to end on a dreary note and were keen to play positive cricket, but were not prepared to declare while still behind, particularly after the controversy of the contrived result at Centurion.

"We didn't discuss it, really," Pollock said. "We would have been prepared to get ahead and pull out, but the runs didn't come as easily later on and it was difficult to get into a position where we could make something out of it.

"I don't think it should have been abandoned, though.

"It's test cricket - you never know what might have happened, we could have been bowled out for 50.

"You can't stop the game when there's more than 100 overs remaining."