Roller stops play

The Central Districts and Auckland players awaiting the delayed start of their Shell Trophy match may have created a small piece of cricket history - the start of the second day was delayed because the roller stopped play.

The centre of the Eden Park Outer Oval is protected by a large motoried roller, some 30 metres long, and is self-propelled - a motor inside the roller moves it slowly from the field.

Both teams probably expected to start on time, after rain stopped play yesterday, when they arrived at the ground, for the rain clouds had gone.

But the roller stayed and stayed, simply because the internal motor had broken down. What is more, the jammed motor prevented the roller from being moved by hand.

So the offending engine had to be dismantled and play was already half an hour late when the roller was removed by manpower. A large flat cover over the actual playing pitch remained, but when it was finally removed it was found to be damp, delaying play further.

Once the final ground preparations were completed, 18 overs had been lost by the time play got underway at 1.09pm.