AT THE WICKETS

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 9

AT THE WICKETS

MJM : a> The Second" Test HLjEW ZEALAND'S POOR DISPLAY. H| (By L. T. Cobcroft.) HB On the day prior to -the opening of secorid test an inspection was made the wicket at the Basin Reserve, by those qualified to judge Hflind the unanimous opinion that it was and shining like glass was arat. But few expected such .a of rain as we got. It practicalswamped the ground, causing a of the game till 2 on Friday. .. MMM S. G. Smith, the New Zealand capbeat Macartney m the toss and HHecided to send New South "Wales to Hie wickets for first knock. What have been as good as a hunruns . to us "was lost from the of our bowlers,, with the exof Mcßeath and Smith (who not bowl himself enough) to bowl length. Slamming the ball down and . everywhere "was absolutely although three lucky wickets obtained m this manner. What wanted was length, not minding j^^Bace, compelling the batsmen to go the. pitch of the ball, leaving the to do the rest. In conversawith Warren : Bardsley at the four adjournment/ (he and his brobeing, hot out' at that time) he Mcßeath/was. bowling really well, the ball 'well up and making batsmen go. at his pitch,' besides m mind that he had some slip waiting for that ball of his which BHwould work v off' the bat when the batsHman played ',, forward. Smith also well. -but the wicket was a too Blow for him. Still, used his .. head "wonderfully well varied his flight excellently. A HPprominent New South Wales player Hfcaid to me if New Zealand had batted it would, have taken them afl time to make CO runs on the as Charlie Macartney would HHiave' been unplayable. This was out by the way he bowled after wicket had bean rolled and had easier, ahd although only securtwo wickets (Hendry. #ot the balho 'had all the 1 batsmen badly eat - cn over and over again. Whajt have been a score of 150 or was taken to 296. One of the team fluid to me: "Whatever you had of dismissing us cheap - was thrown away by the non-ln-of a bowler who would have In his element on such a wicket." medium-paced left-hander like Finor Brlce bowling his slow offbreak, would have been invaluable to Hus.i I thoroughly agree that the last two men of a test side should not be until the morning of a match so as to see what the weather condiBkVtlons are. Surely the N.Z. Council B would hold but no objection to this B 'toeing left over to the selector. The B Vnal selection was never made by Macs' Tiiren until, tho- morning of the match. B What do buf heads do m football, if B the ground is all against back play? ■ They don'trput?''m"~anot:h"ef ''Back — they H usually put ln a good forward that will H keep the ball at his toe and follow on m well. Theso little points count more ■ than the average player thinks they do.