CRICKET “LAMENTABLY LOW STANDARD”

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27796, 22 October 1955, Page 11

CRICKET “LAMENTABLY LOW STANDARD”

NEED FOR INTENSIVE EFFORT IN N.Z.

ADDRESS BY MR W. A. HADLEE

“The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, October 27. Unless strenuous efforts were made to improve the standards of cricket in New Zealand, the country would' become a “good mark” for other teams in international cricket. A warning to that effect was given by one of the New Zealand selectors and former New Zealand captain, Mr W. A. Hadlee, in an informal address to the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association. Mr Hadlee said he regretted to have to admit that the standard of cricket was lamentably low and it was a fact that only a few really first-class players, of international standard, had been produced since the war. Most of those who had made their name in the international field had entered cricket before the war.

Mr Hadlee emphasised the spirit of such teams as South Africa in face of adversity, on the recent tour of England. He was certain in his own mind that in their captain (J. Cheetham), vice-captairi (J. McGlew), and their manager (Mr K. Viljoen), they had three men who had simply “driven” the players after the setbacks of the first month or six weeks, and emphasised to the team that the reputation of South Africa was at stake. That same spirit of national pride was required in many sports in New Zealand, particularly on the cricket field, said Mr Hadlee. For that, reason he was hopeful of success in two or three Tests during the present season. Once that had been achieved, he was certain that New Zealand cricket would soon emerge from the Cinderella stage in the international sphere. Need for Analysis

What had been the reason for the lack in New Zealand of first-class international players since the war? As his personal opinion, Mr Hadlee felt that there was a lack of an intelligent, anayltical approach to the game. Players did not work so diligently in their endeavours to make themselves cricketers of ability. It was difficult to make the youth of today see that.

Could the youth of today be made to see that proficiency could be achieved only through sheer hard work? asked Mr Hadlee. It was difficult to persuade youth to do these things. They could probably regard him—or any former player—as an old-stager, which he was, and they in turn would be so regarded by the youth of their generation. Players who had reached the top had done so only through working at their cricket, living cricket and thinking cricket. Too many players did not approach the game intelligently. For instance, few batsmen thought over how they were dismissed; few studied the fundamental of batting in that their feet were seldom in the correct petition for playing shots: and few persevered in the spirit of a Cowie or a Burtt to achieve success for themselves and their country.

For the sajne reasons, said Mr Hadlee, he personally felt that New Zealand crickets needed tightening up—and this was at a stage when national cricket was being extended. There were five Plunket Shield teams now, there was a move for a sixth, and the time might come when there would be an application from a seventh team.

Such a system did not assist in strengthening cricket. On the top scale, for instance, it did not help such internationals as Reid and Sutcliffe. They were not getting the standard they required to maintain their top flight form. Coaching, intensive coaching in the schools, was the only remedy. Youth had to be made to see what was required and to put such advice into practice. They had to be coached into a right approach to the game and (by inference) more pride in achieving personal success and success for New Zealand.

COUNTY MATCHES CONDITIONS REVIEWED BY MR R. E. HITCHCOCK (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, October 20. From time to time a number of questions about English county cricket are asked in New Zealand and by visitors to England. Here are the answers to some of them provided by Ray Hitchcock, a young New Zealander, who has played professionally for Warwickshire since 1948 and who has just completed his most successful season. Do you find county cricket a paying proposition?—“Unless you reach the top in county cricket, money cannot be made very easily. Counties vary in their method of payment. For example, in Warwickshire we are on yearly agreements which are based on the individual’s ability, whereas other county players are on a fixed rate and match money.” When is. a professional granted a benefit or testimonial?—“The difference between a benefit and a testimonial is that the former includes the proceeds from a county championship fixture: the latter is the total of limited collections, occasional friendly Sunday matches and donations from supporters. These rewards are usually given to players in order of seniorority, which begins when they are capped. Capped players are those who have been awarded on ability their Ist XI, colours. Counties do not stipulate any given time to qualify for such benefits but usually it takes about 10 years. As this in an award on ability and not laid down in a player’s contract, the amount raised is not taxable. An average Warwickshire benefit is about £4000.”

Is county cricket a hjard life?— “Though the season is spread only four months of the year, cricket is played six days a week, with an occasional benefit match on Sunday. Therefore, one is playing continuously during the summer and naturally has to keep' quite fit mentally and physically to give of one's best. When Warwickshire played Yorkshire at Edgbaston in 1950, we battled first and made a considerable total of 400 odd and on the second and third days of true summer weather, we strived unsuccessfully to defeat Yorkshire after making them follow on.”

"The next day we travelled to Coaville to play Leicestershire, and, losing the toss we spent another full day in the field, making three days in all.” Who will win the “Young Cricketer of the Year” trophy?—“l think that the short list for this trophy, awarded annually by the English cricket writers’ club, will include J. Allan (Oxford University and Kent), K. Barrington (Surrey), M. J. Horton (Worcestershire), P. Sainsbury (Hampshire), and M. J. Stewart (Surrey). Two of the candidates come from the champions’ side. They are all good young players but my choice would be Martin Horton. Anyone who can pull off the 100 wickets—looo runs double in his first full season in the game should really go places.”