CRICKET Writers Say N.Z. Not Up To Test Standard

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28620, 24 June 1958, Page 20

CRICKET Writers Say N.Z. Not Up To Test Standard

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, June 22.

Cricket writers, while praising New Zealand’s pluck and sportsmanship, are unanimous in declaring that the New Zealand team is just not up to world standard.

“Judge how much of a farce the test series against New Zealand has become. In two hits at Lord’s yesterday John Hayes became second top scorer of their second innings,” said “Reynolds News.’*

"The final indignity came when the game finished at 3.30 p.m. and it was announced that an exhibition game would be played The decision was greeted with great applause by the crowd, but no doubt a little more spirit and resolution by the New Zealand team would have been appreciated.’’

“Reynolds News” added: “Fiveday matches are absurd when a team has only two batsmen who can reach double figures.” Another Sunday newspaper, "News of the World,’’ says: “As a trial of strength between Eng land and New Zealand the second test match was a fiasco.

“Indeed, the present New Zealand team falls so far short of the required standards that Eng land could possibly pick at least two other teams in addition to that which did duty at Lord’s and still beat them.”

The “Sunday Pictorial” said: “This was test match murder, nothing more. England swamped New Zealand

“The New Zealanders did their best to hang themselves by their batting tactics in the first in - nings. Then they used club cricket strokes of hit or miss against the turning ball.” In the “Sunday Express” Dems Compton said:

"How undeserved was this de-, feat.

“The New Zealanders dismissed the cream of the English batsmen for the modest total of 237 on a perfect batting wicket on the first day. But rain came that night and for the remainder of the game they had to try to cope with a wicket op which the ball lifted and spun viciously.”