J. R. Reid Reflects On South African Tour

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 10

J. R. Reid Reflects On South African Tour

[Specialty written for "The Press" by LOUIS DUFFUS]

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 24, “Our team was disappointing in opening batsmen and strong in the middle,” said J. R. Reid in fortright answers he gave me to questions of a wide variety about the South African tour.

“Our fielding generally and our well-varied bowling was strong. The only disappointing feature here was that G. Bartlett did not come up to expectations. Motz performed better than I expected him to do. I expected Alabaster to get 100 wickets (he did in all matches and took 86 in first-class games). All three of the main bowlers—Motz, Cameron and Alabaster—did a magnificent The most improved batsman he picked as P. T. Barton. “He learned more than anyone and he was unlucky with decisions. None of the other batsmen came on. Very few played up to their New Zealand form.” He considered the best bowling performance to be Cameron's five for 48 in the first innings of the third test at Newlands. S.A. Standard

He found the standard of South African cricket to be what he expected. “Occas-

tonally it was exceptionally strong in fielding though there were lapses, particularly at Cape Town. The batting on the whole was pretty sound with McGlew, McLean, Waite and Bland always likely to perform well. Bland looks a good player to me.” “Lawrence,” he said, “is one of the best bowlers of his type I have ever faced because he moves the ball away from the leg stick. He is accurate, brings the ball down from a fair height and gets an awkward bounce. He is my idea of a good bowler.” Lindsay, “without any doubt,” was the best cricketer who did not play in any tests. “You are very weak in spin bowling. It was shocking throughout the tour. You don’t know how to use spin bowlers in this country. It amazes me the way they plug away with seam bowlers, when spin, not necessarily leg-break bowlers, are much more economical and certainly get more wickets for you.” The fairest type of wicket he considered to be Newlands, Cape Town, “not be- , cause I have done particularly well there. Johannes- ' burg is a straight-out paradise for batsmen and fast bowlers without spin bowlers getting a dhow-in. The Durban pitch was a fair one, but next to Newlands I place Port Elizabeth. “Newlands is my favourzte ground in the world from all points of view—the wicket, the outfield, the accommodation, and the players’ view of the game. It’s an ideal cricket ground,” he said. No-ball Rule “The remedy for no-baHs is to interpret the rule as in other parts of the world, with dragging cut in half by the bowling crease. If umpires would concentrate on watching the ball and not on making a point of dragging half an inch over the line, they would do more for the good of the game. They exaggerated the noball menace out of all proportion to its importance. It not only upsets captains and makes bowlers get heated, but does not do any good for relations between team and team. I think the standard of umpiring is good in this country. On the whole umpires have been most helpful and I’d like to thank them for the way in which they have handled the games.” Weather and Pineapples Here are some other questions and answers: What did you like best about South Africa?—The magnificent weather and pineapples. You wake up in the morning and it’s a fine day. You can make a date for a swim a week ahead at the next town. It has been too hot sometimes, but we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. Pineapples cost from 4s 6d to. 7s 6d each in New Zealand. (In South Africa, 4d to 6d.) Was the tour too strenuous?—lt was fairly strenuous. You’re tired at the end of a tour, wherever it is played. Last time we were here we had too much free time. Uris time we had more cricket It tired our bowlers, but that was emphasised because Bartlett did not eome up to expectations and I was limited in bowling because of my knee injury. Were the crowds fair?— Yes, generally. They were best at Cape Town and the most knowledgeable. “Magnificent Press” And the press?—We had a magnificent press. If every touring team had the coverage and press given to us, they could not fail to succeed. Because of it, cricket ■u a L b F en a boost both here and in New Zealand. It’s a pleasant change to have a press that concentrates on reporting.

Your most memorable experience outside of cricket? —The Victoria Falls, the most magnificent sight anyone can see in this country. I was just as thrilled as I had been eight years ago. What changes do you see in South Africa? —A lot more building. Contrary to all suggestions in New Zealand, this country looks as wealthy and prosperous as it ever did.

What did you think of South African girls?—Viewing them from a distance, they are better groomed than their New Zealand counterparts because they have more time to attend to such matters. Hie prettiest girls I saw were at Clifton beach (Cape Town), and in Johannesburg.