TALENTED BATSMEN IN TEAMS FOR TEST MATCH

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30079, 13 March 1963, Page 13

TALENTED BATSMEN IN TEAMS FOR TEST MATCH

TNO of the greatest attaekfceg bataMß in intenatfoaal crieket win lead the teams la the match between England and New Zealand at Lancaster Park on Friday. Whatever disappointments there were during the teats in Australia, however lacking in lustre New Zealand’s performances more recently, the reputations of Dexter and Beid as clean hitters remain untarnished. At Auckland and Wellington, Dexter scored modestly. But there is little doubt that Christchurch cricketers will be given the opportunity ot appreciating the flowing beauty of his driving, on the ground which brought him his first test century four yean ago. Reid failed at Wei- . lington, but in I the fint test at I Auckland he 1 showed the desire to dominate which has distil guiahed his career His triumphs in South Africa last summer, when he set a new record aggregate for touring batsmen, wrote perhaps the proudest chapter in New Zealand’s cricket story. His utter demolition of the Northern Districts bowling in a Plunket Shield match this season brought him a record of 15 sixes in an innings. There is not much prospect of England’s attack being so severely handled, but while Reid is in, the bat will always be an offensive weapon. The England team does not depend on Dexter alone for its batting attractions. During their long partnership of 240 for the sixth wicket in the first test at Auckland, both B. R. Knight and P. H. Parfitt K; gave delightful ex- < hibitions. Learned cricketers will savour clever bowling to a tactical plan, astute captaincy, defenlive batting when it is demanded by

th* stat* at th* game. But moat watchers lute to aee good attacking strokes, and, in particular, the drive. At Auckland, Knight answered this demand more than adequately. His driving of the fast bowler* was magnificent; he is rather slightly built, but the timing of hi* straight hits was perfection. Parfitt, a left-hander, was a little mor* reserved in his approach, but he also played some lovely strokes —cuts, drives, hooks, glances. And although the wizardry of K. F. Barrington is often associated with the reliability of a machine, he can and does make magnificent attacking strokes. Still among th* greatest of test match batsmen is M. C. Cowdrey, a model for young cricketers for his correct methods —was bat ever so close to pad’— A. and for the firm k >. hitting of the ball. In the Wallin a.

Cowdrey gave a superb display, although batting with an injured finger, and later sustaining some nasty knocks from the New Zealand bowlers. And it was at Wellington that A. C. Smith showed such profitable enterprise. He played a rather lucky innings there when setting, in company with Cowdrey, a world test record for the ninth wicket, but it was an innings which will also be remembered for his bold hits in front of the wicket When the occasional violence of F. S. Trueman and the neat, workmanlike batting of k. Illingworth and F. J. Titmus are added, it makes a good batting brew. And it may be that at Christchurch D. S. Sheppard, out of form in the first tests, will recover his early splendour. There would be no more popular success. New Zealand also makes its contribution to the bat- . Apart bm Reid, ere are several others vho can bat in occasions.

like angels. W. IL Playle, aa elegant defender tor years, showed notable iggreoslon at Wellington, and if G. T. Dowling gets a start thia time, the England team may learn to share R. Benaud s high assessment of Dowling’s accomplishments. M. J. r. Shrimpton, in hie drat test, drove with rare confidence and power, B. W. Sinclair is always a batsman worth watching. And A. ■ E. Dick has already demonstrated an ability to score usefully tram the England bowling, particularly with elegant snots off the back toot In the earlier games, some of New Zealand's best batting came from late in the list; IL C. Mots. B. W. Yuile. and R. W. Blair have each scored a half-century, and made their runs attractively. There will be fervent hopes that in this match New Zealand can extend the touring team. Whatever the outcome, there should be many good strokes made at Lancaster Park in the next few days The match will, however, offer much of interest to the cricketer conscious of the fact that if catches win matches, bowlers induce the catches. Trueman, still a magnificent fast bowler, is certain to capture the imagination, as he did when he was last here. J. D. F. . Larter has not so far looked the demoniac

character of two years ago, but his pace and his extraordinary height give him his dangerous lift and the Lancaster Park pitch should suit him. Then there is the busy little Titmus, an extremely accurate I off-spin bowler. Ho | seems to work on H, a batsman like a |IL dentist’s drill, seeking and probEjg tag until the nerve BP is exposed. It may not be good denM tistry, but it is fine bowling. MB Knight, who bowls at a lively pace, moves the ball in ■■ or away, and has in both tests been KMj .very hard to mas■B ter. Illingworth is Bp another extremely ■gi accurate off-epin- ■■ ner, and Dexter Ml is probably the fastest bowler, BB after Trueman. Barrington is no BUI Benaud in accurO? acy, but he bowls a

quick leg-break and gives further variety to an interesting and formidable attack

Trueman's recent commendation ot B. C. Mots was a reminder that the young New Zealand bowler is winning a fine reputation. He was magnificent in South Africa, bowled well against the M.C.C. two yean ago, and at Auckland this season was the best of the New Zealand bowlers after the first morning. There is always much to admire in the tenacity and honesty of purpose, of F. J. Cameron, and the persistence of Reid. On a fast, lively pitch, R. W. Blair could turn in a very useful performance, and If J. C. Alabaster is playing, he will give variety to the New Zealand bowling. In the first two tests, New Zealand's ground fielding was first-class; B. W. Sinclair, W. R. Playle, Reid, and M. J. Shrimpton, have been particularly good. England came to New Zealand with a poor reputation for fielding, out some very good catches have been held, and although there have been some in- m different periods, there Ki has been some fine W

folding, particularly by Titmug, Illingworth, Dexter, Trueman, Parfiitt, and Knight J. T. . Murrr.y will be reK membered as a Mk stylish and most ■Hjftb. competent wicket-keeper.