Bartlett So Nearly A Cricket “Great”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30595, 11 November 1964, Page 23

Bartlett So Nearly A Cricket “Great”

[By the Sports Editor]

Six years ago a youngster from Marlborough stood on the threshold of what promised to be one of the greatest New Zealand cricketing careers. G. A. Bartlett was being hailed as the fastest and best young bowler New Zealand had known in a generation. Today the door seems to be closed to him. Plagued almost at the start of his representative-playing days by a back injury and Shin soreness, his powers have so declined that today he bowls only occasionally in club games. If this failure to mature is a disappointment to New Zealand cricket, it is certainly a disappointment to Bartlett himself. But more painful than his injuries is his. awareness that many cricketers believe his wounds to be, in a sense, self-inflicted —that his injuries are more imaginary than real.

Nothing could be further from the truth. But cruel tongues persist in suggesting that Bartlett is, in the modern vernacular,, simply “psycho.” And this has bred in Bartlett, who is only 23, a tinge of bitterness. “It’s fine being at the top,” he says. “But when you’re not, you soon know who your friends are.” There is little doubt that Bartlett’s career has been interrupted, probably cut short, because he came into representative cricket too soon. After leaving school, he grew an incredible seven inches in just over a year. But at 17, he was grossly over-bowled. In club matches, he had spells of up to 20 overs on end, at top speed. In his first Plunket Shield match, he bowled 32 overs in an innings. This was for Central Districts against Northern Districts, and Bartlett says it is the only first-class match he has played in which he- has felt fully fit. From that match, he went to New Plymouth to play Auckland, and at the end of one day had 10 very fast overs, and good ones. Loses Rhythm Next morning, he came out to bowl again, and could see his footmarks clearly. He started his run in for his first ball of the day, and finished his run three yards short of the stumps—his shins were sore, there was no spring in his stride, and ever since that day he ..has had trouble with no-balls. When his shins are sore, he loses rhythm. But Bartlett says he can bowl, notwithstanding the shin soreness caused by damaged tendons. What worries him most is his back. When Bartlett bowled so magnificently against the Australians in 1959-60, his rockback on to his right foot before delivery had his back curved and taut like a drawn bow. Becomes Erratic But by the following season he achieved this only with difficulty, for he had strained a back muscle which has, he thinks, shortened and today, unable because of the injury to produce the venomous whip of his best days, he finds he can not get round properly and tends to bowl erratically. Without his former thrust, and with his tendency to bowl down the leg side, Bartlett is but a shadow of his former self. Now he is concentrating on his batting and fielding. He will have a difficult task winning a place in Canterbury’s team this summer without his bowling. “I would love to bowl again,” Bartlett says. “If I felt I could bowl, I certainly would, if called on.” But Bartlett, naturally, does not want to bowl until he can again do himself justice. He doOs not want further em-

barrassment, either in saying he is. not fit, or in bowling erratically. Gleam Of Hope. Now and again, there is a gleam of hope for the many who long to see Bartlett bowling at his best again. His only club spell this season was probably his best since he has been in Christchurch: he was no-balled, but he did not bowl a wide, as reported, and he felt there was more snap in his bowling than there had been for some time. “If I could get fit, I am sure I would regain form” Bartlett said. But he thinks it would take a great deal of time and money, and he can afford neither. Bartlett says he was never overbowled for New Zealand, and he expresses the hope that if another fast bowler appears, he is not given too much to do too soon. He pays

a special tribute to I. A. ColquhOun, captain of Central Districts (not when Bartlett began) who suffered injuries from taking his bowling, but always showed foresight and understanding. 100 Yards Away Summing up his situation, Bartlett says that when he was bowling well, he seemed to be almost on top of the batsman. Now it seems to him that he bowls at the batsman from a distance of about 100. yards. It is a sad business. For Bartlett is keen on cricket, and cricket is keen on Bartlett, except for the thoughtless few who would carelessly demolish the .reputation of a fine young man. Perhaps Bartlett is not yet done. Some day soon, he may start scattering the stumps again. It would be a day of reckoning.

RUSSUEY LADIES',—Week-end match players closing day and presentation of prizes. Frank Wade Cup, Miss W. P. Spencer; Shirley Livingston Cup, Mrs M. Sinclair: Russley Challenge Cup, - Miss C. ■ Catto; Week-end foursopies, Mrs M. Sinclair and Mrs M. Snell. Closing-day trophies: 'division A, Mrs J. Churstaln 35 points, Miss D. Rogers 83; division B, Mrs G. Lemon 27, Miss J. M. Wood 26. Consolation trophies: Miss E. Anderson, Mrs P. CameronSmith, Miss N. Annand.