N.Z. should have no fears of failure on four

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32005, 4 June 1969, Page 11

N.Z. should have no fears of failure on four

BY R. T. BRITTENDEN TTIGH hopes are usually ■“■held for New Zealand cricket teams embarking on tours of England, and by and large, they have been at least partly fulfilled. New Zealand has never won a test match from England, but its playing record on its English tours has been reasonably satisfactory. Only one of the six teams which have toured England came back, with more losses than victories. This may be measuring the sides by a very modest standard, but New Zealand has had some fine victories over strong county sides. The first touring team, in 1927, won seven of its firstclass matches, and lost five. In 1931, there were six wins, three defeats, one of them in a test match. The 1937 team won nine matches, and lost nine; the best record by far was that of the 1949 side, which won 13 matches and lost only one. The 1958 side is regarded as having been a failure, but if it lost four tests, it was defeated only twice in other matches, and won seven of them. The worst record is held by the 1965 team, which won only three matches (on a shorter tour than the earlier ones) but lost six, three of them being in the test matches. It is when New Zealand has been stronger in batting

than bowling that the results have been best. The 1927 side was decidedly better in batting than bowling, and so was the team of 1931. This was particularly apparent in 1949, but the batting was of indifferent quality in 1958 and 1965. The team about to leave for England thus has history on its side, for there is every indication that it will be better able to make runs than to dismiss opposing sides cheaply. Yet if there are worries about the bowling, with its lack of variety and venom, it seems likely that it will have the support of the best fielding side New Zealand has put in the field for 20 years. That restoration of the balance could help give the side a worthwhile record. New Zealand has more depth in the batting than it has enjoyed for some seasons. Seven of the eight batsmen chosen have shown they can make runs against test bowling, and there were some good, disciplined performances against the West Indies. K. J. Wadsworth, the only new batsman selected, is a young player who, on the faster and truer pitches, could thrill English crowds. And in support of the batting eight are B. W. Yuile, B. R. Taylor, R. C. Motz, R. 0. Collinge, and R. S. Cunis, all of them capable of making test runs, and D.

R. Hadlee, who may well turn out to be a very useful member of the hard-hitting lower order. New Zealand will have to adopt vigorous methods if it is to win attention and respect—not violence for its own sake, but eagerness to hit the ball, to run well. The side has a leader who com-

mands the respect and affection of those under him; Dowling is a selfless captain, a fearless batsman, and in all aspects of his cricket, a fine example. He may at times have to take risks which a few years ago he might have avoided. The first test was lost to the West Indies last summer because Dowling was trying for victory, and although it is difficult to regard any loss as a popular one, this must have eome close to the mark.

There are fine strokemakers in this team, and it is to be hoped the sun shines for them. The fielding should help underline what will have to be an aggressive approach. But the composition of the bowling could lead to irritation in England, among public and press. Unless the spinners, B. W. Yuile and H. J. Howarth, do Well enough to demand places in the team very regularly, dependence on the five-strong pace attack to an undue extent is likely.

Determined efforts are being made in England to have the over-rate increased in first-class cricket, and New Zealand’s fast-medium bowling trudging back to rather distant marks, could provide the basis of unhappy comparisons. But all in all, this team will leave home with every chance of achieving a good record. It played well last summer, and should have a rather more confident outlook than some earlier sides. It will have the dual benefit of a rest from cricket, and a reasonably long settling-in period in England before the tour begins. These privileges were denied the 1965 team which went from a New Zealand test series to the hot-houses of India and Pakistan before being pitted against England’s best in a dreadfully cold and dismal summer.