Collinge fulfilling early promise

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32566, 27 March 1971, Page 14

Collinge fulfilling early promise

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

QIX years ago R. O. M Collinge was regarded as the. most promising bowler in New Zealand cricket. He had begun his first-class career- a season earlier, at the age of 17; and in 1964-65, against Pakistan, he dismissed the great Hanif five times' in succession and ended a three-match test series with 15 wickets at 17.7 runs each. Decidedly quick, tall and strong, the left-handed Collinge' seemed to have everything before him. But in the succeeding years, he very , rarely produced the bowling expected of him. In the 1965 tour tests, he took 5 for 173 against India, 2 for 132 against Pakistan, 8 for 292 against England. In 1967-68, against India, his return was 6 for 194, and on the 1969 tour he played only one test, taking 1 for 88. It seemed that the likable and amiable Collinge was perhaps a victim of his own good nature. He appeared to lack the devil and determination needed

of a test fast bowler, the ability to hate and destroy. Now, Collinge, who will be 25 in a few days, has at last reached the standard expected of him. His bowling this season has been the best of his career: it /brought him Plunket Shield successes, test the Winsor Cup.

Although he was probably the unluckiest bowler in the shield series, in the matter of dropped catches, Collinge had 20 wickets at 18.3. He demolished the South Island second innings at the Basin Reserve, and in the tests he took 10 wickets at 15.1 runs each. Here, at last, was a steady line, the little movement in the air and off the pitch he so often lacked, and sufficient pace to exploit these assets. He looked a very good bowler against England. The only flaw was an apparent lack of stamina, which showed up at Christchurch. At Auckland, however, he kept going remarkably well, and if he manages to reduce his very long run-up, as he proposes to do during the winter, he will be all the better for it. J With the omission R. Taylor, the' absence through injury of R." C. Matz and D. R. Hadlee, and the sad lack of top form of M. G. Webb in his one >est, New Zealand’s pace attack could have looked very' ordinary, without R. S. Cunis and Collinge.