W. Indies tour major step for N.Z. cricket

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 20

W. Indies tour major step for N.Z. cricket

(By

R.T. BRITTENDEN)

Cricketers have an important mission ahead of them, with the announcement that the first New Zealand tour of the West Indies will begin in January. News of the tour was welcome, but New Zealand’s growing international reputation will be at stake.

Although there has been in the last few years a remarkable levelling of standards among the test countries, New Zealand will be hard put to produce the sort of team to succeed in the Caribbean. New Zealand badly needs a successful tour, to improve its test ranking, and therefore to make further invitations overseas, and more

; visits to this country, likely. Success in the West Indies would undoubtedly improve New Zealand’s bargaining powers. Acknowledging that the West Indies tour would in- , volve the New Zealand council in a loss, the chairman (Mr J. G. Leggat) also said that the council was taking a gamble in setting up the tour, i But it was a gamble which . had to be taken. On the face of it, New Zea- ' land should do well against ’ the West Indies. In their last i meeting. New Zealand lost at

Auckland, but only because of a declaration made in pursuit of victory, and it squared the series in the next match.

In the meantime, the Indians have beaten the West Indies, New Zealand all but beat India in a drawn series, and New Zealand hais beaten

Pakistan. But both India and Pakistan have done far better in

England than New Zealand did, and New Zealand has lost to England, home and away, although there was evidence at Auckland that New Zealand has a team capable of Winning a match from England, when everything goes well. Lack of spin But simple matters of arithmetic—New Zealand was on top of India and India beat the West Indies, therefore New Zealand should win its next series—are quite misleading, India has the befit array of spin bowlers in the world, and they contributed largely to the side’s success against the West Indies. New Zealand has only H. J. Howarth who can turn the ball while bowling accurately, and there will be a desperate, and probably unavailing search, for another spinner or two in the coming summer. Although it seems to be lacking pace bowling of quality, the West Indies still has an array of talented batsmen, and on pitches which (in the India series) were Easier and slower than is traditional, New Zealand will have a hard time getting the home team’ out. New Zealand’s strength, is also in its batting, but here again there are limitations.

New Zealand not only needs another spinner or two. There is a place awaiting a good all-rounder, to lengthen the batting, which last summer ended too abruptly. Sunday problem It is to be hoped"that all the top New Zealand players will be available, although the inclusion of Sunday play In several of the scheduled matches will obviously affect the selection of V. Pollard and B. A. G. Murray. Other players may find it very difficult to get leave, or, if they are available, to finance their families* affairs satisfactorily while they are away on the modest allowances made to touring cricketers. With the best players available, and the emergence Zealand could do well in the West Indies. With a' lesser team, it could be disaster.