A triumph in two ways

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 4

A triumph in two ways

When the difficulties of arranging ! programmes weeks in advance are remembered, it was a triumph of organisation by the N.Z.B.C. to provide an hour’s live telecast of the cricket test in Sydney yesterday.

It was a brave decision, in view of the New' Zealanders’ uncertain form, and the inevitability of public odium as failures occur. i It paid off magnificently: it (must have been a hurried j decision, but it brought (immense pleasure to cricket’s many followers and its even larger army of fair-weathei friends. It was a splendid lastminute thought, if only foi the fact that New Zealand viewers saw the last half ol the Australian batting disintegrate and a written-ofl New Zealand team establish a position of strength. If the arrangement to have this extra satellite coverage was a surprise, it was also rewarding to hear the Australian commentators giving fulsom praise to the New Zealanders. In New Zealand, the natives have been rest-

dess and muttering about (some of the commentaries on (the cricket. For those who saw the cricket coverage in colour, it was especially enjoyable, cricket lending itself to natural colour very readily. The N.Z.B.C. is to be congratulated on quick-thinking and courage. ; There was another sports iitem last evening of particular interest. This was a halfhour documentary on the Cresta Run, an oldestablished tobogganing event in Switzerland. Chuck Connors and his “Thrillseekers” were rather put in their place by some extraordinary shots of the racers who reached frightening speeds. The camera coverage was startlinglv spectacular. The Cresta Run is an English-established event and it was only right and proper that this aspect should be emphasised. —R.T.B.