Tour revealed some first-rate batsmen

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 18

Tour revealed some first-rate batsmen

(From D J. CAMERON) AUCKLAND. Within a few years the New Zealand cricket tour of Australia may come to be recognised as the time when New Zealand ceased to rely on G. M. Turner and B. E. Congdon for a steady supply of runs, and instead projected J. M. Parker, J. F. M. Morrison. K. J. Wadsworth, and perhaps J. V. Coney into the class of first-rate international batsmen.

Turner had a most difficult tour, starting with what now seem to he inevitable low scores iat the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and then having the set-back of his broken hand. which affected him longer than many realised.

Turner’s style, relying mainly on the drive and eschewing the hooks and pulls and cuts which Australian pitches encourage, never really settled down, and whenever a bowler could make the ball lift a shade more quickly than usual (G. D. McKenzie had this uncanny ability), Turner was just as likely to get the edge as anyone.

Congdon ran into a lean patch, perhaps because he, too, relied on the drive rather too much. In his fight to get back among the runs Congdon’s batting took on some of its old exotic touches—the swish across the line, and) the extravagant cuts—but the i change was too drastic, and i whenever he offered a| chance it was usually the end. NEW TECHNIQUE Of the newer batsmen, Morrison was perhaps the most interesting. Early in the tour his pronounced frontfoot lunge was a weakness, and his willingness to hook at bouncers placed both his health and wicket in jeopardy. Parker at last emerged from the shadow of Turner, his county and test opening partner, and his 140 not out in leading New Zealand to victory over Western Australia showed a quite astonishing maturity. He will never be, and perhaps would not wish to be, another Turner, for Parker’s batting is built on more expansive lines. Like Turner, he relies mostly on timing, but every now and then his free spirit emerges, and he can hit high and handsome if the stroke is offered.

Once his growing confidence allows him to overcome his inclination to commit himself too soon to playing the away-swinger at the start of his innings, he will prosper even more. Coney could not have had a more difficult introduction to international cricket — being thrust into the Queensland match when A. Dell and G. Dymock were making ihe ball fly alarmingly on the grassy Gabba pitch. Because of his height and an equable temperament, Coney survived this test courageously, he batted extremely well for 45 in his first test innings, and would have scored more, but for the rush for runs in the second innings of the Sydney test. He was, and he looked, a batsman of great gifts, particularly as his defensive technique seemed so correct. Then he ran out of runs, rather than out of form. His promise is obvious, and he may be better placed at No. 3 or No. 4 in the years to come. It became Wadsworth’s

trademark that, whatever thep position and no matter how ;1 keen the bowling or tight the

fielding, he would invariably I J meet his first ball plumb in i ( the centre of his bat. i Wadsworth is now a very J fine batsman, equally sound ( I against speed or spin. He has ( (discarded some of his more ] extravagant swings across the line, or tends to use them ' only occasionally as if to in- ; form the bowler who is in charge. Unanswered was whether ‘ Wadsworth should have been ’ promoted to No. 4 during the ' tests. The Australians, who 1 admire him greatly, insisted that he should, but the New ! Zealanders kept him at No. ’ 7, perhaps because they felt ’ he could save or improve an j innings, rather than change ■ its course higher in the list. 1 SPLENDID BATTING ( The New Zealanders i leaned heavily on M. J. F. ' Shrimpton early in the tour, i with his 53 against Victoria, I 100 and 36 against New , South Wales, and 46 and 106 I against South Australia. ; This was quite splendid ; batting, for if Shrimpton was i occasionally tied down by i spin, his considerable ability and tenacious spirit carried 1 him through. Just when it I seemed that all the years of 1 Shrimpton’s promise were go- 1 ing to pay the handsomest 1 of dividends he ran out of t form. Then he had the bad 1 luck to miss through illness i the Western Australian i match when the placid pitch 1

iwould have rebuilt his conifidence. TIME OF DECISION ' B. F. Hastings was rather 'the reverse: completely out of touch at the start with 62 runs from six innings. Some of the classic Hastings form returned against South Aus tralia, and he batted superblv in the second innings of the second test, ' and against Western Australia. If there could be criticism of Hastings, it would be that he could be too easily tempted into his old fault of hitting away from his feet, with a consequent steady supply of catches behind the wicket. Like Shrimpton, Hastings may soon be approaching the time of decision, for his family and work duties are pressing. For a time there were signs that R. J. Hadlee could become the latter-day B. R. Taylor, for he hit the ball very hard and with blissful freedom. Soon, however, the Australians found he was less effective against spin — as was Taylor in his earlier years — and R. J. Hadlee's flow of runs slowed to a more modest trickle. Not so his older brother. D. R. Hadlee, whose batting became better and better as the tour progressed. His de fence was immaculate and his thirst for runs quite remarkable — so much so tha his being run out against Tas mania provoked one of th more interesting flare-ups o' the tour.