A VALUABLE ADDITION TO N.Z.’s CRICKETING LIBRARY

Press, 4 January 1978, Page 19

A VALUABLE ADDITION TO N.Z.’s CRICKETING LIBRARY

By

JAIN GALLAWAY

Dick Brittenden has made, I believe, as great a contribution to New Zealand cricket off the field as any other person during the past quarter .of a century as an internationallyaccepted writer, a feat which is far from easy when one considers the place New Zealand has occupied in world cricket during that period.

It is so much easier to be acknowledged as a rugby writer overseas when one’s team is winning ninety per cent of its matches than it is as a cricket critic from a country which has won only nine of its 127 tests. These victories have all been achieved in the past 21 years and so this is the era from which Brittenden has chosen the matches which he recalls so vividly and so skilfully in his latest and most impressive book “The Finest Years” (A. H. and A. W. Reed; 188 pp; $12.50). Every one of New Zealand's victories since that

momentous March day in 1956 at Eden Park, when the first break through the barrier of defeat came, are included in the 17 tests which he describes, to-

gether with six draws and two losses (both in England) in which New Zealand, if unable to achieve actual victory, gained in stature as the result of its players’ deeds. Although he saw most of these matches personally, those which he did not see have not suffered in description as a result, for so close is the author to the game and those who play it that he is always aware of, and can capture completely, and with almost uncanny accuracy,

the attitude and atmosphere while still so far away. I was amazed at how graphically he describes the conditions we encountered on that pioneer tour of Pakistan and India in 1955-56 and equally was I deeply impressed by his

acknowledgement that much of the credit for New Zealand’s standards of courage and spirit and great cameraderie must lie with this side.

“There can be nothing but admiration for this team,” he says. “There were no test victories in India and Pakistan but the victories were those of courage and spirit and perhaps it was here that a tradition was bom — there can be nothing but admiration for this team.” When so many criticised their performances in the ignorance bom of remoteness, Brittenden’s tribute is an outstanding example of his perception and judgment.

The second half of the book is devoted to profiles of players who have graced our grounds during the past two decades, many of them introduced with effective alliteration such as the original phrases, Meteor from Marlborough

(G. A. Bartlett), Top of the Trade (J. R. Reid), Faith and Flair (K. J. Wadsworth), and Virtue and Violence (V. Pollard), while the unique Hadlees combine in a family profile under the heading of the Royal Line. Restricting his tributes to 22 players, Brittenden acknowledges his regret at having to omit so many deserving of inclusion, and arguments could be endless over the merits of his selections ‘ and decisions. Many might question his inclusion of Brian Yuile, Bruce Murray, Bob Cunis and Artie Dick at the ex? pense of Noel McGregor, Jack Alabaster (it is indeed strange that he has not found a place), Zin Harris and John Ward; and in the reference ro 19 players unfortunate to be omitted, the names of Bob Blair, Alex Moir and Eric Petrie (Barry Milburn has a mention) are conspicuous by their complete absence.

The players’ attributes and personalities are brilliantly brought to life in some of the finest condensed biographical essays I have read. If a little licence is taken with the inclusion of Bert Sutcliffe in this era, when most of his great deeds had already been performed, the description of the Johannesburg test in 1953, vith its drama and tragedy, remains one of the masterpieces of descriptive writing in the history of sports journalism. If here and there one finds a mistake it is of no consequence, as this is a book of feats not of cold facts and figures. Some profiles would un» doubtedly be more difficult to write than others; Among these would be The Run Machine (G. M. Turner), but his summation of our most controversial player in recent years is, as with all others, scrupulously fair and perceptive. Finally, it was a touching gesture typical of the author to dedicate the book to the late Ken Wadsworth’s little dau-

ghter, Jayna. It was also appropriate that the cover should feature Bevan Congdon, for he has been the greatest over-all contributor to New Zealand cricket in the last 10 years. The familiar stroke, if not the epitome of elegance and grace, typifies the pugnacity and tenacity with which New Zealand cricket has raised itself from the ashes of 1954-55. At the memorial service for the late Sir Neville Cardus held in St Pauls Covent Garden, Alan Gib? son in a brilliant tribute said “But just as Macauley changed the course of the writing of history, Cardus changed the course of the writing of cricket. He showed what could be done. He dignified and illuminated the craft.”

These words aptly describe the part Dick Brittenden has played on the New Zeaand scene and this splendidly illustrated and reasonably priced book serves only to confirm his standing.