Test struggle likely soon

Press, 8 March 1978, Page 6

Test struggle likely soon

From

R. T. BRITTENDEN

For the players involved, the third cricket test is beginning to assume a dream-like quality, they have been in Auckland for a week, but have reached only the halfway stage of the game. The pace of the piece suggests it is all unreal too—there have been 172 overs for 446 runs from the - bat in three days. But there is likely to be a tense struggle for survival, by one side or the other, before it is over.

England will resume this morning with its score a sturdy 172 for 2, only 143 behind New Zealand —on the face of it. a position of safety. But the first period of play today is a vital one. Should New Zealand, with the new ball, win earlier success, England’s position would be an anxious one, for it could not lok forward with confidence to making, say, 200 in the final innings. New Zealand, however, may regret the 10 or 15 runs lost on the third day through bad ground fielding, and the failure to remove Clive Radley when he batted for so long like a man who had no right to be there. If, however, England gets its score moving and the bowlers do not break through, New Zealand might well be in a losing position. The state of the game after three days, and its funereal rate, has suggested to many that a draw is inevitable.

But the pitch, so comfortable for batting, will not be

quite so placid in the late stages of the game. On Monday evening, Steven Boock was getting a little turn. There will be more. The bounce, too, is becoming low. Late on Monday Graham Roope had to dig out one from Lance Cairns which shot wickedly.

Batting may become a little more difficult today, and hardest on the last two days. The footmarks left by lan Botham, which are quite extensive and are definitely in the prohibited area, may also become a major problem. On Monday Boock. bowling into the wind, was at the wrong end to explore them, and at any rate he would have to bowl flatter and faster to make use of them, but there is little doubt that the England left arm spinner, Edmond, will be interested in the worn area. His natural technique is to bowl at a brisk pace onto the line of the pad and his method would be ideal for this unfortunate situation. It is quite remarkable that bowlers are still allowed to run through so close to the line on the stump. A match which seemed dormant is quite likely to come very much to life soon. As it stands now, New Zealand is only two or three wickets awav from a position of strength, England a couple of hours batting from similar comfort. It will be an interesting morning.