‘Patronising’ commentary

Press, 22 June 1979, Page 20

‘Patronising’ commentary

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

New Zealand made a valiant attempt to win a place in the World Cup cricket final at Old Trafford yesterday, and there must have been some disappointed all-night listeners when the team lost to England by only nine runs. But the reaction among members of the cricket public, judging by comments heard yesterday and telephone calls, was not so much chagrin at the defeat as disenchantment

with what was described regularly as “the patronising attitude” of the radio commentators.

There was certainly no need to regard New Zealand as the country cousins of one-day cricket. New Zealand has a very reasonable record in this sophisticated sort of cricket.

In the last 10 years New Zealand sides have played 40 limited-over games for 25 victories and 12 losses — three matches were abandoned because of rain.

Some of the wins were against sides of modest talents but in six visits to Australia, in the prePacker days, New Zealand won the inter-state knockout contest three times and was in a further final. Even against the test countries, the record is a satisfactory one. There have been 21 such matches, for nine wins, nine losses, and those three unfinished games. Moreover, New Zealand provincial teams have had several successes

against full-strength touring teams. New Zealand was certainly not disgraced in the 1979 Prudential Cup contest. And it will be a source of unending delight to New Zealanders with Australian associations to recall that when the betting opened before the start of the series, New Zealand was quoted at 14 to 1 and Australia at the longer odds of 20 to 1. It may never happen again.