Surprisingly low level of English cricket

Press, 26 July 1980, Page 12

Surprisingly low level of English cricket

If there has been little news recently of Christchurch cricketers. playing in England, it may well be more a matter of modesty than lack of success. In the first half of the English season, the progress of the players was recorded in letters from Ray Jones (East-Shirley) and from Paul McEwan, (Old Collegians).

This week Jones wrote to Ashley Hart, the Sydenham wicket-keeper and what he had to say was illuminating. “An important thing to remember (in relation to the New Zealanders’ performances) is that the Midlesex League is only about the standard of me-dium-strength club cricket back home. A team like Lancaster Park would have too much power, all round, for the best league teams over here. There are no first-class players in the league. “So when I tell you that most of the lads are scoring runs and taking wickets, it is important to qualify that by saying that any player in Christchurch with a bit of representative experience (Brabin, Rothman’s), or just long

experience in senior cricket, would do well in the Middlesex League. “The Middlesex League is, by general consent, the most competitive in England, so you can imagine what New Zealanders playing outside the league can do to unsuspecting opposiiton. If there is to be publicity for the successes our players have had over here this year, it should be related to ‘New Zealanders find English club cricket not as good as expected’ rather than ‘New Zealanders taking English cricket by storm.’ “None of us over here can say in all honesty that it is difficult to do well. Of course the expense involved and the effort in planning to get here does tend to make one try harder than most of the others in club cricket here, but success is no guarantee of success at home. Paul McEwan is playing minor counties for Hertfordshire, and rates Minor Counties cricket as varying on or below New Zealnd ' club standard.”

Recently Jones was at Finchley, wth an impressive collection of New

Zealand players. Present were fan Snook and Alistair Jordan (Central Districts and both in the Durham League) Peter Verhoek and Terry Horne (Central Districts and Middlesex League) Gary Robertson (Northern Districts and Lord’s ground staff), as well as two Auckland Rothman’s players, a Wellington Rothman’s player, and Me Ewan. There too were Jones, Graham Kench and Mike Johnston of Lancaster Park, as well as a couple of expatriate New Zealnders, and two Victorian colts players (“guest Kiwis”).

“We all came to the conclusion that a season’s cricket in England was an enjoyable experience, involving games on some beautiful grounds against some real characters, and generally in conditions rich with atmosphere. Playing on a ground which is just a green oval, with sightscreens and deck-chairs, scoreboard and an old-style pavillion, with a bar faul of bottomless kegs afterwards, is an experience not to be missed.”