Happy memories of N.Z.’s richest cricket prize

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 36

Happy memories of N.Z.’s richest cricket prize

R. T. BRITTENDEN

reflects on a test series of which New Zealand can be proud

Within a few days, the New Zealand cricket team will be doing battle with Sri Lanka, and this is likely to be a difficult assignment. But whatever may happen in the “resplendent island” the team has left behind the happiest of memories of its test rubber victory over England.

It took New Zealand 39 years to win its first test series — in Pakistan in 1969. Since then, there have been wins against the West Indies and India (each one-nil) and against Sri Lanka in New Zealand (two-nil).

But this 1983-84 team won the richest prize to have come New Zealand’s way, and it did it with professional skill.

First, there was a remarkable recovery at Well-

ington. After conceding a first innings lead of 244, New Zealand might have been expected — on the basis of many past performances — to succumb gently.

But there was real iron in the soul of New Zealand’s second innings batting. To be sure, the pitch became easier as the game went on, but New Zealand has never shown more application or discipline in its batting. John Wright was in an hour and a half for 35, Bruce Edgar two hours for 30, Geoff Howarth two hours for 34, Martin Crowe four hours and a half for 100. This was a magnificent century, for if there was a flaw in Crowe’s batting, it was forgotten in the pleasure of watching so pure a technique. Then there was Jeremy Coney

with his first test century, and more than eight hours batting for 174 not out. lan Smith applied himself strictly for an hour and three-quarters and even Lance Cairns (131 minutes for 64) became part of the defensive pattern.

The total of 537 was New Zealand’s second-highest against England, and the innings, more than 12 hours long, was as exciting in its honest endeavour as any thrash for quick runs. It was unwavering concentration, a quality so many New Zealand teams have lacked. So to the win at Christchurch. The pitch at Lancaster Park was not like the one at Basin Reserve, but on it England played very badly, New Zealand very well.

England’s bowling on the first day was quite incredibly bad. There seemed to be a belief that the New Zealanders could be bounced out, but Jeff Crowe and Richard Hadlee, in particular, took full advantage of the loose stuff which came their way. Then there was the dreadful decline of England’s batting - 82 and 93 - because the batsmen were not prepared to get into line, and fight for their runs. Many of the dismissals came through disgraceful strokes. Only Mike Gatting in the first innings, Graeme Fowler, Derek Randall and Bob Taylor in the second, were willing to struggle. At Auckland, New Zealand, on another bland pitch, showed the same determination not to throw away its advantage in an innings of nearly 11% hours. A score of 496 for nine declared led to a first-innings lead, a draw and the rubber.

The decline in the standard of performance in the first two one-day internationals could be understood, but it is not the sort of show the New Zealand Cricket Council will want to stage very often. On all three pitches, assertive stroke-making was not easy. New Zealand lost by a street at Christchurch and Wellington, but recaptured all its mana at Auckland on Saturday. The worry about one-day cricket, the money earner in modern cricket, is that the public will tire of it. They

were no doubt satisfied at Eden Park, with a brilliant display by the home team, but it must be at the back of administrators’ minds that limited-over cricket will lose its appeal unless there are close finishes. There is not the fascination of a fight for a draw, and one-sided matches are very costly in public support, if they continue. But to look on the positive side of the England visit: it proved that New Zealand might have an ageing team, but a very good one; that Hadlee is still among the very finest all-rounders in the game; that Martin Crowe is likely to be an outstanding success in international cricket; that Smith has developed dramatically as a wicketkeeper and batsman; that Ewen Chatfield, now equipped with the ball that leaves the bat, is much more than an honest toiler. It would be possible to go through the New Zealand team and commend the performances of all the individuals, save perhaps Edgar, who had a very lean time. But Edgar is a firstclaim player, and he will get back to the top of the tree before long. In all, it was a very, satisfactory season for New Zealand cricket. There was quality in the batting, the bowling, and in the fielding — the catching at Christchurch was incredible. And there was pride in the resolution shown by the team, individually and collectively.