HOME SIDE FAILS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 11

HOME SIDE FAILS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS

Batting, Bowling, Fielding OVERDOSE OF INFERIOR COMPLEX Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, January 13. Duly the intervention of the weather turned what would have been an Ignominious defeat of the New Zealand 'cricket team at the hands of the M.C.C. touring side into a draw. Throughout the match New Zealand failed in every department. The batting was weak, the fielding inexcusably poor, and the bowling easily mastered by the early English batsmen, was trounced by the tremendous hitting of Holmes and Human.

Faced by a side that appeared to suffer from an overdose of inferiority complex, the English bowlers in the first innings had an easy task, while the visiting batsmen, with nothing to worry them, embarked on a fast-scor-ing campaign that increased in speed. When Mills was dismissed without scoring after 15 minutes’ batting in the first innings the outlook was unpromising, but nobody would have expected a rout to follow in which Weir was the only batsman to play sound cricket. Using every ounce of energy, Read bowled magnificently, with a sharp, fast rise from the wicket. The nervousness of the batsmen gave their shots an uncertainty that was disastrous agaiust his speed. Most"of the shots were uncertainly performed, showing an entire lack of confidence. After feeling for off balls Mills was finally caught in the slips, and Cromb, who also was unsettled, was yorked by Baxter. For a while Moloney did little but keep the ball out of Ins wicket, but Weir was playing quite well. Then the wickets began to fall Moloney putting his leg in front, and Weir was bowled by a beautiful ball from Read.

Merritt’s “Do or Die” Spirit. Vivian and Lamason halted the procession for only a short time, after which the wickets again fell with depressing rapidity. A brighter note was added by the do-or-die spirit of Merritt aud Cowie, which was unsuccessful, but provided a relief from the timidity. The eud came after only 118 minutes' play. The strength of New Zealand had wilted before fierce fast bowling. Although showers the preceding night had made the balls inclined to slide through extra quickly at the outset, that was no reason why experienced batsmen should fail to use their feet and feel shakily for offi-balls. Read had a phenomenal run of success after lunch in taking five wickets for 10 runs in four overs, and was almost solely responsible for the low score. He bowled considerably faster (ban -in any of the preceding matches with au awkward rise off the hard, true wicket that had been prepared. Occasionally his deliveries swung slightly, but he relied mainly ou his pace to beat the New Zealanders, by which method he gained success.

Baxter was more accurate and was not as fearful. I’arks gave a fine performance in bowling 10 overs unchanged for 38 rune and two wickets. The opening men for the M.C.C. by confident stroke-making off all the bowlers showed the wicket had not been the cause of the New Zealand collapse. They set a good pace, raising 50 in 41 minutes, but ■Smith was then yorked by Roberts bowling with the wind. New Zealand’s lapses in the field began with tiie arrival of Barber, who survived an easy chance in the slips when he had scored one. As lie carried on to reach 173, the expense of Elmes’s miss is easily seen in actual runs, while the effect of the. tactics of tiie visitors and the confidence of ■the bowlers was also serious. Runs gained ■easily from perfectly-timed and placed shots off unimaginative bowling made easier by quick footwork sent the score along merrily, with misfielding on the ground and in the air, letting the batsmen off lightly.

Fifteen Catches Missed. It is hopeless to detail each chance, Suffice it to say that in all 15 catches, two really. difficult, were missed. Despite a long spell of bowling Parks batted briskly, reaching his century in 157 minutes. .Shortly after Barber, who had overtaken him with brilliant batting to obtain three figures in 110 minutes, Parks was immediately caught in the slips when luj reached for a ball from Elmes that was nearly a wide. Hardstaff and Barber played out time, but continued the next morning as if there had been no break. After being missed almost immediately both batted comparatively quietly for a short time. Then Barber, who set out to knock th<» bowling all over the ground, was tricked by Merritt while defending. In a magnificent display he had produced almost every shot known, including a straight drive for six. Despite terrific hitting toward the end be seemed unpble to miss anything so that, his dismissal was unexpected. From the time of Hardstaff’s dismissal with the total at -112 for four, the fireworks began. Human hit cleanly with astounding force, answering chances by hitting even harder. Although it seemed impossible for such batting to last, the weakness of the fielding gave it great freedom. In the lighthearted manner he had adopted throughout Human smote the bowling to the end, ignoring the approach of his century.

The departure of Human saw no diminution in the pace of the scoring. Although it seemed impossible, Holmes hit still harder, and Langridge opened out. but loss recklessly. Langridge scored the third century of the match in 137 minutes. and Holmes reached 50 in 23 minutes. The pair addled 50 runs in 16 minutes. the bowling being dispirited and the fielding as pitiful as ever. With tea came an end to a one-sided display that was given ample scope by the fieldsmen, the innings being declared closed at 653 for five wickets. Reason for Attack’s Failure. The two best bowlers were Roberts and Cowie, whose hearts must have been almost bro.ken by the number of chances missed off them. All the bowlers suffered and nearly every fieldsman was concerned ; in fact, the failure of the New Zealand attack was due to the fielding.

No man can bowl well when he is consistently let down by the field, nor can he maintaip a fiery attack. By bowling faster than usual Elmes seemed better, but he was pitching almost to the limit of a wide, and sometimes over it, a method useless in dismissing men. After the first two wickets had fallen with little resistance, the New Zealand batting showed a marked improvement in the second innings. It was noticeable that those who attempted to attack were those who held up their wickets longest. A display full of refreshing confidence and crisp batting was given by Moloney, who gave the New Zealand side new confidence. He was unfortunate to drag a ball on to his wicket, although faulty footwork was the cause. Vivian led a charmed life, and with Lamason gathered runs quickly before stumps were drawn. When after an unnecessary delay the game was recommenced to-day. Vivian gave a fine exhibition on a wicket that was firm, but rather uncertain in the way it played. The only man to make a good showing, he took no risks, and appeared certain to gain a century when play was adjourned following an appeal against the light. After a final ludicrous touch had been provided by Human bowling for 16 byes and 8 wides to bring 200 and obtain the new ball, another appeal was upheld, and the ball was unused.