THE SECOND TEST

Evening Post, Issue 59, 10 March 1924, Page 6

THE SECOND TEST

.... When ■. the New , Zealanders have just been receiving .compliments upon the progress made in cricket it is disheartening to suffer a defeat so complete as' that inflicted on Saturday. ,If New Zealand cricketers suffered from an over-estimate of their own prowess, such a clefeat would remove the last vestige of conceit; but it is t^ be feared that the failing is the other way. They know the New South Welshmen to be superior, and that superiority on Saturday hypnotised them. Panic contributed at least something to the overwhelming defeat. In writing this we do not wish to belittle the New South Wales . victory. The performance of the visitors in bowling and fielding was brilliant, but if the New Zealand batsmen had possessed a little more confidence they would' certainly have made the game a better one. It is much to be regretted that some of the spectators did not profit by the example of the players and accept the defeat in a sporting spirit. Cricket is a game which is not free from accidents, but the" true sportsman will not waste time bewailing the accidents which go against him. He will remember that he has his share in the luck. Above all, the sportsman will not question decisions. Umpires maymake mistakes; but if they act honestly they should be given credit for their good work. Cricketers make mistakes too, and the wisest among them profit by their errors. We hope that Saturday's defeat will be accepted in this spirit—neither as a disaster attributable to.bad luck or an unfavourable wicket, nor as crushing proof that New Zealand cricket is hopeless; but as a demonstration of our weak points which may be turned to good account by concentrating upon the removal' of those weaknesses.