FIRST MATCH AT LORDS— Press Critics United In Praise Of New Zealanders

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1949, Page 5

FIRST MATCH AT LORDS— Press Critics United In Praise Of New Zealanders

[From A. W. MITCHELL, N.Z.P.A. London Correspondent.]

LONDON, May 22 (Rec. 9 a.m.).— English cricket writers are united in their praise of the New Zealanders’ performance against the M.C.C. The Sunday Times said they showed that even without Cowie they are a good side in the field. “Cresswell,” the Sunday Times says, “can bowl in-swingers for hours on end, it seems, and produce occasionally the surprise ball which the batsman edges to the wicketkeeper or the slips. Burtt is not quite slow enough for the batsmen to be able to go down the pitch and hit him, nor is he a defensive bowler. He keeps the batsmen playing. Cave, with his height, should always be dangerous on hard wickets, and all these bowlers have the advantage of an intelligently-set field, plus good, clean fielding.” Comments By Hobbs

Jack Hobbs, in the Sunday Express, said the New Zealanders were justified in being satisfied at the end of the opening day. They kept a near-England batting side mainly subdued for most of the time.

Hobbs added: “I can’t quite make up my mind as yet whether to stress the point that these New Zealanders are better than we thought they would be. What has to be said is that throughout this day of solid batting with no fireworks, they never permitted the M.C.C. batsmen to get on top. The fielding in general was Up to standard, with the spectacular throwing back to the wicketkeeper

Which is a feature of the Australian players.” “Nagging” Attack lan Peebles, in the Sunday Dispatch, praised “the lithe, eager, rundenying fielding of New Zealand and the persistent accuracy of their bowlers.” On paper, it added, the M.C.C. seemed likely to run up a mammoth total, but the nagging Kiwi attack gave nothing away. Every ball had to be played and, as soon as a batsman lost patience and attempted to force the pace, the alert field snapped up every chance. (Earlier reports on Page 7).