N.Z. CRICKET TEAM SURPASSED HOPES: BOWLERS’ SUCCESS
(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.) (10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2. New Zealand’s cricketers had surpassed expectations, said the team manager, Mr. J. H. Phillips, at a cocktail party given by the Cricket Writers ’ Club on Thursday night.
Mr. Phillips said: “The batling was as good as we hoped, but we feel that the bowling exceeded our expectations because it was good enough to make England batsmen play defensively, particularly in the early stages.”
Both Burtt and Cowie are generally regarded by English critics as ranking as the equal, perhaps even superior of English bowlers in their respective classes. Burtt’s success was due to the steadiness of his length, to his ability to bowl to his field and the general disinclination among county batsmen to use their feet. It was only when 'the batsmen moved down the pitch to him or he became tired that he was hit. One of his best efforts was against M.C.C. at Lord’s when he bowled 60 overs, 2J maidens, for 98 runs and 6 wickets: 'one of his most difficult was in the second match against Surrey, when his figures were 37, 11, 103, 0. Cowie Hampered by Injuries
Mr. Phillips said that for the first time a New Zealand touring team would take home some money. He added that the profit would be less than £IO,OOO.
It may interest statisticians to know that in winning 11 of 30 first-class matches (including four drawn Tests) and losing only to Oxford University, the New 'Zealanders scored 14,737 runs at an average of 39 per wicket. They had 13,204 runs scored against them at an average of 30 per wicket. The Australians in 31 matches last year, including five Tests of five days each, scored 15,120 runs.
Cowie had a rather more difficult tour than Burtt for he was frequently hampered by strained muscles. The resultant need for rest caused variations in his form and fitness.
The New Zealanders have hit 27 centuries and their opponents 25 centuries. They have had 65 innings of between 50 and 99, and there have been only 25 “ducks,” including the Tests. This is reported to be one of tbe lowest totals for any team in England this season.
Some of the most trying and disappointing to him personally was in the last Test at the Oval. He was not in true form during the early phases of England’s innings and bowied throughout the day without reward. The following morning he was the better for the previous day’s work and in 45 minutes his figures were 6,0, 22, 4. If the New Zealand team had included two more bowlers of merit equal to that of Burtt and Cowie it would have touched greatness. Cave, was most affected, for he became distinctly tired; yet such was his spirit that he won the admiration of everyone in the team. He took an important part in winning the first match against Surrey, when his figures were 32 overs, 13 maidens. 56 runs, 4 wickets: and 20 overs, 4 maidens, 5s runs, 3 wickets.
On 24 occasions a bowler has taken five wickets in a match, and Burtt has twice taken 11 wickets in a match (11 for 182 against Worcester, and 11 for 120 against Gloucester). Catches taken have numbered 242: of those Mooney collected 34, in addition to 23 stumpings, Reid 21 and six stumpings. Others who held 10 or more catches: Sutcliffe 29, Rabone 24, Hadlee 22, Donnellv 20, Scott 16, Wallace and Burtt 12, Cave 10. Sutcliffe and Donnelly
Sutcliffe and Donnelly have each scored over 2000 runs, and Hadlee, Wallace, Scott and Reid have made more than 1000 runs. Burtt has taken 116 wickets.
Cresswell’s Development
One of the interesting aspects of the New Zealanders’ bowling has been the development of Cresswell. In the earlier matches he tended to bowl regardless of the placing of the field, but as the tour proceeded he corrected this inclination. He fully justified his selection in the fourth Test, when he took a lion’s share of the bowling and finished with the figures, 41 overs. 6 maidens, 168 runs, 6 wickets. Burke has, perhaps been the unluckiest of the recognised bowlers. He had his first reward against Combined Services when, in the first innings, he took three wickets for six in four overs, including one maiden. He also did well against Derby, particularly in the first innings, when his figures were 17 overs, 7 maidens, 23 runs, 6 wickets. His bad luck reached its peak when the soreness of his spinning finger made him not available for the final Test. Grand All-rounder Rabone, who made his mark as a fine slip fielder and useful bat, has also been interesting and valuable as a bowler.
He has bowled ofT and leg spinners, medium pacers, occasional “cutters” and googlies, and proved himself a grand all-rounder. His best bowling was probably against Gloucester at Bristol, where the wicket suited him entirely, and in the second innings his figures were 33, 12, 66. 5, which was an important contribution to winning the match.
The bowling contributions made by Sutcliffe and Reid must not be overlooked.
More than once Sutcliffe took useful wickets, notably at Norlhants: 17, 4, 67, 4. and he also collected a Test wicket. Reid can long remain proud of his bowling against Middlesex, which was not without importance in a famous nine-wicket win.
For Hayes there should be general sympathy for he has had the worst luck of all in missing half a tour through injury.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23041, 3 September 1949, Page 5
Word Count
924N.Z. CRICKET TEAM SURPASSED HOPES: BOWLERS’ SUCCESS Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23041, 3 September 1949, Page 5
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