THE CRICKET TEST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 180, 2 July 1931, Page 6

THE CRICKET TEST.

New Zealand may well congratulate its cricket eleven on their splendid performance in the first Test match to be played in England. Honours were even at the end of the first day’s play when New Zealand, with the advantage of winning the toss, had batted first and compiled 224 runs, while England had lost seven wickets for 190 runs. Hopes were high that our bowlers would capture the three remaining wickets cheaply, giving New Zealand a slight advantage on the first innings, The uncertainty of cricket was again demonstrated when these players added 2G4 runs to England’s total, the eighth wicket score being a record in a Test match. England thus had the substantial lead of 200 runs, and supporters of the Dominion side at Lord’s would be pardoned for any misgivings as to the result. Our batsmen, however, rose admirably to the occasion, and a fine fighting second wicket part nership between Dempster and Weir gave confidence to the other batsmen. When play was resumed on Tuesday New Zealand had eight wickets in hand and 69 runs to make to avoid an innings defeat. It was a day of great performances, for both Dempster and Page went on to make a century, and Blunt only failed by four runs to achieve the honour. The team surpassed England’s first innings total by 15 runs with still a wicket in hand, when the innings was declared closed. It was certainly a brilliant achievement in which the New Zealanders showed their fighting courage. Their “sound bowling and brilliant fielding-’’ were the feature of England’s second innings, and in dismissing five of their opponents for 146 runs they emerged with the honours of a drawn game. In such a splendid performance every man in the eleven played liis part admirably. The Test has been a notable one, and the players deserve tlie unstinted praise of the English critics. Test matches between England and New Zealand should become a regular event in _ the future. The standard of Dominion cricket as revealed at Lord’s is sufficient warrant for these trials of strength being- established.