PLAYING THE GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 12

PLAYING THE GAME

The Times' comment on the pla,y of the New Zealand cricket representatives now in England is pleasant reading. "To them," this comment includes, "the season owes not a little of its brightness and charm." The cricket season in Britain is Hearing its end. With Yorkshire's regaining of the counties' championship the chief competition is practically over. Last Saturday were played, in conformity with the custom attaching to the last week-end in August, the opening matches of the new Association and League football series. A review of the cricket season is therefore in order, although some games, including a few more in which the New Zealanders will be engaged, have still to be played. There has been a noticeable improvement in batting figures in the county contests, which earlier were repeatedly the subject of severe condemnation as drab and unenterprising displays, owing to the excessive care many professionals take of their batting averages. When the last team of New Zealanders visited Britain there was praise of their play as batsmen not afraid to attack good bowling, and county players were stirred into more adventurous methods. _lt is gratifying to know that the tradition begun thus by the New Zealanders has been given an impetus on this tour, and that it is again influential. This is better than a long succession of inconclusive games, drawn by stolid tactics, although such a record may look better. As to that, however, the recent game against Kent showed the New Zealanders to advantage, and the victory over Sussex, marked by the highest score made by a Dominion side in England, has brought more laurels. Our men have produced uneven and sometimes very disappointing form, but-they have won much respect and infinite goodwill.