BOWLING LACKS VENOM

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1937, Page 8

BOWLING LACKS VENOM

(Special to Taranaki Daily News.)

ENGLISHMEN'S SCORING GREAT STAND BY R. E. S. WYATT, FIRST DAY'S PLAY REV1EWED.

Wellington, Tuesday. Sound batting interspersed with brilliant shots against bowling that was never inspired marked the first day of the match between M.C.C. and New Zealand at Wellington on Tuesday. The fielding, too, was sound. so that apart from a dashing display by Ames and the surprise failure of the great pair, Hammond and Leyland the spectators were treated to good rather than to excitmg cricket. . , Nevertheless it was an mterestmg day from the time Allen, winning the toss, sent Wyatt and Worthington out to tame the New Zealand attack. The wicket assisted Cowie for a few overs, and the strong, gusty northerly wind must have been useful, too. But despite a sharp rise and balls swinging away with Cowie bowling, and the relentlessly steady attack of Roberts from the southern end, the Englishmen's defence proved safe until they had taken the shine from the ball and until Cowie after five overs_had lost the nip the new ball provided. Roberts was unfortunate in having a diflicult chance missed in his first over when Wyatt was dropped by Dunning. It was a chance that meant at least 143 runs to E*Wyatt gave a magnificent display round which the English score was built. At no stage did.he electrify the crowd with theatrical aggression, nor were his strokes made with any sweetness of style that drew praise. It was a case of denendable workmanship, patience, and the craft of an experienced batsman triumphing where others faded. With dcft placing and correct f ootwork he laid the foundations for his score, and later reaped the benefit with powerful dnves and hooks and well "executed cutting as the bowlers tired. Powcr of Wyatt. Although the others made mistakes that proved fatal, Wyatt defied t bowling and paved the way for the dashing display of Ames. In 10 minutes under five hours Wyatt scored 144 runs-29 to the hour— and it was not until after the tea adjournment that he appeared to have the bowling at his command, when the accuracy that early had kept him in check began to wane. The power he put into some of his back shots was amazing, and his tremendous pulls towards thc end gave the fielders little chance of preventing boundaries. In the early stages Wyatt was most subdued, the field being difficult to penetrate and the slow outfield robbing many shots of their true value. At lunch he had scored 42. In settling down after the adjournment he was even quieter, taking 30 minutes to carry his score from 42 to the half-century. From then onward he scored steadily nntil at tea after he had been at the wickets for 205 minutes he was one short of the hundred-a most unenviable position. A smartly run single on the resumption gave him the three figures, and in the next hour he added 44 more. Worthington was unfortunate in receiving a ball with which Vivian found a patch on the wicket. It hopped up as it tiimed to the off and the batsman was ■unable to avoid snicking it. _ Roberts held an casy catch deflected mto slips by Tindill's glove. Worthington had a narrow escape eariier when he played forward and the ball fell inches short of the bowler, Vivian, who was maintaming an excellent length with h:s flighted left-hand deliveries. Hardstaff is still the same stylist that delighted New Zealand last year, although his batting has lost some of its freedom. The manner he plays forward shots into the ground suggests he is attempting to overcome his tendency to tap easy catches back to the eager hands of the bowler. His mnings was notable for a magnificent on drive for six off Page's bowling, a hardhit and weU-timed off drive, and a sweet, cut also for four. Fishlock was most patient, finding his strong off-side play made negative by a well placed field, and after batting almost an hour for 14 runs he opened out to Page's bowling. He lifted an on drive, and Weir, stopping the ball with one hand as it passed over his head, held it before it fell to the ground.

Hammond Comes and Goes. Then Hammond, amidst great expectations from the crowd, took his place at the wickets and in effortless style set out confidently to play himself in. All his shots were made with consummate ease, eye, wrist and feet moving in perfect co-ordination to send the ball away quickly. As the field was well placed and the bowling steady he did not score with ease. However, it was a great surprise to all when he was dismissed for four after being at the crease for 18 minutes. He opened his shoulders to a slightly spent off ball, did not get on top of it, and Wallace at cover held a good catch. Cowie had well earned his wicket. The crowd did not give up hope. "If not Hammond, why, we still have Leyland," seemed to be the feeling as the great left-hander followed. But Leyland, too, went out to a poor ball. Page sent down a full toss that Leylapd attempted to swing to the leg boundary. Hitting it high *n the bat he sent it over xnid on, where Vivian, running back, held a well judged catch. Ames in irrepressible mood was ample compensation for the failure of the stars of the team. From the beginning he attacked at every opportunity, dancing down the wicket to drive the slow bowling and sweetly cutting the fast. As he became set he took toll of the tired bowling with hooks, drives and pulls made with precision, and hit powerfully enough to reach the boundary on almost every occasion. His score mounted at a tremendous rate, especially after his great partnership with Wyatt — a stand that added 115 runs in 80 minutes. He scored 97 in 103 minutes, the last 47 having taken only 35 minutes. It was, however, not only the speed of his scoring that made his innings atlraetive. His continual activity and the grace of his style were even more delightful. The century partnership between Wyatt and Ames v/as a timely one. When Leyland v/as out the total was only 162 and five wickets— all of them valuable— had fallen. Ames was the last of those who have earned fame for their batting, Allen and Verity being capable but less reliable. Sims, good at times, and Voce one of the true fast bowler type. Ames did not allow the position to restrict his freedom. Fielding Good. It speaks well for the fielding that the seven men dismissed were all caught. Roberts in catching Worthington did not have a hard task, although the ball first ' hit Tindill's glove. Hadlee's effort in

scooping a hard, curling shot from Hardstaff off the ground was a great effort, and Weir's calmness in holding the ball at Fishlock's expense was worthy of high commendation for his quickness and presence of mind. Wallace, who had distinguished himself at short leg, made no mistake with Hammond, and Vivian used fine judgment as he ran backwards to effect Leyland's downfall. Wyatt was out to a brilliant one-hand catch, and Ames was a second victim of Vivian's dependability. He hit the ball towards cover, and Vivian, reaching high with one hand, held the ball. Only one defiuite chance was missed.

Bowlers All Lack Venom. While there is no complaint with. the New Zealand fielding in the air— the ground fielding could have zen improved_the fact that no batsman was Sowled or was 1 b.w. does not point to any great strength in the bowling.- None. of the New. Zealand bowlers .was dangerous, the fast man, Cowie, lacking the extra. force that counts, • and the slower men being noted more for ,t.he steadiness than for the deception in their bowling. Vivian, tossing the ball well. up, with . a

. ■H * sharply dropping flight, kept tlie batsmen quiet with varied pace and length. He gained one wicket with the aid of a patch on the pitch, and the other because the batsmr.n mistimed an attacking shot. Fishlock should not have been out to the ball that dismissed him, and with Hammond, Leyland and Ames the position was much the same. Wyatt snicking one to slips had been batting five hours when he was deceived. He had made 144 by making certain a ball was hittable before he opened out. One cannot help thinking the bowling

will have to improve considerably to be effective in England. The present success would not have been gained if the Englishmen were not stale. At the end of a strenuous tour the bc batsman is likely to lose concentration. It is notable that Wyatt, who was incapacitated for a considerable portion of the tour, has made two centuries in consecutive matches in New Zealand.