WOMEN’S CRICKET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 11

WOMEN’S CRICKET

Lessons From Tour NEW ZEALAND IN AUSTRALIA “An Expert Sums Up New Zealand” is the title given to an article in “Australian Women’s Cricket,” the magazine of the Australian Women's Cricket Council. After witnessing the play of the New Zealand girl cricketers in the five matches played in Sydney (states the writer, F. Griffiths, official coach to the N.S.W.W.C.A.) I came to the conclusion that if the players were to develop a more aggressive style of batting they would be a difficult team to defeat. They were narrowly beaten by a strong N.S.W. side, which at Adelaide just previously, had beaten Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland outright, and for New Zealand to hold this team to a winning margin of 16 runs was a fine effort.

The batting of the New Zealand girls was marked by sound defence on the back foot, and an almost entire lack of stroke play. This was the keynote of the batting right throughout the team, and our bowlers found it very hard to penetrate their defence. The result was very slow scoring, the ball being pushed, not hit, and until they learn to hit the ball with fluent strokes they will not win matches against good sides. The half-volley should be hit and hit hard, and in back defensive play the ball can be hit hard and scored from.

The bowling was steady and well directed. All the bowling was mediumpaced, except that by Hollis, who was fast-medium. The lack of slow and spin bowling was noticeable. Hollis is a bowler with a fine action, who, if she bowled with her shoulder pointing towards the batswoman and her chest facing mid-on, would be much more hostile, as she bowls from full height, and then she would be able to lift the ball and gather more pace from the wicket. Hollis has fine strength and stamina, and bowled for long periods without losing pace or direction. Blackler, who opened the bowling with Hollis, bowls medium-pace with a slight turn from leg and keeps a good length. Thomas, the second change bowler, was inclined to over-pitch the ball and was not as accurate as the other two, who bore the brunt of the bowling in all the matches.

The fielding of the team was excellent. In this department they certainly have nothing to learn from our girls. It was their fieldtag which made the bowling look better than it really was, and emphasises the old adage that mediocre bowling supported by good fielding becomes good bowling.

The New Zealand team came to Sydney with one object, and that was to learn. I think they should have gained some knowledge of how to punish the bowling, although our girls did not give of their best in this respect. In other departments of the game New Zealand taught us a lesson that should be taken to heart. One very vital lesson we should have learned from them was concentration. While batting the New Zealanders did not relax their concentration for one moment, and it was only because of their lack of knowledge of stroke play that big scores were not made against us. There should be some excellent cricket played in future matches against New Zealand.