TEST CRICKET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21210, 3 December 1938, Page 18

TEST CRICKET

England Plays Big Part England, naturally, Is playing the big part in this eternal round of Test cricket, says a writer in the Melbourne “Globe.” As the country which evolved the game, and which makes its laws and controls it in a remarkable way, she is doing wonderful missionary work in sending her teams to all parts of the globe where the game has obtained a hold. Australia, as the first to take part in these Test games, and the only one

to match her in standard of play, has for more than 60 years been a regular Test opponent, receiving and making visits at regular intervals. South Africa comes next to Australia in this respect, for she has been receiving English visits since the late eighties of last century, and has had Test match status in England since 1907. Since then India, the West Indies and New Zealand have come into the Test arena, and England has extended her activities to these and other countries, and in return received visits from them.

Since the war, indeed, there has hardly been a season in which England has not been playing Test cricket either at home or abroad. Some of her players—particularly her professionals —have hardly had a winter at home for years. I remember Maurice Tate remarking once that he had not had a winter spell for several years, because as soon as he had finished an English season he was off for a tour abroad with an English team. And there seems no chance of a spell for her cricketers, for she will receive visits in each of the next three seasons, and pay visits in each of the next three English winters.