N.Z. Batsmen Again Have Backs To Wall

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 3

N.Z. Batsmen Again Have Backs To Wall

(By

R. T. Brittenden)

DUNEDIN. Carisbrook may now be proclaimed another of New Zealand cricket’s major disaster areas.

In 3} hours New Zealand lost five wickets for 83 on the first day of the second test with England, although the pitch was more comfortable of pace than the first test strip at Lancaster Park.

The only excuse to be found for the batsmen was the dreadful inadequacy of the sight-screens.

It was the fact that they seem to the batsmen little larger than postage stamps which ended play 25 minutes early and sent England’s captain, M. J. K. Smith, out to the middle with officials to confer about remedying the situation if possible. There is no doubt that the New Zealand batsmen were in difficulties partly because the bowlers came in against a background of spectators and seatingMore Depression But it was another very depressing performance and one which will very probably remove much of the interest from the game. Only the new captain, B W. Sinclair, and M. J. F. Shrimpton contributed innings of note. They were together while 60 of the runs were made and Sinclair batted particularly well. The rain of the preceding days delayed the start of the match until 2 p.m. because there was a sodden strip beside the pitch. But the pitch itself was dry except for a slightly damp patch about the crease at the workshops end. J. T. Murray came into the England team for J. M. Parks and B- R. Knight replaced D. J. Brown, who has a muscle

injury. M. E. Chapple was not fit to play, R. W. Morgan replacing him, and B. R. Taylor was twelfth man. Ugly Patches The serene beauty of Carisbrook’s green turf was scarred by ugly patches of sawdust, but the bowlers’ runups were firm and the outfield. if slow, was remarkably good. New Zealand’s recital of woe began almost immediately when G. P. Bilby glanced I. J. Jones and Murray took a very good leg-side catch and made it look easy Then B. E. Congdon played a wretched stroke —bat far away from his body and with no visible movement of foot. He, too, was caught by Murray. and New Zealand had lost two for six. If the cares of captaincy and the bieak look of the scoreboard weighed heavily on Sinclair, his batting did not reflect anxiety tn bright sunshine, he and Shrimpton batted very ably. It was extremely difficult to score runs against K. Higgs, who bowled with professional skill: against Knight who. once the batsmen were established. drooped to a distinctly defensive length: and against D. A. Allen, who again bowled with practised accuracy and who turned two or three balls quite sharply. Looked Assured Only 24 runs came from 14 overs in the first hour, but Shrimpton and Sinclair both I batted with considerable assurance. By tea. New Zealand had made 44 from 26 overs in 100 minutes and there had been an occasional off-drive by Shrimpton, a deft shot off the toes bv Sinclair—who also drove handsomely—to suggest to the bowlers they were not to have more easv successes. But after tea the day became grey and the light was not nearly as good as it had been before. , The batsmen showed that they were anxious to dispute the initiative. There were some fine strokes and swift running by Sinclair: Shrimpton, alas, is a rather reluctant runner and showed a surprising lack of speed off the mark. The light became a little worse, but it would still have been fit for play in normal circumstances. But Knight

began to bowl round the wicket and, at 66, Sinclair lost his off stump after the ball had found an inside edge. Shrimpton and Sinclair had batted and battled courageously for 114 minutes. V. Pollard, batting with an aristocratic austerity, fought on with Shrimpton, who was out three minutes after an appeal against the light had been rejected. He played very late at a short lifting ball and it carried easily to G. Boycott at backward point. R. W. Morgan was caught behind first ball and G. A. Bartlett, who had made two ducks in the Christchurch test, had to come in to thwart Higgs’s attempt at a hat-trick. This he succeeded in doing and a minute or two later the umpires halted play because the bowlers could not be seen against a proper background. Pollard so far has been in 40 minutes. In a long, 10-over spell after tea Knight discovered what problems he was setting the batsmen and his pace picked up progressively, and with it the difficulty of playing him. Jones was not particularly impressive, although he struck those two hammer blows at the start. Higgs, however, bowled extremely well, with late movement and an occasional ball which seamed after pitching. Attempts to hit Allen with the spin were seldom convincing, the strokes being mis-timed regularly. It would be a near miracle if New Zealand can fight its way back into the game from so desperate a position—and whatever is said about the lack of proper sight-screens, the light was good and bright when the first two wickets fell.