REVIEW OF THE PLAY

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1949, Page 5

REVIEW OF THE PLAY

Received Sunday 7 p.m. LONDON, June Jl. The New Zealanders have no reason to he discohtented with their performance so far in the first Test at Leeds. Indeed, there is room for ; complimenting _ them on keeping down the rate of England 's scoring. Only in the last hour of play did the English hatsmen rise above a run a minute and that was when the New Zealand bowlers became rather, tired. N But there was no flagging in the field. The slow rate of the English scoring can be seen by the hourly rate. The first full hour produced 39 runs, the second 43, the third 53, the fourth 57, the fiftli 46 and the sixth 75. While the New Zealanders did a ti that was expeeted of them, it was felt that England, if Mann desires to see -a finisli to the match in three days, might have called for a little more enterprise and quicker scoring. Hutton, however, was in no hurry and in the manner of the prof essional, was intent upon his

century — and took fonr honrs to reach it. Compton, too, was leisurelv - over his first 50 but quickened towards the end uf the day as indeed he should have done, and was twenty minutes faster Gian Hutton. The New Zealanders are now hoping for a fine week-end and no change mihe wicket — covered at each end — be"ore Tuesday at least. Hutton 's rate of scoring— 23 hpurly —was scarcelv exhilerating but his ex treme discretion was for given by the erowd which was delighted by the beautv of some of his strokes. Most' of his nfirlv runs came on the leg side and his glancing off Cowie and Cave was neat and precise. In the period when he was with Compton, 50 was added in little over half an hour and his cover and rdf-drivitig roused enthusiasm. They were plaved with the left leg going well forward and that sweeping right through to the finish of the stroke. Each time the ball slid over the turf straight from the middle of the bat. Compt on was also easy to wateh. There was more variation about the melhod of his stroke. Sometimes, es peeially when glancing or pulling, he seems to put no effort into his work. At other times he plays jerkily for comparatively little result. Good Fieldiiig One of the. cheerful features of the day was the New Zealanders' good . fielding and field plaeing. Thev were aiways quiek, neat, efficient and saved a number of runs. It ' is perhaps unf air to single out one player more than another but Hadlee, at midoff, either short or deep, Seemed to have a magnet in his hand. Suteliffe caught the eye both by his catches and general alertness; Donnel ly, either in the gully or deep field, was quiek and elean. His throwing to the wicket is aiways most accurate and spectacular. Rabone, at seeond slip oj slip, saved many boundaries and it was bad luck rather than slow movement that prevented him from catching Ed rich. How The Bowlers Fared Cowie, as the most suecessful bowle1 of the day, kept a good length and mi fiagging pace until the last half hour. He made the ball rise sharply thougli this was chiefly when. he dropped his length. Cave was perhaps a little pat chy and his best period was pro,bably immediately before tea. He is a methodical bowler and aiways aggressive. As at Lords, Burtt was again applaud ed by the crotyd by his persistance. Hf is a "busy" bowler, wastes little time between each bowl . and runs to thi wicket with five or six quiek steps. Hi:field is usually placed to the off. H rarely has more than two men to th on-side. He had a little help from thwieket. and had to be chiefly eonten with bowling on the off-stump, the bal turning rarely. Rabone, however, ' du contrive to make it turn on occasio. and he also bowled well. It was the England eaptain, Mann who was most pleasant to watch. Pe; haps he was imbued with the idea o hurrying the score along. At any rat he hit with great freedorn for his 38 i; three-quarters of an hour and wa chiefly responSible for a rapid fifty be ing added after tea. Wharton was ra ther linfortunate in his first test in nings. He has the habit of moving ac ross the wicket to make his shot — a ha bit which brought a gleam to Cowie 's eye,.both..oLiateaiti04 and achievem.Qnt.