The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1926.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1926.

* CRICKET ENTHUSIASMWhen is a test not a test ? The answer seems to be generally, for so many attempts are of a negative character caused from weather or by reason of the time limit. Yet there is .no limit to the enthusiasm governing the spirit in which the tests are entered upon. The enthusiastic, spirit prompts the lour, and takes the team on its costly trip round the world to play tests. The County gam’s are hut minor incidents to fill in the time or afford practice for the tests. And of course, all the enthusiasm is not with the players. The, public (no doubt fanned by the press) often seem no less keen than the players. Those who wait patiently overnight for the early gates to open in the morning for the match must lie 'enthusiastic votaries indeed. Yet withal the enthusiasm, so man; of the tests culminate in negative results. Then Begins the Press controversy on what- might have been, am: ; a division of opinion as to where thchonors of the encounter rest. Tn the present tour of the Australians there is not any lack of enthusiasm. The Australians went Home full of confidence because of the prestige of late successes. There was much diversion at Homo about the choice and captaincy of the All England Eleven. Those duties appear to liavt? hcen accomplished with some promise of special success, and the enthusiasm of the British cricket fans is all the higher. Even the pall of the strike did Mot damp the enthusiasm of the public to any marked extent. The crowd were there, assuring the value of the “gates,” while in typical sporting spirit, half price was charged to those miners who were victims for the time being of strike conditions ! But iu the first instance, the weather intervened. The Englishmen had luck at last in winning the toss, hut there good fortune ended, for persistent rain dominated the position, and the time limit and other engagements caused the game to be abandoned. At the second attempt, though weather conditions were favorable, the time limit again operated adversely, and with heavy scoring on both sides, it was not possible to finish the match. Two attempts. and still no decision as to the test value affecting the rival prowess in cricket. It would appear, however that both sides have special strength as batsmen, and there will he much spilling of ink by cricket writers in analv sing thr* respective capabilities. The strength of the batting suggests at once that the present limit of time for tile tost games is quite inadequate to permit of a definite conclusion with any certainty. Once the bowling is collared, with patience, the expert batsman finds no difficulty in compiling a score, hut patience robs the clock of its minutes, and the time fades more rapidly than runs accrue whten the careful player lias safety in view. I would appear, therefore, if first-class cricket is'to retain its popularity there must be more time allowed for the games. For test games to be test matches there should he a definite decision to make the event worthy o: the name it hears. All the interest and enthusiasm goes for very little if after all the alarms and excursions which precede a great match, the finish is robbed of its glamour by enforcing a definite time limit. The test games are the blue ribbons of the tour, and if the matches are not played out there is the feeling that the trip has been in vain and all the enthusiasm has gone for nought. Perhaps the experience of players and public on the present occasion will lead to the obvious reform which is so necessary for the good of the sport.