A TEST MATCH REVERIE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1930, Page 7

A TEST MATCH REVERIE

THOUGHTS FOxi THE TIMES

A thrilling game, cricket! . . . sometimes. At others soothing and somniferous as a volume of old sermons. The dull patches are but the grey background of the vast composite picture, ft background against which the high lights of the Test Hatches stand out more clearly. Here, on this velvetsmooth 'green, provided the fates be kind, another battle in the noblest warfare man ever invented will be generously fought and cleanly won. And a.ll the enthusiasts wiio crowd these concrete stands will have a new store of memories to enrich their lives.

A great game, cricket! How many smiles and metaphors it lias given our language! Playing the game, keeping our end up, keeping a straight bar, standing up to the bowling, slogging and stonewalling, these and many other phrases are part of our every-day speech,, while to express our disapproval of something not quite fair or nice we have no more effective condemnation than the verdict, “It’s not cricket.”

A fascinating game, cricket, so much like real life. It is a great achievement to score a century, but luck is an important factor; and to the best judges it is more the style of the actual score which counts. So in the game of life it is not our tale of yeairs, or even of achievements, which matters, so.much as the style in which we face the bowling of Fate. To some Face is generous, bowling simple half-vol-leys or easy long-hops. Against others, conscious perhaps that here she has sterner stufF to face, she employs all her strength and all her wiles. Some have a perfect pitch on which to bat; others a wicket all sticky and. cut up.

At the close of day, when the westering sun .sinks low and gets in our eyes, and the fielders creep in closer, watching ever more keenly for that fatal false stroke, the value of the innings we have played will stay the bitterness of the. Umpire’s inevitable signal, the raised hand, and finger pointing upwards. The fickle crowd, valuing far more a lustry boundaryhit: off an easy ball than a swift-shoot-ing "snorter” cleverly blocked, may think our innings dull, and be glad when we are gone, but in the Members’ Pavilion there are those who know, and what really counts, is their "Well played!”