ACID TEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 42, 12 May 1927, Page 1

ACID TEST

BIG SCORE TO OVERTAKE “OPENERS” START WELL The big score registered against the Zealand cricket team at the historic Lord’s ground yesterday is liable to come like a douche of cold water to many people not in close touch with the tour, particularly after the team’s brilliant showing against Martineau's XI. at Holyport. Hard and fast followers of the game, how'ever, will not be so greatly disconcerted by th£ formidable task that has been set Lowry’s men. In the first place, now that it is possible to gain some idea of the calibre of the opposition with the names of the M.C.C. team before us, it can be said, without making excuses for the Maorilanders, that the team is one of the strongest the visitors will meet on their tour. It w'as a team of amalike this one that wrecked the hopes of the Australian XI. in 1921 of establishing a record for the number of matches won on an English tour. To meet such a good side as this at the start of the tour, is a formidable task for a young and untried team, but the great fights put up by the New Zealand team against the Melbourne C.C. a month or two ago when faced with a heavy deficiency on the first innings should not be forgotten. A total of 392 runs is a big score to pass, but the excellent start that Mills and Blum have made at the end of the day, when it can be taken that playing conditions w'ere not of the best, is a pleasing fea ture. It is at this time —round about six o’clock —that many a valuable wie ket is liable to fall, and it is good newi to find that two of the centurions ol the first match still held their wickets intact when stumps w'ere draw'n foi the day. CHANCES MISSED If there is any room for regret, i lies in the fact that Titchmarsh wa badly missed w'hen he had scored onl; three, and that four catches wer missed early in the M.C.C.’s innings These missed chances obviously had big effect on the day’s play —for ir stance, Titchmarsh’s “let-off” allowe the veteran amateur to add another 16 runs to his score. Still, a happenin like this is alw'ays on, even with th best of fielding sides. Cricket wouldn be the game it is, if everything wer strictly according to formula.

Titehmarsh’s great score will send the minds of many Auckland cricketers back to the 1922 23 sea-on in Yew Zea land, when the dapper little Engiish-