T-DAY AT DUNEDIN

New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 814, 4 March 1955, Page 6

T-DAY AT DUNEDIN

whose grandmothers’ funerals do not coincide with the England v. New Zealand Test match at Carisbrook during March 11 to 16 will, along with their colleagues and compatriots, be able to hear continuous commentaries . throughout the game from 2YA and 4YA. And the question which they will hear answered one way or another is: Can the New Zealand batsmen put up a creditable showing against F. H. Tyson, rated the fastest bowler since Larwood, and J. B. Statham (not far behind), who together routed the Australians. New Zealand’s big difficulty is to find Opening batsmen. Tactically, this is one of the most important departments of the game, since it is the job. of the openers to take the shine off the new ball, and thus reduce its effectiveness against the later, free-scoring batsmen. Therefore, they must be strong on defence and yet not just stone-wallers-it is only by hitting it, and hitting it hard, that the ball can be worn down. The last Plunket series showed, however, that New Zealand just has not got openers of the required ability, though J. G. Leggat made a very favourable impression in Australia after New Zealand had toured South Africa. Players like Bert Sutcliffe and John Reid have already proved that, on form, they can make runs-Sutcliffe’s test average on the 1949 English tour was 60.4, and Reid’s was 43.2-but unless opening batsmen can be found to do their job, Tyson and Statham might well cut right through the New Zealand team. Incidentally, Tyson seems to rely solely on speed for his effects: he takes the straight line as the shortest distance between two points and sends the ball along it without any swing or other movement- while, unlike other fast bowlers such as Lindwall, he seems never to use the bumper. The hours of play for the Tests, subject to revision by the visitors, will be 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. In addition to the continuous commentaries from 4YA and 2YA, Stations 1YA and 3YA will tebroadcast commentaries at 12.33-1.0 p.m., 3.15-3.40, 5.0-5.30, with adiournment summaries, frequent progress reports, and possibly further commentaries when the usual programme allows them. The YZ stations will give progress reports and occasional commentaries, while the Commercial stations will give adjournment summaries. During the period of play, the normal 4YA and 2YA programmes will be taken over by 4YC and 2YC. For the M.C.C. v. Canterbury match at Christchurch on March 5 to 8, 3YA will broadcast continuous commentaries throughout the hours of play, which are 11.0 am.-1.0 p.m., 1.40-3.40, and 4.05.30. Except for Saturday, March 5! ‘when 2YA schedules will vary to allow racing broadcasts, 2YA will rebroadcast commentaries from 3YA at 11.30-12.0, 12.33-1.0, 1.40-2.0, 3.15-3.40, 4.0-4.30. and 5.0-5.30. During these periods, 3YC will take the normal 3YA programmes. Other. YA and YZ stations will give frequent progress reports with occasional commentaries. af Dunedin office boys