Cricket: Tests could do with lashings of fervour

By Chris Rattue

It has been a great week or so for cricket.

Test matches on each side of the Tasman, full of twists and turns. Never a dull moment, and sudden bursts of action a-la-Darren Gough's brilliant hat trick for England against Australia in Sydney.

And, if you happened to catch it, an equally riveting documentary on television about the late Denis Compton, the stylish English bats-man of another generation who was also good enough to play football for Arsenal (including in an FA Cup final).

The sort of stories which surrounded Compton can never be mirrored in the modern era, partly because the man himself was unique, but also because they came from a time when the sensibilities were not bombarded by commercialism and spin doctoring.

Compton recounted the moment early in his test career when he returned to the crease, after being assisted off following a head injury caused by a bouncer, fortified only by doctor's brandy.

"I didn't drink in those days but it was rather nice," recalled Compton, whose test career began as a 19-year-old in the 1930s.

Later in the documentary, he wandered through the museum at Lords where he found the tube containing one of his kneecaps, sent by the surgeon who had removed it.
Every part of the man, it seemed, was treasured.

That same documentary also showed the packed grounds that hosted test matches in those days. The beautiful Sydney Cricket Ground, with its mixture of old and new stands, has had all of that atmosphere and more over the past few days as England battles against all predictions to level the Ashes series.

That is where a startling difference lies between New Zealand and most of the rest of the cricketing world.

New Zealand test cricket has all the atmosphere of a picnic at Cornwall Park. A pleasant day out, but no fervour.

Would Gough have been as inspired had he not been assisted by the wonderful Barmy Army (there are actually two armies, the originals with their Army gear and a renegade outfit who shun too much organisation).

New Zealand cricket is still trying to get its recipe right. It has some of the ingredients. Players like Simon Doull and Dion Nash have the heart and ability to find an army of supporters. Doull's superb display of swing bowling against India, the best New Zealand supporters have had to savour since the days of Richard Hadlee and on occasions Lance Cairns, was a reminder that our bowlers have conditions which can produce more than just line and length.

We have superb commentators on both radio and television who give cricket the sort of life and insight which have been a backbone of English and Australian cricket.

But there is still a healthy dose of suspicion out there. It may not make the news any more, but there is still deep-seated anger at the way Glenn Turner was treated by a soul-less, PR-driven cricket administration who reflected the ideals of some players rather than try to change them.

Are we watching a revival in the national side, or are they simply flattering to deceive again? Can we really expect to compete in test matches without batsmen like Martin Crowe and Andrew Jones, who consistently batted for long periods.

And New Zealand cricket could really do with big crowds to support their side.

Maybe New Zealand sports have been too liberal in dishing out television rights.

Sydney viewers can only watch the current Ashes test on days when the SCG is sold out. Would similar blackouts get the turnstiles clicking here (a question rugby might consider as well)?

Despite the glimpses of promise shown over the past few days, the New Zealand cricket side is still very much at the crossroads. The tough South Africans, with superb fielding and some lethal bowling, are likely to provide a far bigger test of the players' techniques and supporters' faith than an Indian side who place most of their eggs in the baskets of a couple of class batsmen.