New Zealand in India and Pakistan, 1969

R.T. Brittenden

New Zealand's commitments in 1969 were almost as heavy as in 1965. After three home Tests against the West Indies, ending in March, there was the three-Test tour of England and, on the way home, a nine-match, six-Test visit to India and Pakistan. The New Zealanders, this time, left the sub-continent with their reputation enhanced, and more practical rewards in the form of a drawn series with India and a one-nil victory over Pakistan--the first time New Zealand had ever won a Test series.

In India, New Zealand were beaten in the first Test at Bombay, but won the second at Nagpur comfortably and were on the point of a crushing victory at Hyderabad when a violent half-hour storm drenched the ground and made further play impossible. After drawing with Pakistan at Karachi, New Zealand won at Lahore and, although in difficulties at Dacca, saved the match and the rubber with some resolute batting.

New Zealand were better equipped with fast bowlers than India and Pakistan, their fielding was distinctly better, and although their batting was only a little less fallible, it showed more resource in very difficult conditions. In India there were sharply turning pitches. In Pakistan they were worse. The Pakistan Board's policy was to prepare pitches which would ensure a finish in four days. This made orthodox batting very difficult indeed. There was much determined batting by both sides, but the bowlers held the whip hand to a ludicrous extent; a player of the quality of Mushtaq Mohammad scored only 59 runs in over six hours in two Tests. Pakistan's policy was of very questionable value. India averaged about 31.2 runs an hour, Pakistan 34.3, New Zealand 35.7 and 37.8; and even those modest rates would have been unattainable had batsmen not taken their lives in their hands on many occasions. Only two centuries were scored, G. M. Turner making 110 and M. G. Burgess 119 not out for New Zealand against Pakistan.

R. C. Motz, forced to return home through injury just before the end of the England tour, was replaced in India by D. G. Trist ( Canterbury). Although the cricket was not of very high quality, the attendances were much larger than in 1965. There were about 432,000 spectators at five games in India, 252,000 at the four Pakistan matches. The total of 684,000 was about a quarter of a million more than in 1965.