The Long Tail
The last of the four test matches between England and the West Indies achieved in its last day a sort of symbolic significance. The symbol was a very dreary one—that of a long, long tail, beginning towards the end of the first England innings and extend- ing right through the second to a very bitter end. This simply will not do, and there is some point in saying it will not do, since something could have been done about it. The West Indies' side was the best ever to come from the Carribean to these shores. But it was not as good as the figures made it seem. It was not merely that Hutton's 202, not out, in his first innings of the fourth test completely mastered the dreaded bowling—for Hutton's is the kind of greatness which, in its day, can master any bowling in the world. It is equally to the point that young Shackleton of Hamp- shire, who is no more than useful as a bat, also mastered it amidst the tumbling wickets of the first innings of the third test—with the aid of a combative spirit. That is what is needed—the will to fight. It takes years to train test cricketers in their art, but fighters can be made overnight. In that fact lies England's hope in Australia.
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