THE NEW ZEALAND.TEAM'S TOUR IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14888, 30 January 1914, Page 8

THE NEW ZEALAND.TEAM'S TOUR IN AUSTRALIA.

MANAGER'S COMMENTS. The Canterbury members of the New Zoaland cricket team which toured Australia returned, with tho exception of Reese, to Christchurch • yesterday morning. . In an interview with a /'Press" representative, Mr S. A. Orchard, manager of the team, stated that, candidly speaking, the team could have had a little more ballast. The youngsters wero keen and active, but playing against teams such as met over on the other side required seasoned players to do the team justice.. The. youngsters wero rash, and could not grasp.tho state of affairs the same as more seasoned players ' wonld, consequently the team, at times, failed lamentably, though at. other times it performed well. Mr Orchard said the result of the tour should be of. considerable benefit to New Zealand cricket, because the members of the team had had ample time and opportunity to learn things, and naturally one would expect that young players selected for a tour of this description should bo able to explain to those left behind how certain strokes were made in Australia under certain conditions. "I am quito convinced, however," declared Mr Orchard, "that if older players had been sent, they could have imparted more readily the lessons learnt than perhaps the younger players can." Mr Orchard said that in regard to bowling, New Zealand, in comparison, was no worse off than Australia, where big scores were recorded on almost every occasion. No moro runs were mado against the New Zealanders' bowling than against tho bowling of Victoria and South Australia. Sandman had, in several matches, shaped particularly well, birt the wickets in Australia did not suit his stylo of bowling. However, no doubt, with plenty of practice, he would 'prove more successful than ho had, as ho possessed plenty of heart, which was of verygreat importance on Australian wickets. Tho batting of the team was, on occasions, very disappointing, but that, Mr Orchard thought, was accounted for to a very large extent by thc fact that the team was playing against elevens of such note, which occasioned nervousness and over-anxiety. Two or three members of the team did not do themselves justice, and consequently weakened the side, but, as Mr Orchard said: "It is always that way, no matter how good a side you a-yick, some of the men don't strike form, and that .was our misfortune." Taken on the whole, Mr Orchard considered New Zealand cricket would derive considerable benefit from the tour, and ho hoped that within the next three or four years another team would be sent across the Tasman Sea and a good proportion of the late team find places in it.