LESSONS OF TOUR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19150, 5 November 1927, Page 20

LESSONS OF TOUR.

N.Z. CRICKET TEAM.

OPINION IN ENGLAND. (froh oua owx coebzspoxdest.) LONDON. September 24. In the "Daily Mail" Mr H. J. Henley gives his personal impressions of the New Zealand Cricket XI. He writes:— "When it was announced last winter that a team of New Zealand cricketers was to tour in this country no ono became excited, as is the case- when tho Australians are due to visit us. Test matches had not been arranged and it was realised that the tour was to bo of an educational nature.

Those New Zealanders, we all thought, were coming here to learn, not to try to prove that they were the equals of our own cricketers. Now that the tour is over there is some reason to believe that the New Zealanders have taught our own players quite as much as they have learned themselves—provided that -our own players have not been blind to the object-lesson set before them. When I first saw "the team from overseas" at Lord's in May the batsmen hit the ball in front of the wicket in a. way that was refreshing at a time when exaggerated back-play has become a fetish with so many of our players. When 1 saw them a second time several of tho side played a different game. They seemed to have dropped their most aggressive shots. There was presented the horrible possibility that caution counted for more than enterprise and that they had decided to emulate Hoarne instead of following their natural instincts. When I saw them a third time they had gone back to their Lord's methods. They were hitting, not deflecting. And they showed tho courago of their convictions till the end of the tour. Not that they have shown themselves by any means reckless hitters. There was generally judgment behind their aggression. But innings such as C. S. Dempster. 11. C. Blunt, T. C. Lowry. and C. C. Dacre—especially Dacre—played did much to upset the theory, so frequently propounded by the English batsmen, that it is unsafe to hit modern bowling, with its late swerve, in front of the wicket. Most of the regular bowlers were exceedingly expensive. W. E. Merritt took 107 wickets, but they cost him 23.(>4 runs apiece—and this in a wet season. Yet the attack turned out to be much more successful than was anticipated. The New Zealanders suggested that in a few years' time they may set the pick of England's cricketers "furiously to think." They hare played good cricket.. Also they had played attractive cricket.

The Educational Effect. The "Evening Standard" comments: "The New Zealand tour has been, on the whole, as great a success as tho weather would allow it to be. The visitors have won sis matches and lost five. They would, I should think (without working it out), have finished about halfway up in the County championship table if they had been taking part in that competition. "They hardly deserved the praise bestowed on them by Mr Warwick Armstrong;- who said that they were the equal of an side; but they did better than their own expectations. They would have done better still if they had been a little stronger in fielding and a good deal stronger in bowling. The educational effect of the tour must have been considerable, and there is every reason to believe that New Zealand cricket has a great future."

Sporting Set of Cricketers. "Now that the New Zealanders' tour is over (says <. the "Sporting Life"), it may be said at once that their form has been much better than was .expected. They have proved themselves to bo quite up to the average county strength, and with a little stronger bowling they would have had as good a record as the South Africans had in 1924. I

_ "The outstanding successes of the side were R. C- Blunt, who scored over 2000 runs in all matches, and was one of the best bowlers, and Merritt, the youthful slow bowler, who took over 100 wickets in first-class matches. There will always, be a welcome in England for such a sporting set of cricketers-. .

"Mr Douglas Hay is unaware that any member of the team lias made arrangements to throw in his lot definitely with either league cricket or league Rugby football. 'lt is a fact that several of the tourists have been approached to that end,' Mr Hay adds." Offer 'Declined.

A contributor to the' "Manchester Daily Dispatch" hears that three of the New Zealand cricketers, R. C. Blunt, K. C. James, and C. C: Dacre, have had tempting offers to remain in this country to play League cricket. Dacre, who is also a brilliant Association footballer,' had additional oifers to,:join .one of the- noted football teams. ! -

"Dacre is one of the working-men members of the team, but as New Zealand sentiment was against his remaining in this country to play, he declined the offers. Both Blunt and James are well off, and are connected with the legal profession in New Zealand, so that the monetary advantages did not appeal to them. James, I am told, has been recognised as a wicket-keeper able to hold his own against the world- Their opinion of our players is interesting. Hobbs they thought a genius,' but the best model to copy for graceful and effective batting they believe to be Woolley-"