N.Z. CRICKET TEAM.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19152, 8 November 1927, Page 10

N.Z. CRICKET TEAM.

LOWRY'S IMPRESSIONS OF

TOUR.

BOWLING AND FIELDING WEAK

[THE PRESS Speciil Service J

WELLINGTON. November 7

The Dominion cricket representatives returned to Wellington to-day by the Tahiti, having made the homeward trip via Australia. They were all of the one mind, that the experience had been of great value and that with a little more good fortune the team would have established an even better playing record.

At the wharf to meet the returning cricketers there was a large crowd of enthusiasts, ■ among them Messrs 1). Reese (chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council). C. G. Wilson (chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association), A. F. Wiren (vice-president W.C.A.), and A. Varney (honorary secretary of the W.C.A.), and other officials. The reception at the wharf was of an informal nature, but from all quarters the members of the team received hearty congratulations upon their very fine performance on tour and a round of hearty cheers was given at the call of Mr Wilson. The team is to be officially welcomed in the Town Hall to-morrow, first at a publicreception at noon and afterwards at a Government luncheon. The tourists agreed that Die lour had been a wonderful one on the ioc.a! side, despite the fact that they had had a great deal of travelling and a full programme of matches. TJ.ty spoke in high praise of the hospitality extended to them. In their main mission, however, they had beett advjrsHy affected by bad weather, and the fact that so many of their matches I kcl been interfered with by rain was very disappointing to them. The weather, it was generally accepted, had been the worst experienced for cricket in England during the past fiftj years. The players had endeavoured to give of their best right through and at the same time gain such experience as would be beneficial to the game . in New Zealand.

The standard of cricket in England did not come up to the expectations of some of the tourists, although . there were admittedly some very line sides, and quite a fe«r really outstanding players. It was a fact, according to some of the tourists, that bad fielding had cost them dearly, and but for this defect the team would no doubt have won more matches. In some matches the fielding showed improvement, but

m it was well below standard. The need of slip fieldsmen was felt right at the outset of the tour, and to strengthen this quarter of the field Dempster had been placed in the slips, and for the most part he remained there. The wicket-keeping on the part of James came in for great praise from other members of the team, the general view being that this young 'keeper had improved out of sight. In the matter of bowling there had been.need of ofE-break bowlers. Merritt had done exceptionally well. The team's main strength, as- the record showed, had been in batting, and in this department several of the players had distinguished themselves.

The captain of the touring team, T. C. Lowry, stated that a marked improvement had been made in the team's batting department. Six of the players had made 1000 runs in first-class matches, a feat which no county side had accomplished, and oue not achieved by the Australians on their tour last year. Regarding the ranking of the Newg Zealand team with the first-class counties, the captain said that at the outset of the tour he expressed the opinion that New Zealand would be about seventh or eighth. He now thought that the team was entitled to be given third or fourth pldce. The tourists had been a bit unlucky in several matches, mainly on account of the weather, and three or four matches would possibly have been won but for the ill-luck. The wickets had in many cases been very wet, the season being the worst on record for many years. The team had felt the need of a good length off-break bowler and a slow left-hander. Merritt had worked out, as his record showed, playing the biggest part in the attack. In the captain's opinion, this bowler was a trifle too slow, though he' was accurate and kept a good length. Blunt and the other bowlers had done useful work at times. While the batting had improved very greatly, the bowling did not improve to any great extent. The fielding had been very bad, although there were occasions when the work in this department was good. After the first month in ' England when Alcott came into the team, there had been practically no trouble through sickness or injury. In fact, nobody had had a day's sickness in England. The team, the captain continued, had been very well received and entertained throughout the tour, and had created quite a considerable amount of public interest, chiefly because they got their runs a good de;il quicker than most other sides. He thought that the English people would be pleased to see the New Zealanders again, probably in 1931, and if another tour was undertaken the two-day matches, he considered, should be cut, out. There had been a great deal of travelling on this tour, but after the first month some relief was provided in the spells afforded by rain interfering with the progress of play. There was talk, he said, of a test game being provided for the New Zealanders on their next visit. "But I think it would be better to start on some of the Australian sides first.'' the captain added. There was no doubt that the public of England had been interested, and the team had apparently done better than they had expected/ The tour would undoubtedly be for the good of the game in New Zealand, and further progress, he pointed out, depended a good deal upon the support given by the public here to the game. Of course, there was much more time for play in England, and the grounds and conditions were better. The people in England, he said, took more interest in cricket than the people of New Zealand did in Rugby football. The game was taught thoroughly right from the schools, where cricket was a compulsory part of the activities, and it was no uncommon sight to see hundreds of children on various grounds playing their games of cricket. Women, too. were very interested in the game. Referring again to.the hospitality extended to the team. Lowry paid a tribute to the New Zealanders in London for their keen interest in the team and also for their generous spirit in making a presentation to each member of the side.

Questioned regarding the cabled report that he had signed an agreement to qualify for Gloucester. C. C. Dacre. vice-captain of the New Zealand team, said that he had received an offer, but had not yet finally decided to accept. It is possible that Dacre may not be able to play in the special matches with the Rest of New Zealand at "Wellington and Chrifsfrhurch, as he is not in the best of At the pjssea£

There was jusi a chance that he would remain in Sydney for hospital treatment but he was able to come across with the team.

The .touring team's eleven for the match commencing at the Basin Re-\ serve on Friday is likely to be amended to include M. Henderson, and it Dacre is unfit for play there will be another vacancy. The match is to commence at noon on Friday. Discussing English cricket, T. C. Lowry, the New Zealand captain, who has played in English county cricket, mentioned that there were now fewer good amateurs playing and there were no outstanding new bowlers, while some of the bowlers who were good a year iago had lost some of their nip. There were several very good batsmen, notably Jardine, Ohapman, and Hammond Regarding the next contests for the Ashes most people in Australia and in England, lie said, considered that England would win. Jupp was a great bowler and he was also impressed by Rhodes, who, although fifty years of age, was England's best slow bowler. Barnes, Wright, and Freeman had also bowled exceedingly well against the iNew Zealanders, but Larwood had played against them on a wet wicket to which, of course, he was not suited.

ENGLISH CRICKET. NO FAST BOWLERS FOR AUSTRALIAN TOUR. (BY CA3LE —FXISS ASSOCIATIOX—COPTHIGHT.) (AUSTRALIA* iN D K.I. CAB LB ASSOCIATION,} LONDON, November 6. In Tiew of H. Larwood's breakdown, his ability to stand tlie strain of the Australian tour has been questioned. A pronouncement on the subject by Lord Harris is most interesting. He said:— "I think it is little use taking a fast bowler in 1928, unless he is better than in the past. Experience has shown that most fast bowlers are of little value on the Australian wickets. There is not at present an English bowler likely ( to distinguish himself in Australia. A number are quite good, but that is all. Sam Staples, of Nottingham, is good, and able to take advantage of a helpful wicket. Clark, the big Nottingham left-hand-er, who made a favourable impression in the Test trials, is also promising, but is not consistent enough. "I fancy the wickets are too good. I played on the old ones. The present-day wickets are shirt-front pitches. I sometimes regret that I did not recommend that a low ball, pitched in line with the wicket and snicked on to the pads, should be leg-before."

'VARSITY CRYPTICS V. OLD COLLEGIANS 111. The 'Varsity Cryptica commenced a match against Old Collegians thirds at the Christ's College ground. Cryptica, in their first innincß, made 169 (E. England 47, Russell 17. ■Webb 16). Pidgcon and Toung took three wickets each, and Pritchett two. Collegians lost five wickets far mat, Ecglaad jeofc tons lor - - - "**.