M.C.C. TOUR A SUCCESS

Chronicle (Levin), 8 May 1947, Page 7

M.C.C. TOUR A SUCCESS

Received Wednesday, 7.0 p.m. LONJDON, May 7. " The M.C.O. had. not brought home the Ashes but in every other way tke toiir of Austyalia and New Zealand was a suecess, said Walter Hammond in a B.B.G. taik.- The team was received everywhere with greatest hospitality and kindness. The team was Jnundatecl with offers of food parcels for relatives and friends. Australia and New Zealand appreciated the fact that Marylebone had sont a team at all so soon after the war. The enthusiasm for the matches was extraordinary in both Dominions. Howevei well a team fared in the matches there was never any doubt about friendiiness towards England and Englisncricket. Australia and New Zealand had much the same attitude to sport as England. They played seriously and to win but did not allow sport to come before personal relationships. The team 's visit, in spite of anytliing the Englfsh people might have heard, had helped to cement the friendship Detween Britain and Australia and New Zealand. Australia, in actual pia v, was the- better team but the dift'ere: was less than might be imagined *om actual results and there was no r -.son to be despondent about English crii ket. Hammond said if the impression had been given that the umpiring was biassed, that was quite wrong. ' ' Witn every confidence I can say the two test umpires did their very best and were impartial. Mistakes were made but no umpire is inf allible- in England, Australia or anywhere but I should, also say 1 believe the umpiring was not up to test match standard. " Dealing with bumpers Hammond said: "They were useu at times a little more frequently than I thinlc was necessary but the laws were never infringed. "