"INNER CIRCLES"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 79, 30 September 1931, Page 3

"INNER CIRCLES"

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

"Everybody is absolutely convinced that they have established a place for New Zealand in "the inner circles of cricket," remarked Mr. C. G. 'Porter, the noted Rugby football leader, when speaking to a "Post" reporter of the New Zealand cricket team and of the opinions expressed by keen followers of the game in England. "The New Zealand cricketers were the talk of the place,- and the enthusiasts could not' give them enough praise for their performance in some of their engagements." . <s ' ■ Cromb and Vivian,' when they 6truck\ form, were regarded as the "finds" of the team. Dempster, of \ course, took high, rank as a great batsman, and ,there; were others who, for the way in which they played their strokes, "were regarded as finished batsmen, while it was generally recognised that among those who did not do so well there were batsmen in the making. "When Dempster, Page, Blunt, and one or two others were.batting well," said Mr. Porter, "it was quite common to hear such remarks as,' He's a very pretty bat' .from spectators, many of whom were well-known figures in the cricket world." XThe'rout of the M.C.C. team at Lord's was accepted as a remarkable achievement, and!from this the .team went on to another highly meritorious performance in another remarkable game —the first Test. So far as the second Test was: concerned, one had to be there to appreciate fully the position in which the New Zealand team was facedin that match., In. England's innings the New Zealand bowlers could do nothing much with. the. ball, but ■• when New Zealand took Btrike the batsmen had the unenviable experience of batting on a drying wicket.. .. • . ,■' ."'.. '■■■:'- ■'.-"■' ■ '■■■■ '".. ■'•■-.■