"JOLLY GOOD SIDE"

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 10

"JOLLY GOOD SIDE"

AUSTRALIAN TEAM NEW ZEALAND VISIT NEWS OF KORTLANG On his holiday visit to New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, Mr. L. J. Brabin, a member the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association, who returned to Wellington today by the Marama, met a number of prominent cricketers and cricket officials. Ho also brought back news of B. J. (Bert) Kortlang, a cricketing globe-trotter and at one time a Wellington and New Zealand 'representative player. Kortlang, a. colourful personality, is. in business at Manly, and according to Mr. Brabin, ho retains his keen love for cricket and is coaching the boys of Manly. "The last time we had news of Kortlang," said Mr. Brabin, "was, I think, when the Now Zealand team was in England.' Ho left London for Bermuda, and James and Dempster, of the New Zealand team, gave , him a bat, autographed by the members of the team. He has that bat in his shop. Nearby his premises a concrete pitch' lias been laid clown for the Manly boys. Bert is coaching them, and he is turning out some champions. He is still as keen as ever about cricket. When the party of New Zealand schoolboys was in Manly ho- arranged a match for them, Kortlang has a good business. He is very well liked, and the kids simply worship him. There is one boy —I think his name is Denson—who i? 17 years of age a?id is 6ft tall, whom Kortlang considers will be a champion fast bowler." ■ , DISTRICT CRICKET. Mr. Brabin saw a match between Manly and Paddington. Members of the Paddington eleven included Hendry (Australian eleven player) and Dr. Bettiugton (brother-in-law of T. C. Lowry). Hen dry, said Mr. Brabin, would like to come ovsr to New Zealand. He was also very pleased to meet C. Hayinaii, a member oJ: the Manly eleven, who played for Kijbirnie in Wellington last season. Mr. Brabin said he also met the secretaries of 'the New South Wales and Melbourne Cricket Associations, the president and secretary of the Hobart Association, and the secretary of the Lauiiceston Association. From all these officials he sought their, opinions in regard to district 'cricket.' They were definitely of the 'opinion that the district scheme made for successful cricket. Their view was that a city with a population of 120,000 could not run eight senior teams. There were- 14 senior elevens in Melbourne, with a population of a 1,000,000, and the authorities there were trying to think out ways and means of getting' some of ,the-districts to combine and so reduce the number of teams. Mr. Brabin was asked if he thought the district scheme could bo adopted with success in AVellington. He said ho had made inquiries to that end. It would all depend upon the attitude of the clubs here. TEAM FOR NEW ZEALAND. Among other cricket personalities met by Mr. Brabin were Mr. W. C. Bull, of the Australian Cricket Board of Control, who, he said, would be accompanying the Australian team on its tour to England as treasurer, and also Jack Badcock, the "Tasmanian Bradman." "Badcock," continued Mr, Brabin, "is keen to come over with the Australian team which will be visiting New Zealand this season. I think it is almost cdrtain he will be one of those selected. There are some over there who consider ho should be going to England. Anyway, the papers are advocating his inclusion in the team for New Zealand? Questioned about the1 strength of the team for New Zealand, Mr. Brabin said that all ho could say was that it'would be "a jolly good side." Mr. Bull told' him that the players who did not got into the Australian team for England would be making the trip to New Zealand. They would bo of Australian eleven standard. Mr. Bull considered that the-first six or half the team that came to New Zealand would be among those considered for the last few places in the team for England. "From what he told me," said Mr. Brabin, "I think we can look forward to a good team coming over here." In Melbourne, which is Mr. Brabin's birthplace, ho was entertained at a dinner by the -.South Melbourne Football Club, of which he is a patron. This club won the premiership last year in the Australian rules competition. Mr. Brabin presents a trophy, consisting Jof a design in New Zealand greenstone and a gold medallion, to the club each year for the best and fairest player, and ho was pleased to find that it created considerable interest. Ono ofthe members of the club is Austin Robertson, the professional sprint runner. Mr. Brabin said he had a talk with Robertson, who said ho contemplated coming to New Zealand at tho end of February to compete in the Dominion. There was little inducement, offering for him in Australia.