CRICKET TEAM RETURNS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 54, 26 November 1937, Page 5

CRICKET TEAM RETURNS

—Press Association.)

1 Page & Lowry Say Tour Was Strenuous Oue ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON

(By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, This Day. If two previous tours were rotled into oue, it would be child's play compared with this tour now ended. The fine weather beat us," said Page, captain of the New Zealand ericket representatives, interviewed on the arrival of the' team by the Awatea. Officials of the New Zealand Council and the -Wellington Cricket Association, as well us many enthusiasts, were at the wharf to welcome the men, who, generally, are fit and well. ; Mr. T. Lowry, manager, agreed that the. tour had been a strenuous one. The b'atting had been somewhat disappointing, but- the bowling was most successful«. Tbe iielding was good and sometiihes briiliaut, eXcept the slip-catching, which was unaccountably uncertain. Six batsmon scored more than 1000 runs each* ahd five? bowlers took more than 50 wiekets, • Oowie had proved himself about as good as any last bowler in Engiand and "there were few better .Stroke players in the world, than Wallace, • $•* Ho said that English wiekets affieeted the batting, for, to obtain' more finishes in county cricket, there had beCn developed a policy of having the wiekets only three-quarter prepared, this giving more help to the bowlers. The wet spring intensified the batsmen's difficulties, the pitches having more grass than usual, s'o that they were likely to be difficult for the first- * hour or so. ' The highlight of the tour was undoubtediy the second Test at Manchester. After a strenuous tour of Engiand, the rest of a month on the ship proved inadequate for the team's matebes in Austraiia.