CRICKET IN N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1922, Page 1

CRICKET IN N.Z.

A VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS,

INTERVIEW WITH SfR J. H

DOUGLAS

An enthusiastic opinion of the potentialities of cricket in New Zealand was expressed to a “Lyttelton Times” reported on Monday evening by Mr J,- W. Douglas, father of J. W. H. T. Douglas, the famous English cricketer. Mr Dougla w s who is visiting New Zealand with his wife and two daughters was an interested spectator of the Inter-Island cricket match nt Lancaster Park on Friday and Saturday. “I have been looking forward to coming out to New Zealand for manv years, and one of the principal reasons was that I wanted to see my old friend, Dam Reese again,” said Mi Douglas. Dan Reese used to play for London County together witn my son about the year 1902, when they were under the veteran of cricket, the late Dr W. G. Grace. I had hoped he would come back to England to see us, hut .as he didn’t dp «o I rimplv had to come out here and see him.”

Speaking of New Zealand cricket as’ he had seen it at Lancaster PW:c, Mr Douglas said the material was good, hut there was not the slightest dor hi that the players had not s/en highclass cricket played, and because of that had not had a chance of learning the finer points of the game “You have many really good hoys here, wlo if they had a trip to England would come back a. really excellent side, ’ ue added. “You have never «enr a New Zealand team to England, anl you have not had an English learn uere since 1906-07. What is want el is that little hit of difference that, makes all the difference in cricket.” If New Zealand sent a team to England he felt quite certain it would he a financial success. The team would he beaten in its first few matches against county teams, hut in the end he was confident it would have more w'ns than defeats. Cricket was cn He boom just now in England and the very fact that, the Australian team had been so successful would augur well for the success of a New Zealand team. The New Zealand climate was very similar to the English climate and once the members of the team “felt their feet,” they should be able to give a, good account of themselves.

Mr Douglas was enthusiastic concerning the performance of R. C. Blunt at Lancaster Park on Saturday. “He plnyed like a cricketer,” said Mr Douglas, “and if he had had a) better wieket I am sure :-e could do much better.” Referring m the proposed visit of a team of English amateurs under Archie M’L'arm, Mr P* nglas said that M’Laren "-as as good a judge of a cricketer, as was to be found" in England and be could be depended upon to bring out a good team. Some of the probables who, he thought might he selected by M’Laren for tbe tour were Gerald Hubert and C. T. Ashton. M. Falcon, Chapman, of Cambridge University. Calthorpe, captain of Warwickshire eleven, Carr, captain of Notts, the two Bryan brothers, the Kent players. Jack White, the Somerset howler, Frank Gillignn. the famous wicket-keeper V. Jupp the Sussex player. “Those were, I think the pick of the amateurs at the close of last season, added Mr Douglas. .

Mr Douglas exp resseti the 01 ' inl ' >T ? that Lancaster Park was a beautiful ground and its nppoinments were excellent. But what it did need was a stiff top-dressing. The wickets, however, needed improvement, but otherwise it compared very favourably with the English cricket grounds.