CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1926, Page 1

CRICKET.

N.Z. TOUR IN AUSTII Ald A. [by tei.ec.uaph— rt:it muss association.] WKRLINOTON. Jan. IS). Mr J. F. Peake, manager of the New Zealand cricket team, who returned by the Maunganui to-day. says;: "The Australians thought a lot more of our cricket when we left than when we came.”

••The tour lias been successful from every point of view. We seem to have pleased everybody, and we are quite satisfied ourselves. The public of Australia have reached the opinion that our cricket is better than they thought it was. We scored our runs quicker on the average than they did, and we were greatly complimented by noted men slicit as Clifton, Lyons, anti Jones, of Adelaide, on the way we went for the bowling.” "We certainly showed improved form as we went oil. It was a little unfortunate. that we could not have had a minor match before wo opened at Brisbane, because our men were tiredmore tired when they got up than when they went to bed. All ibe ”')>•> have returned 1 w-tter cricketers than when thev went away. They have gained in experience and tempeiamont.” , , ••We bad splendid weather, and tbe conduct of Hie team, both on and oil the liehl. was exemplary, they treated us vr-rv well everywhere. At Ayelaid. for instance, they gave us We whole proceeds of the gate, instead o. the 75 per cent, arranged for. ‘•Although Australians are enthusiastic about rriket, T do not think they are more so than we are here. Our match in Brisbane, with 50.(XX) of a population to draw on, resulted tn a cate of £2BO, while a match at Wellington, with a Victorian or even a Canterbury team, would take £9w"We have done better in scoring than ever before. In 1913-14 ony one century was scored on the tour We scored ten centuries, making 4163 runs all told, for 108 wickets, wh e our opponents scored 4060 runs for 12, "'while Mr Peake would not discuss tbe finances of the tour at any length, he expected the tour to -cost between Soo and £BOO. “We are not coming back quite bankrupt,” he, concluded.