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Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1926, Page 2

Tiie prospects of sending a cricket team to England from Now Zealand are promising. This is a pleasing intimation for cricket is one of the loremost pastimes of Great Britain and English speaking people generally, and it would ho fitting indeed to see the fate of our cricket votaries when meeting the crack County Cluhs<at Home—the home too of cricket itself. New Zealand has not done meanly in the athletic world, and if she cannot excel at cricket, she may at least endeavour to emulate. Football is essentially the national game in New Zealand, and in the Rugby code the Dominion has produced invincible teams, in other pastimes such as tennis, .sculling, and athletics generally. Now Zealand lias from time to time excelled and produced champions, hut cricket has never been an overstrong forte. Still, the standard of cricket is improving in New Zealand, as the touring team to Australia demonstrated last season, and no doubt that fact has encouraged the English tour being mooted. In regard to the Home tour, the chief factors to he considered are finance, and the host team for the tour. Probably the one will help the other, hut as six months or more will he required for the trip, there will he some difficulty about all the best players getting away for that period. The matter, nevertheless, is being taken up enthusiastically, and the people will lie public spirited enough to keep to the best of their ability. Tht mission of a cricket team abroad will prove, also, a very good advertisement for New Zealand. The tourcs of the Australian cricketers must he of incalculable value to the Commonwealth as publicity, and New .Zealand would gain much reflected advantage through the same channel "ere a cricket team on tour in the Old Land. The team would do the country every possible credit, for the conditions in regard to grounds and climate would not he exceptional, and a good team would ho able to play up to form. The tour is certainly worth while, and it is to lie hoped it will ho duly brought off in 1927.