CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1927, Page 1

CRICKET.

BERNAU’S VIEWS.

WELLINGTON. (Jet. 20. E. 11. Reman says that the New Zealand team had henelited considerably from tlie visit to .England in spite of the fact that the season hat been about the worst on record. The members had all endeavoured to give of their best and it was very gratifying to know that their efforts had satisfied. Some, of course, had. shown better form than others, hut they had all tried hard to make the mission on which they were sent as silteessful a^ they possibly eouhl anti they bad been a very happy party. The weather had affected the attendances very considerably and he sag gested that for any future lours the question of insuring matches might he seriously considered. He understood that this was done in the case of many matches at Home.

Although nothing definite had been put forward, there was every likelihood ho thought, of another visit from New Zealand during the next few years being received with much favour in England and indications were that if it eventuated the dates for matches would ho arranged to lit. in with festival days. PII.AISE BY BOWLEY.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. Rowley, the Sussex cricket professional, who has done remarkably well in England this season, said of the New Zealanders: “They play cricket, real cricket. They were not sitting on it. hut played a good, forceful game, and everywhere they went they were very popular both on and off the field. They were unlucky in a few of their matches and the weather was very much against them. TI was just thatlittle hit. of had luck that comes in cricket which prevented them from winning more matches. The ex|K > riome they have gained will, however, do them worlds of good. They were very keen to learn, and they have made wonderful improvement ” With two good medium howlers ho considered the New Zealanders would have boon a. great side. Their two “spin merchants’’ had too much to do. Merritt was undoubtedly a great find and he should become a great’ bowler as the result of Hie experience gained on the tour, dames, as wicket keeper, had improved out of all knowledge. and was certainly quite fit lo keep wickets for any county. 'I here was no fault to liinl with the halting. Tt was good. Dempster had made a very fine impression, and at times Da ere had played some wonderlul "knocks," as good as ever one would wish to see where cricket was concerned.

"The team is playing in Sydney this week,’’ the coach added, “and it will he a great thine/ if they can win a match against New South ’Wales.” He was quite sure another visit by Now Zealand to England would fie uanted ill a year or two, and perhaps then the tourists would be given a representative game. Rowley also paid a tribute to .flic qualities of the other coaches who had accompanied him to New Zealand on this trip. They were, lie said, of the right type for coaching ptirpoaes -and thev were also very good cricketers.

NEXT YEAR’S TESTS. WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. Whether England can retain “The Ashes” in the series of Test matches to lit played in Australia, next year all depends upon Tate and Larwood. If these two great bowlers can recover their best form England should have a good chance of maintaining the cricket supremacy of the world. Tht above view was expressed by J. Newman, the famous Hampshire professional cricketer, who arrived by R.M.S. Corinthie to act as coach to the Canterbury Cricket Association.

“Can England retain the Ashes next year?” he was asked. “I mil not too sure,” he replied, “ft lias to be reniemborerd that we will have to play this time on Australian wickets, and wo are not too strong in bowling. “ft will all de|K'iid upon Tate and Larwood. AVo in England have observed that Tate’s bowling lias gone off during tho last two seasons. Tn my opinion, Tate lias been asked to do too much. Sussex plays as many matches as any other county, and in addition Tate, lias Had to play in all representative matches, such .os Gentlemen v. Players and the trials. Over and above this, lie lias gone abroad for the past three winters and lias consequently played cricket all tho year round. AY hat he wants is a winter rest, and if he can get this lie may regain his form of three years ago, when he was acknowledged to- be the best ltowler in the. world. “Tate would also he a better bowler if be were not so fine a. batsman, and if he expects to regain bis best bowling form be will! have to l>c content with fewer runs than ho has been making ’ during tlie past two seasons. Considering the runs lie lias scored, it is not to be wondered at that bis bowling has lost a good deal of the fire and devil which made it so deadly when the English team was last in Australia.

“Larwood, who is unquestionably England's host fast bowler to-day. has been stifForiu«i from a strained hack, but we are hoping that he will have completely recovered from this disability by the time the trip to Australia comes round. Tate and Larwood, tit and well, would mean a wonderful difference to the English si ile.

“Mercer. «f Glamorganshire, is another very fine Wvler who should have an excellent chance of getting into the English team next year, flohbs is still a great player, and if he elects to accept an invitation to visit Australia again will tie one of the party. Hammond, of Gloucester, is another certainty. Never in the history of cricket has there been a better fieldsman. His anticipation is simply uncanny, and ho is also a very useful bowler. “Other new men who may he seen on the English side next year are Hallows, of Lancashire, and Bowlev. of" Sussex. There is no better slip fieldsman in England than the Sussex plnver. Chapman, of Kent, will he invited to captain the English team and failing him the position will he offered to E. R. -Tardinc. of Surrey, who is one of the greatest amateur batsmen fit to rank with the best professionals. Geary, of 1-eices-tershire. is a very good, fast wicket Wider, and on this account may be included in the team for Australia ” “Who will he the wicket-keeper 1 “B Lilley, of Notts.” Newman replied. “and G. Brown, of Hampshire, will go as reserve wicket-keeper. According to competent judges, Brown is the most versatile player in the game to-day. He is a feft-handed batsman and a right-handed bowler

and is good enough in either department to open for England against Australia in a Test match. Til addition to this, he is a. first-class wicketkeeper, and a really brilliant fieldsman in liny jiosition. hut a veritable wonder at mid-off. Xicholls. of Essex. / may be first choice as fast howler it j Larwood is not fit." Newman was too modest to suggest i that, lie* also had a good chance of inclusion in the English team next year hut several of the party who arrived by the Corintbic voiced tlie opinion that the Hampshire all-rounder line! been unlucky in not having been included Wore this. “You can tell the public.” added Newman, "that the New Zealand team created a most favourable impression in England. The public admired them for their style of play. They all believed that the bat was made to hit the ball with, and their free style of batting greatly pleased the English crowds. When they became acclimatised they settled down into a really formidable side, as they proved at Scarborough, when they did splendidly against a strong English amateur side. \ou have in Merritt an international player of class.'' “I endorse that opinion,” said L. C. Eastman, the Essex professional. “The best thing about Merritt was that he was always ready to accept advice, and when he profited by it, he did not get a swelled head, but

came back asking l-r still more aclvice.” SYDNEY. Oct 27. The Now Zealand cricketers arc practising hard ami arc shaping veil. The weather and the nickel outlook for to-morrow’s match is promising. Recent, showery weather has assured a good pitch, though, from the Australian standpoint, it will he slightly on the slow side. Speaking tit the official reception to the New /calami cricketers at the Cricket Association’s Rooms. Alderman MeKlhnne said the authorities had not only generously., hut projierly decided to give ninety per cent, of the takings from the match commencing to-morrow to the New Zealand Council in order to assist in reducing the financial loss on the English tour, which was about threc-thou.sand sterling. TTc added that the Australian Board of Control intended to arrange for a rev 2 ill a r interchange of visits between Australia and New Zealand.