CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1931, Page 3

CRICKET

THE ENGLISH TOUR. DOMINION PRESIDENT’S COMMENT. . CHRISTCHURCH, September 26. “This being the first meeting of the committee since l the tour of the New Zealand cricket team concluded, it is fitting that a few remarks should be made,” said the president, Mr E. R. Caygill, at last night’s meeting of the Management Committee of' the New Zealand Cricket Council. The team will arrive in Auckland on November Ist or 2nd. “I think there is almost a universal opinion that the tour has been a pronounced success, and as such it may be regarded - as an important steppingstone in the development" of cricket in New Zealand,” said Mr Gaygill. “At the outset, I think it right to remind ourselves that the programme that was arranged for this tour was in itself an advancement. The tour of the 1927 team contained no fewer than twelve matches against second-class counties, almost a third of the tour, which gave it a character that was at the least associated with thoughts of second-class calibre. That tour served as a very good training ground for a number of the members of the team, and undoubtedly some of the success attending the play of the present team was due to the experience gained during the earlier tour of 1927. '

ENGLISH APPRECIATION. ’ “For the present tour, the number of .fixtures with second-class counties was reduced to four—quite a normal number for any touring team. One Test match was included, rather as a test of New Zealand strength than as a real trial of strength between England and New Zealand. That the English authorities were so pleased with the play of the team that they thought fit to include ' wo extra Test matches in lieu of county fixtures was of itself a certain amount of recognition that the side was stronger than was hitherto expected. “Those following the' tour closely must have been pleased with tile ability of the side to register a good score on the majority of occasions. It is no mean pleasure to be able to look back upon innings played by the side when included the following very presentable performances:—Essex, 425; Leicestershire, 434 for eight, wickets, declared ;

-Oxford : -University, - -488 ; Englandyr;469 foi nine, declared • Lancashire, 410 for nine, declared; Essex (second), 412; M.C.C., 302 ; Cambridge, 375 ; Minor Counties,, 361 for eight declared; Northants, 346; Yorkshire, 303 for eight,, declared ; Combined Services, 364 ; Glamorgan, 363; Kent, 326; Sussex, 385 anu 305 ; Gentlemen of England, 377; an Hingland E'even, 349 • Leveson-Gower’s Eleven, 370. , “The side performed very well with the bat on the whole, even though some of its players did at times cause surprise by their temporary run of nonsuccess. Such a condition of things is, •of course, inevitable in any tour. . DEMPSTER’S RECORD. “Whilst it would be idle to particularise on the various players’ performances, I might make special mention of the splendid record of C. S. Dempster. He was consistency itself -afid played a very important part in the team’s batting success. His total of 1778 rims for the tour, including seven centuries, probably makes the finest performance of .any New Zealand cricketer to date. “R. C. Blunt aga-n demonstrated that he is a batsman whose best efforts may be expected when his side most..requires his help. A great deal of - the team’s success or failure actually depended upon T. C. Lowry, from the position in the batting order that he occupied. On numerous occasions he played an excellent innings for his side and proved himself a tower of strength for his batting alone. FIELDING AND BOWLING.

“It has been pleasing to notice that the fielding of the team has been. reported on much more favourably than that of the” earlier The presence oF more ‘ young players doubtless accounted for this, and there is no doubt that in this, and in other ways, we) will derive’ benefit from our being able; to field a side young in years but mature in experience. '

“In bowling, the side has clearly shown itself to be on the weak side. The ability to trundle was shared by most of the members of the team and several have good isolated performances to their credit. But there is no doubt the side has lacked bowlers of class

such as would make the best batsman of England fight for runs throughout a whole innings. Bowlers of this catibi'e are not easily developed. First, they need to be natural bowlers, then they require considerable experience to bring them on.

“It is along these lines that some attention will be needed for the future.

It will pay our '‘cricketing centres “to devote special time and concentration to - the problem of bringing on young -bowlers of. promise/ *ln this connexion, •I would like to see a systematic • attempt made by means of lectures and personal tuition to impart some of the knowledge that comes from experience; I feel sure there would be many young bowlers who would be’ interested if they had the opportunity of Rearing from an experienced trundler some of the fine points that he considered important in the days of his . success. >

TEAM’S POPULARITY. ! “It is very pleasing to notice repeatedly that the team has made itself popular .both on and off the field. In this, way it appears to have created a very favourable impression. We are very fortunate that we have been able to have Mr A. T., Donnelly, fis a representative of the Council,ip ;■ England '•with the team. From private and official sources one hears good reports of our relations .wiffi. the cricket authorities, and there is, nq,,doubt that the friendships formed,!,,and the understanding introduced, as the result of the visit, will have a lasting effect, and be of .benefit to the game in this Dominion. FINANCIAL. ASPECT. “From the financial point of view comes the largest disappointment; for it will be noticed , that the tour will have resulted in a loss of “from £ISOO to £2OOO. This may be put down to the exceptionally wet season experienced. That our cricketers should, meet a season that wettest for' forty, years is bad enough from the playing point of view, but- if is ruinous from the aspect oij gates Under the . exceptional’ "circumstances experienced, 'we must be ' content; n.ai the figures have come out so, well. The gates for' the two Test matches played were a very’ useful contribution to the total takings, and however we look at. the financial results, the figures could have been very much worse. “In any case, it is very pleasing to remember- that the Council is in the (financial position of. being able to recoup shareholders their capital in full, plus interest at. 6 per cent, per annum. This has been made possible by the success of the art union.

,“I wish also to take this opportunity of expressing a sense of appreciation to the Press of the Dominion tor full reports and on' the matches.”

Messrs Gaygill, D. Reese, and W. H. \Y U'or are to discuss the arranging of i’ reception to the team and report to the Uoun. i'