BUDDING!

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 14

BUDDING!

TURNING OVER

N.Z. In The World Of Cricket

SCFrom "N.Z. Trutl

ib" Wellington Rep,

The most important cricket tour ever undertaken by New Zealand has just ended. What the actual results will be remains to be seen, but there can be no gainsaying the fact that a wholesome fillip has been given to the summer sport here. THE tour has, from a financial point 1 of view, been disappointing, but apart from this the experience given our young players, must eventually work out to a rapid and lasting improvement m the standard of play throughout the Dominion. In the past we have been considered as fifth-raters when, comparisons have been made with other countries where cricket is the leading summer sport.

The tour just terminated has brought the Dominion into prominence In the world of cricket and we can now pride ourselves on the fact that both England and Australia consider that we are worthy of being pitted against first elevens.

"New Zealand Truth's" representative had ah opportunity of seeing our men m action against New South Wales and is therefore m a position to paBS on the observations of that important .fixture.

POOR FIELD WORK

Prior to the departure of our men to England, "Truth" drew pointed attention to the low standard of -work displayed by the team , m the field. At that time it. was made clear that Captain Lowry would have to set a better example to his men. In the match m Sydney, "Truth" was surprised to sco that there existed that same sluggish ppirit :■■■■•.. It was co bad that the Sydney orowd, whloh was out to enoourage the Now Zealanders^ In every way, suddenly started to barrack our men to put more life Into their fielding. The punning between < wickets, too, was anything but attractive and many runs were ' loßt | '■ . ■ '■ ■ ■'■ Exceptions m thja respeot were pacre,* Page, Henderaon and Merrltt. The lattter \v;aa very indifferent about his fielding.- '.; ' _ ' ; ' '• ' Perhaps allowance • should be made tor, 'the?* fact that the; team had not /times to get its. land legs, but it did aippear that' what Dempster was capable of doing,- all • the others should have been equal to. Dempster was the one shining light m the field and his active* moVements won him just applause from the spectators. Four centuries m a total of 671 runs #»nade m four and three-quarter hours Is, an indication of the weakness of both the bowling and fielding of our men. Easy catches were dropped and balls •were let through to the boundary which Bhould 1 never have passed men with pretensions to being first-class cricketers. .v However, pferhaps this criticism may. read harshly, ;seeing that we are all proud of the very fine record made by pur men m England. Certainly ITttle fault could be found with :the batting, even against the ■ redoubtable New South Wales men.! At least seven of the New South Wales men would find a pla9e m an Australian Eleven so that to twice nearly reach the three-hundred mark against them is not a bad performance for New Zealand. Our batsmen pleased the Aussies, for, from the moment they reached the wicket, they set to work to score. There was an absence of^stonewalling that made for brlght;,cricket. Dacre was seen at^his best m the second innings an.d he and Page delighted the crowd by -smart running Ibetween wickets. Blunt was most consistent m Sydney | and m the second innings he was right on his way for a century when he (foolishly attempted an impossible run and was given out. Allcott scored 43 m most attractive j style m the first innings; but m his second effort he was never at ease. Merritt was far from being a success ■with the ball. Gregory belted him all round the ground and it was only the bagging of the tail that gave himi a decent average. The Christchurch lad made friends ■with his . batting, for he mad©^ a. veryfine stand with Henderson when,' with only one wicket to fall, they succeeded m knocking- up 46 ; runs and thus averted an innings defeat. t \ James was unfortunately injured early m the match and had not, therefore, an opportunity to justify the high opinions formed of his .wicketkeeping at Home. Welllngtohians have seen James m action during .the" week and all are satisfied he has made wonderful strides. Oldfield cannot show James too many points, and the Sydney man is undoubtedly a champion- keeper. N.Z, v. THE REST.

The bad. weather -which followed ourmen throughout England took the field with them m the first appearance on return. The match that was to be the means of giving the players an opportunity, to justify the fine reputation gained at Home and incidentally was to cover up the loss sustained .financially, has proved more-or-less a failure. r ;

Throughout the game, which has been battled out between wintry'showers, players have been considerably handicapped.

Nevertheless, sufficient has been , seen to satisfy critics that cricket is fast coming into its own and that given the opportunities, there is every reason for being confident that m the near future we will see international matches played m the Dominion. Our imported coaches will see to it that more attention is inven to improving the standard. '

The New Zealand eleven as a batting side have justified a)l that has been said of them by English critics.

Dempster and Blunt, m particular, have m their first appearance on return kept to their best form. ■

On a wicket that was. sodden and an outfield that was painfully slow, these two batsmen succeeded m compiling centuries. Both playe ■ attractive strokes. .

Dempster proved himself a master R.t placing the ball, and although he took many risks, his effort throughout ■was really brilliant. Lowry, by patient cricket succeeded m knocking up 80 tuns.

THE well-known Wellington feather, • George Adams, has decided to go after the money, and he 'is willing to take ■'.'ariy ofAliie nine-stone boys on. Adams was a very fine 4? n ateur and .one of his best performances was when he had Johnny Leckie all but put at

the Napier championships.. .Adams has great .vitality. aitd more than ; .an average- smattering of boxing ability, ..while m Tils right hand he'has a kick like a

mule. Started off on his pro. career ■Jn. the jrJgrht way, he is sure to make . good. ; iffhat -he Avill come up to the mark associations • peed have not the