DOMINION CRICKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 1, 23 March 1927, Page 16

DOMINION CRICKET

THE TOUR ABROAD TEAM MANAGER’S COMMENT SEARCH FOR EXPERIENCE (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, To-day. “The New Zealand side consists of many promising young men,” stated Mr. Douglas Hay, who was recently appointed manager of the Dominion cricket team for the forthcoming tour of England, when discussing its prospects with a SUN representative at Hamilton. “Led by an experienced captain like Mr. T. C. Lowry,” he said “who some years ago captained Cambridge University, the Nejvv Zealand team should be a presentable one from the beginning, and as the tour progresses an improvement can be looked for following the regular practice and experience obtained. The present tour, which is the first to be made by a New Zealand team to the Old Country, is rather a search for knowledge and experience than an undertaking in any certain hope of defeating the best sides.” Team Leaves Next Tuesday Mr. Hay intends to be present at tlie final cricket test between Melbourne and New Zealand at Wellington on March 25, 26 and 28. The New Zealand team lea.ves by the Tahiti on March 29 : and will arrive at Southampton exactly a month later. Arrangements have been made to quarter the team at Berner’s Hotel during the matches which are being played in the districts surrounding London, covering a period of five or six weeks. For the most part the team will engage in practice at Southampton and Lords until May 11, the latter ground having been made available for them. At Southampton the Hampshire ground has been placed at their disposal for practice purposes, and two practice matches have been arranged to allow the eleven to strike proper form before the serious business of the tour commences. First Match Against M.C.C. The first match to be played will be against the M.C.C., and it would have been a more fortunate arrangement if New Zealand had been able to meet the weaker sides before playing so strong a combination, but it was not possible to arrange matches with numerous counties and clubs just as one would please. The New Zealand team had been very fortunate in having as its representatives at Home Mr. Arthur Sims and Mr. H, D. Swan, who visited the Dominion with the last English team. Both gentlemen had been untiring in their efforts to arrange a good programme, and they had written saying that in every direction they had met with a very hearty reception from the English teams; indeed, they had not been able to give matches to several sides which were desirous of meeting the New Zealand team. Mr. Hay himself has a fine record in sport. He captained the Auckland Rugby representatives in 1900 and was an Auckland cricket representative for many years. He was a member of the management committee of the Auckland Cricket Association for 12 years, while he is one of the trustees of the Eden Park cricket ground.