“NEW ZEALAND CAN PLAY CRICKET”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 7, 30 March 1927, Page 13

“NEW ZEALAND CAN PLAY CRICKET”

ARMSTRONG BIDS ADIEU (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. “I have heard a lot about football in this country and have been told that you cannot play cricket. Well, I want to tell you right now that you can play cricket as well as we can.” This was the commencement of a farewell message of Warwick Armstrong. 'Victorian cricket captain, to the New Zealand touring team which leaves today for England. “They will hold the game of cricket up in England as well as the Australians did,” he continued, “and they are going to win a long way more matches than ihey will lose. I have also heard that the M.C.C. team has not been doing its best. I want to take this cut of your minds. They are the luckiest team that have ever been here. We have been doing our best from sta~t to finish and I was pleased when the tour finished yesterday, showing us with a clean record. “Your boys are taking on a hard trip. Indeed, there is not much pleasure about it. They wil! have to pull together and sink their differences, for differences will arise, and remember that they are not playing for any particular town or province but for New Zealand.” “You represent, not only the cricketers of New Zealand; you represent the public,” he said, addressing the teapi. “You will find yourselves in some funny corners. It does not take long to sum you up in England, and the first thing they look to see is whether you are gentlemen.” Mr. Armstrong was cheered as he rose and again as he took his seat.