“Happy Family Party”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 1

“Happy Family Party”

Lowry Promises Bright Batting New Zealand Eleven Arrives

The New Zealand cricket team which left Wellington on March 29 for an English tour arrived at Southampton yesterday morning. The men are all looking bronzed and fit, and have gone to London to the headquarters at Berner’s Hotel. Practice games will be played on May 4 and May 7, and the first match will be against Mr. H. Martineau's eleven at Holyport on May 9 and 10.

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 8 a.m. LONDON, Friday. “We are a happy family party and will all pull together,” said T. C. Lowry, captain of the New Zealand

cricket team, in an interview on landing in glorious sunshine at Southampton. He added that the tour was largely an experiment, and there was much to be learned and perhaps unlearned, because New Zealand cricket was in com-

parative infancy. Ten years’ cricket there was only equal to one of the English seasons owing to time and light limitations, but the game was forging ahead. He referred appreciatively to the benefit derived from the visits of MacLaren’s team and also the Australian elevens. “Our team,” he said, “is the best we could get together, and it has the advantage of youth. I don’t think

they will be bothered by pace and wickets, because ours are natural grass wickets like yours, unlike the Australians’, which are prepared Bulli.” BRIGHT BATTING—USEFUL ATTACK “I fancy our batting will be bright and we will be useful on the attack, using both heads and fingers. “All we want is to learn against the counties. We are not flying as high as Tests, but they may come later.” The team are all bronzed and fit. A few had influenza while crossing America, but deck games in the Atlantic restored them to perfect nick. Mr. Douglas S. Hay, the manager, says he has a fine party of keen sportsmen. They were happy because there was no worry over the finances of the tour. The team changed its plans and came direct to London instead of spending the week-end at Southampton. They have taken up quarters at Berner’s Hotel.—A. and N.Z.