THE CRICKET TOUR

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 33, 2 March 1928, Page 12

THE CRICKET TOUR

WHAT OF THE AUSTRALIANS? MATCHES YET TO COME, The progress of the Australian tour throughout New Zealand has been kept before the minds of listeners through the activities of the Broadcasting Company in describing the progress of play wherever this has been possible, and in making atrangements to have the latest news forwarded by telegram when the piay has been in one of the smaller centres, The visitors have now played three matches, and as this is being written are in the middle of the fourth match of the tour. Their performances on tour so far have been up to the standard usually associated with players from the other side, and they have won or had the advantage in all the games so far played. However, that New Zealand cricket must have improved, and that we have certain individuals who-when not overawed by the occa-sion-can perform meritoriously is ge, ee Si ee: . oe

— eee ee eee ee ee ee ee ee eee ee eee eae eee amply proved in the first few games of the tour. To speak of the visitors first, Ponsford’s performances haye proved that he is a great player in good form, as he has already been responsible for a large number of runs. Woodfull shows that he is still a prolific run-getter, end that he is a yery hard man to dismiss. Schneider, one of the colts, proved by a fine innings in Wellington that he has not Leen over-rated. Kippax; Oxenham, and oth«rs have batted in top-top form, On top of this we have some remark&ble performances to the credit of New Zealand players against the visitors. That the A\nstralians were not absolutely on top was amply proved at the Basin Reserve last Monday, when Austraha required the paltry score of sixty-two to win the game. The Wellington players came right ont of their sliells and gave the spectators plenty of thrills for tieir monex-by the way, there was no money, the officials, thinking that the game was as good as over when it commenced in the morning, made no charge. Those Who took advantage of this opportunity certainly had the best free cricket show of their lives, and play lasted nearly all day. Wellington had dismissed Australia for 875 in the first innings, and had replied with the comparatively small score of 206. Australia exercised their right and compelled Wellington to follow on, and at the call of time the local side had lost six wickets for 92, and the game looked as good as over. It. is mow history that the Australians were looking forward to a pleasant afternoon for themselves and a nice win of an innings to their credit; but thev had overlooked the fact that James and Massey had other ideas, which they put into execution to such effect that they added 104 runs for the last wicket, raised the total to 2380 runs, and left the visitors 62 to get to win. This appeared so easy a task that most spectators were only concerned with how

many wickets Australia would win by, but so well did Badcock bowl that at one time six wickets were down for 50 tuns. Woodfull and Richardson: then’ knocked off the runs required. Badcock finished with the fine average of four wickets for 23 runs, and Wellington retrieved their cricketing reputation which had been sullied on Saturday. The next performance of merit against the visitors was a fine 117 by | Zimmerman for North Otago, this score being courprised of 16 fours and five sixers, batting that would delight the hearts of all, even those who claim cricket to be too slow.. Then on top of these performances comes the effort of Dickinson, the Otago fast bow'er, who bowled so wonderfully that he captured the seven Australian wickets. that fell on the first day at a cost of 78 runs, and this in the large total of 893 for seven wickets. At one stage this bowler took six good Australian wickets for three runs, the players dismissed being Ponsford, Kippax, Richardson, Schneider, Oxenham, and Oldfield, truly one of the most remarkable howling performances ever credited to a New Zealander against a visiting side. Such performances by our players and the knowledge of the calibre of our visitors must infuse a lot of interest in their future matches, and while onlookers are certain to see some n . *

of the world’s best in action, there is always the promise of a thrill in some good performance of our own players. There is still the opportunity for the niajosity of New Zealanders to see something of these games, as the tour has only commenced, and there are still the following games to play :-- March 2, 3, 5-Canterbury, March 7, 8-Waikato, »March 9, 10, 12-Auckland. March 14, 15---Taranaki. March 16, 17--Wanganui. March 20, 21-Poverty Bay. March 24, 26, 27-New Zealand First fest Match at Anckland. March 31, April 2, 3--v. New Zealand, Second ‘Test Match at Dunedin.