THE CRICKET FIELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 115, 25 February 1937, Page 3

THE CRICKET FIELD

CHANCE FOR BIG MATCH.

N.Z. v. M.C.C. TEAM. (By “Mid-On”). Now that the fourth match of the present Test series between England and Australia is over, and the fifth Test does not start until February 26, New Zealand cricket interests will claim more attention. At present there is the Auckland-Wellington Plunket Shield match at Auckland, and more importance than usual attaches to this event in view of the selection of the New Zealand team for England. All going well, the M.O.C. team will be here later in the season, and it is due to playi two matches—one at Christchurch and one at Wellington—before the New Zealand team leaves for England. ' The M.C.C. team’s third match in New Zealand is with Auckland, at Auckland, after tlxe New Zealand team’s departure. As the New Zealand team will be assembled in Wellington when the M.C.C. team is here, it would seem that an excellent opportunity is offering of giving the New Zealand team a match with the visitors as a final preliminary to the tour. No doubt the Wellington Cricket Association would willingly forgo its engagement with the M.C.C. team to make the way open for a match with the New Zealand team, an event which would create far greater interest.

There has been some concern over the question of the M.C.C. team’s return to England, the original plans being for the team to leave New Zearland by the Monterey, which has been held lip on account of the shipping strike in America. It would seem, however, from advices this week that the M.C.C. team will be able to come to New Zealand as arranged. The visit is being keenly awaited and it would be a great pity if it did not eventuate. Help From Australia. Should it happen that New. Zealand was left without its greatest cricket attraction, the possibility of a visit from the Australian team might well be considered. On the subject of the fostering of New Zealand cricket there is the following interesting article in the latest Sydney “Referee’ ’ to hand:

Tho M.C.C. team will call in on New Zealand when they finish in Australia very shortly, now. Tho matches there will bo more interesting than usual (with no 300’s left in the Hammond locker) in view of the New Zealanders sending another team to England this year. The men responsible for the permanent standing of cricket over there are of the right brand. They have problems to tackle and they do tackle them with grit, enthusiasm and' vision.

A New Zealand friend on a visit to Sydney] called in to shake lu/nds (writes the editor of the “Referee”). One question he fired at me pointedly and with a touch of ferocity was: “What’s wrong with your Board of Control?”

“Well, what is wrong with it?” I asked. “They are all good chaps and they like cricket.” “Umphl” he said, “that’s not the point; you’re begging the question.” “Well, out with it!” I replied.

“What’s New Zealand done to your board that we should be treated in this fdshion ?” He then went on to say that New Zealand had never seen Don Bradman, and a few of tho other Dons playing. They had seen Victor Trumper and Alan Kippax and Vic. Richardson, and liked them and so on. They had seen “Wally” Hammond and tho Africans, too.

See Dr. Robertson. He vouched the fact that a tour in Ncfw Zealand was first-class training for young Australians oil an English tour and so on. I agreed. The upshot was that I asked if he intended going on to Melbourne. He was uncertain about that. Anyhow, I advised him to do so, and call upon Dr. Alan Robertson, the board’s chairman, and put the case to him. Also suggested that his people get someone in authority in New Zealand cricket to wliisper a word or two to Lord Somers, president of the M.C.C. now in Australia, to remind the board man in iiis own polished and persuasive way, that international cricket lias its obligations as well as its national prestige and financial rewards. One of thoso obligations by Australia is to foster the game in New Zealand, as the M.C.C. does in India, West Indies, South Africa and many other plac'es where Britishers have transplanted their game. My New Zealandfriend thought that a good idea. Between ourselves, so do I.

I suppose it would be too soon to suggest that the Australians in 1938 be sent Home to England via New Zealand and Panama. If it could be done, and three matches played there against All New Zealand, fresh irom the English tour, it would be an affair of glamour. Besides Don Bradman and Stan McCabe there may bo other brilliants by that time, some showing their colours and class in Melbourne, and some in Newcastle. And New Zealanders would welcome the chance of comparing them with Trumper, Kippax, Macartnev, Ransford and Co.