CRICKET IN NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 62, 15 March 1922, Page 8

CRICKET IN NEW ZEALAND.

A LITTLE POLISH NEEDED. OPINION* OF EXGUSH VISITOR. An enthusinstic opinion of the potentialities of cricket in New Zealand was expressed to a "Lyttelton Times" reporter the other evening by Mr. J. H. Douglas, father of Mr. d. W. H. T. Douglas, the famous English cricketer. Mr. Douglae, who is visiting Xew Zealand with his wife and -two daughters, was an interested spectator of the inter-island cricket match at Lancaster Park on Friday and Saturday. "I have been looking forward to coming out to New Zealand for many years, and one of the principal reasons was that I wanted to see my old friend, Dan Reese, again," said Mr. Douglas. "'Dan Reese used to play for London County together with my son about the year 1902, when they were under that veteran of cricket, the late Dr. VV.*G. Grace. I had hoped he wouia come back to England to see us, but as he didn't do so I simply had to come out here and see him." Speaking of New Zealand cricket ac he had seen it at Lancaster Park, Mr. ■Douglas said the material was good, but there was not the slightest doubt that the players had not seen high class cricket played, and because of that had not had a chance of learning the finer points of the game. "You have many really good boys here, who, if they had a trip to England, would come back a really excellent eide,"_ ho added. "You have never sent a Xew Zealand team to England and you have notf had an English team here since 19015----7. What is wanted is that little bit of difference thai makes all the difference in crickefciy If Xew Zealand sent a team to England he felt quite certain it would be a financial success. The team would be beaten in its first few matches against county teams, but in the end he was confident it would have more wins than defeats. Cricket was on the boom just now in England, and the very fact that the Australian team had been so successful would augur well for the success of a Xew Zealand team. The Xew Zealand climate was very similar to the/ English climate, and once the members of the team "felt their feet." they ehould be able to give a good of themselves. Mr. Douglas was enthusiastic concerning the performance jof R. C Blunt at Lancaster Park on Saturday. "He played like a cricketer," said Mr. Douglas, "and if he had had a better wicket 4'm sure he could do much better. , ' Referring to the proposed visit of a team of English amateurs under Archie McT.*ren, I Mr. Douglas said that McLaren was as I good a< judge of as wa6 to be found in England, and he could be depended upon to bring out a good team. Some of the probables who. he thought, might be selected by McLaren for the tour wer? Gerald Iluburt and C. T. Ashton, M. Falcon, Chapman, of Cambridge University, Calthorpe, I,'aptain of the Warwickshire eleven. C'arr, captain of Xotts, the two Bryan brothers, the Kent players, Jack White, the Somerset bowler,, Frank Gilligan, the famous wicket-iJceeper, and C. V. Jupp, the Sussex player. "Those were, I think, the pick of the amateurs at the close of last season," added Mr. Douglas.

PROSPECT (JF ENGLISH TOUJ

While the inter-island cricket teams were at luncheon in Chrietchurch on Saturday, Air. E. Heatheote Williams (president of the Xew Zealand Cricket Association) proposed the health of the rival captains. "Cricket is improving in Xew Zealand," said Mr. Williams, "and the Cricket Council has in hand an extensive programme. An Australian m will visit Xew Zealand next season nd if we can arrange the finances, a Xew Zealand team will go to England later on, playing counties. On its way back the team might be able to piay matches in Australia. It is probable that many of the player* on Lancaster Park to-day will be members of the team, but whether they are or not, 1 hope they will see that all boys coming on get plenty of incentive to improve their game. I assure those players who go to England that they will get a welcome which will astonish them." Replying, Mr. Patrick said that he would like to see more of these Xorth v. South matches. He suggested that one should be held in the year when southern teams were touring the Xorth Island, and the next in the year when northern teams were in the South Island. That would save travelling expenses.