N.Z. CRICKET GROUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 65, 18 March 1925, Page 9

N.Z. CRICKET GROUNDS.

LACK OF GOOD WICKETS. AN AUSTRALIAN'S CRITICISM. "We hav<s looked over the playing fields of the Domain and are all of 1 opinion that the ground could be made I one of the finest in the world," said Mr. i E-. E. Bean, manager of the touring team iof Victorian cricketers, while chatting at Eden Park, before the departure of the team for the South. The members of the team were taken over the Domain on Sunday morning and were very much impressed with the beauty and general surroundings of the I cricket ground. They were particularly ! interested in the natural ombankm'eiits which they consider are equal to those of any other ground in Australasia. \ Mr. Bean voiced the opinion that the I playing portion had been neglected, but that the top dressing of the central portion with heavy black loam would convert it into an excellent surface. The black loam, he said, was necessary, as sandy wickets were comparatively useless. He was willing to send a sample of the loam used in Australia in order that the local association might make experiments for the laying down of a perfect wicket. Provided that the loam was available in New Zealand, he suggested that it would be of great benefit to New Zealand cricket if the Dominion Association pu*hase an area and supply the loam to the leading grounds in the country. He mentioned that the South Australian Cricket Association had purchased some 50 acres of suitable land ! and now had enough loam for very many I years to come. That association had previously experienced very great difficulty in laying down good wickets. The average New Zealand wicket, said Mr. Bean, was very poor, due solely to the sandy nature oi the ground. Pie "considered the wicket at Eden Park the best I the team had yet played on during their tour. Brisbane had been trying for many years to produce a wicket considered good enough for Test cricket and j recently top dressed a large portion of the ground with heavy black loam. It was now considered that the wickets would be of a first-class nature for future seasons. No Test matches had been played at Brisbane to date. Questioned as to the approximate cost of securing the necessary loam, Mr. Bean said that that naturally depended on where the loam was obtained. He mentioned that recently he sent 50 bags a distance by sea of over 1000 miles, the cost amounting to £45. ! New Zealand, Mr. Bean concluded, could not expect to compete with England and Australia in cricket unless real good wickets were provided throughout the country. Good match wickets without equally good practice wickets were useless.