BEFORE THE FRAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 95, 23 April 1926, Page 7

BEFORE THE FRAY.

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS. A ROUND OF WELCOMES. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. »- ' ■ (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, April 22. "I warmly welcome the team to the Mother Country, and hope the visit in every way will be enjoyable. I trust I may see tbe play at Lord's during the season," said the King in a message to Australian cricketers. At the New Zealand Club's luncheon to the cricketers, Sir Newton Moore proposing the toAst of tbe team, said that so long as the Empire was able to play cricket in the best sense of the word there need be no fear of the bogy of revolution. Lord Harris, supporting the toast, declared lie could only say he knew the. Anglo-Australian teams of 1925 were very even, and be believed they would, be more even in 192 G. "The matches finished will probably be won by one of those bits of fortune that make cricket so enjoyable." Mr. Collins, "the Australian captain, replying, appealed for the support of his hearers. As Anzacs he hoped the boys would justify England's welcome, -playing the game in the true spirit. Mr. Sydney Smith decVired he was only frightened tbat England's wonderful kindness might kill them. Australia had won forty-seven Tests and England forty-one. He would be content if they finished tbe tour with fifty to Australia's 'credit.—(A. and TST.Z.)

UNFAVOURABLE "WEATHER. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, April 22. The weather is cold and dull after more rain. The ground at Lord's is saturated and theTe will be no practice to-day. — (A. and N.Z.)