THE M.C.C. TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 6

THE M.C.C. TOUR.

The outstanding impression left by the M.C.C. team on the eve of its departure after a tour of this Dominion is that E. R. T. Holmes' team was one of the friendliest English sides to visit New Zealand. In Australia it established its ability to hold its own in the field against the cream of that country's potential champions. Unfortunately, abnormal weathei* doomed the Test matches in New Zealand to inconclusive trials of ability. Our visitors, however, were highly popular both on and off the field, for the reason that they ever played cricket as we understand it best. When they were in a position to do so they played a bright and care-free game, but they never paid us the doubtful compliment of descending to the chancy game of neglecting the opportunity to win that they might get cheap plaudits from the crowd. That would have left a suspicion of playing down to our standard. In his review of the tour, Mr. Holmes quite frankly points out that possession by New Zealand of one outstanding bowler of a certain type would have been disastrous for his team, and he admits that inability on the part of the M.C.C. in the Test matches to give the crowd the care-free batting it desired was a direct compliment to the quality of New Zealand cricket.