M.C.C. TEAM.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17226, 17 August 1921, Page 6

M.C.C. TEAM.

PROPOSED TOUR OF N.Z. '

NEGOTIATIONS UNSUCCESSFUL.

The following statement was issued last night by Mr F. C. Raphael, chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council:— ' The New Zealand Cricket Council regrets having to announce that its negotiations with the Marylebone Club to send an English team to New Zcaiand next year have not proved successful. When the invitation was firet extended to the Marylebone Club, the Council stated that it was most important that an attractive side be sent, as the total cost of. the tour, running into approximately £KW, involved a good deal of responsibility on the individual guaranteeing Associations, as well as tne Council, and the finanoial success of the tour would depend largely on the calibre of the side. When making arrangements with the Australian States for the extension of the tour into the Commonwealth, several leading authorities there advified vt3 that the success of the Australian portion of the tour was assured provided a good side was sent. ' When the names of the proposed English team were submitted to the Council a few weeks ago, members were unanimously of the opinion that it was not sufficiently strong or attractive to ensure financial success, and would certainly be no match for the Australian States. A second cable # was then sent expre.=sing the Council's opinion, and asking if it was still not possible to include a number of loading players, whose reputations extended beyond England, and asked for the inclusion of Tennyson, Spi/oner, Gillinghnm, and Bettington, or some players who have represented England. We also offered to pay an nd Itional £2OO each to the two leading professionals to be included. Numbers of other names could, of course, have been mentioned, which would have been satisfactory from the Council'a point of view, but these players were just mentioned as giving a lead of the type of player whom we expected would be, included in the side. We had to be "a little careful in not showing a disposition to dictate to the Marylebone Club, but at the same time we had to make it quite clear that while we .would have liked to receive as guests the players in the team, yet we were unable • to dissociate the business side of the programme. It will be clear to everybody that with the enormous increase in the cost of travelling and hotel accommodation,' the financing of the tour has involved a good deal of responsibility. Steamer fares alone represent £270 per man. Unfortunately, the Marylebone Club has been quite unable to . appreciate this business side of the tour, for in their last cable they repeated that the team was thoroughly representative, and hoped we should -be able to accept it.

No reference has been made to the names of players whose inclusion we sought, nnd at a special meeting of the Council Inst night, it was felt by all members that we were left no. alternative but to end the negotiations and withdraw-the invitation for the coming season, / The Council feels disappointed that its efforts have been frustrated in this manner at the last moment, but felt compelled to choose the safer course. Lord Hawke's'splendid team in 1903 was a magnificent attraction throughout the country. It was chosen with excellent judgment both as regards,the attractiveness of the side for New Zealand, and'xhe future benefits that such a tour would accrue towards English cripket itself. . ■ No one could suggest that this present tenm as cabled out is anything like the same type of eleven that visited New Zealand in 1903. % When we found that we were making no headway in the negotiations, for the., improvement of the side; we solicited the assistance of Mr P. F. Warner, and asked, in view of his local knowledge of both Australian and New Zealand conditions, would he interview the Marylebone Club on behalf of the New Zealand Cricket Council, and endeavour to ensure the calibre of the side being up to our requirements. No reply » ! has been received from Mr Warner. x ■• >

With reference to the professionals, the Marylebone Club at first refused to entertain the idea, although Lord Hawke, in his team of 1903, included Hnrgreaves and Thompson in his total of twelve selected. In the last cable received from the Marylebone Club, they offered to include two professionals, as per our original request, but in addition to the thirteen already selected, making a total of .fifteen players, which, of course, is'altogether beyond the requirements 6f the proposed tour, and would add enormously to the coat.