CRICKET CRAZE IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21989, 13 January 1937, Page 13

CRICKET CRAZE IN AUSTRALIA

CROWDS AT TEST MATCH

NEW ZEALANDER'S

IMPRESSIONS

fTHE PRESS Special Service.J

DUNEDIN, January 12

Comment from a novel point of view on the cricket test matches in Australia was made by Mr G. H. Elliffe, District Public Trustee, who returned to Dunedin by the Marama after a holiday spent in Australia. "It was a remarkable sensation," Mr Elliffe said "to sit at the test match fn Melbourne and reflect on the fact that the attendance, numbering 87,000 was as great as the total population of Dunedin In effect there was Dunedin all in one place." , People in Australia, he continued, seemed to worship the game, and particXrly Bradman. but he thought they were perhaps inclined to • overdo-it. Even business had to take second place to test matches, and if one walked through any of the big department stores during the play, one heard loud speakers announcing the. latest scores, and liftmen in the buildings were always able to keep one posted on most recent developments. The accommodation at the . Melbourne cricket ground was remarked tf o..bjtJWr.-EUiflEe,j-who sayfcthat it was Nothing short of a visitor from New Zealand. There was seating accommodation for almost \oofioQ. One could purchase any sort of meal on the grounds, and all varieties of refreshments were available. Such was the enthusiasm of the. Australians that they came from far and near to witness the games and avidly bought copies of special editions of the daily newspapers to read about play they had actually seen. Sales of such special editions on the cricket grounds were nothing short of amazing.