ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25129, 10 March 1947, Page 3

ENGLISH CRICKET TEAM

PLAYERS ARRIVE AT AUCKLAND

“NO EXCUSES FOR DEFEAT” A u ?kland, March 9. The English cricket team, led by W fL2? a 5 n ? ond ’i_ arrived in Auckland irom Sydney by air on Saturday The * ea ™ nota biy silent band‘as it hied off the aircraft and through the customs., * Howard, the manager, agreed that ti.e members of the team were somewhat tired. “The tour has been going for six months, you know.” he said. They were, however, all looking ■ forward to a visit to New Zealand. The members of the team are: Hammond, who is 43; N. W. D. Yardley (vice-captain) 32. D. V. P. Wright 32. W V' S , mith 38 ’ w - J - Edrich 30, C. Washbrook 32. D. C. S. Compton 29, T. G. Evans 26, A. V. Bedser 29, J. T. Ikin 28, L. B. Fishlock 40, W, Voce 36. and R. Pollard 35. Hammond and Yardley are amateurs and the remainder professionals. Major Howard, formerly of South Lancashire Regiment, and now secreJ?, r 3 L of * he Lancashire County Cricket Club, said there were no excuses for the three defeats suffered in the five test matches with Australia. The Australians simply had better players, he said.

PASSAGES CANCELLED AT LAST MOMENT

FOUR PRESSMEN WITH TEAM

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) _ , SYDNEY, March 8. .k English pressmen, including the former test wicketkeeper George Duckworth, were off-loadea at the last minute from the flying-boat that carried the English cricketers to New Zealand to-day. The men expressed blt A e xi an F er when, instead of travelling with the team, they had to wave them good-bye when the aeroplane took off at 7 a.m. “This is hard to beat.” said Vivian Jenkins, of the “News of the World.” v j IS . scandalous to get people out of bed at 4.30 a.m. and to get them to the flying base and then to tell them that they are not travelling.” George Duckworth was very annoyed. “It is the toughest thing I have ever known, being off-loaded at the last minute,” he said. The four pressmen were put off to enable extra mail to be taken to New Zealand. They will miss the first day’s play in the M.C.C. v. Wellington match on Monday even if they get seats on the flying-boat leaving on Monday morning.