M.C.C. TEAM AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26362, 5 March 1951, Page 6

M.C.C. TEAM AT AUCKLAND

ALL PLAYERS FIT FOR N.Z. TOUR

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND,-March 4. Tired after a strenuous Australian tour and a night trip by air from Sydney, members of the M.C.C. cricket team quickly made for baths and their beds on arrival in Auckland this morn- ■ ing. There are 16 players in the party and two managers. The players are F. R. Brown (Northamptonshire), captain, T. E. Bailey (Essex), A. V. Bedser, Surrey,), D. C. S. Compton (Middlesex), vice-captain, J. G. Dewes (Middlesex), T. G. Evans (Kent), L. B. Hutton (Yorkshire), A. J. Mclntyre (Surrey), W. G. A. Parkhouse (Glamorganshire), D. S. Sheppard (Sussex), R. T. Simpson (Nottinghamshire), B. Statham (Lancashire), R. Tattersall (Lancashire), J. J. Warr (Middlesex), C. Wasnbrook (Lancashire), and D. V. P. Wright (Kent). The joint managers are Brigadier M. A. Green. C.8.E., M.C. (Worcestershire), and Mr J. H. Nash (Yorkshire). Seven newspapermen are travelling with the team. They are: Messrs J. Kay (“Manchester Evening News”), R. C. Robertson-Glasgow (the “Observer”), F. Rostorn (the “Daily Express”), R. Hay tor (Reuters), A. Bannister (“Daily Mail”)', V. Jenkins (“News of The World”), and A. A. Mailey (Australia). Mr Jenkins, who played fullback for Wales against the 1935 All Blacks, is expected to arrive to-mor-row. Mr and Mrs A. E. R. Gilligan also arrived with the team this morning. It is understood that they are making a holiday tour, and will not see any of the matches. They will visit Rotorua and then Wanganui, where Mr Gilligan will meet his brother, Mr F. W. Gilligan, headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School. The visiting players were met on arrival by Mr T. C. Lowry, president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, Messrs W. R. Fee (president), L. B. Schnauer (chairman), A. J. Postles (deputy-chairman), and E. J. Price (secretary), of the Auckland Cricket Association. Also present were Mr D. Hay, chairman of the Eden Park Board of Control, O. C. Cleal, captain of the Auckland team, and W. M. Wallace. \ “We were disappointed that the older and more experienced pjayers had to bear so much responsibility daring the Australian tour,” said Brigadier Green, in an interview. "Everybody enjoyed the tour, although it was very strenuous, particularly because of the number of casualties the team suffered. All the players are fit for the New Zealand tour.”

Brigadier Green said that they were all looking forward to the New Zealand tour. Everywhere they had heard what a great place the Dominion was, and they all knew what great sportsmen New Zealanders were. He was quite upset when, after his motor accident, he thought there was no prospect of his making the tour. He had then been told that he had better go home by boat