Cricket “Great Influence For Good”: Lord Cobham

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 16

Cricket “Great Influence For Good”: Lord Cobham

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, January 24.

“Cricket is not the least of the old Mother Country’s invincible exports; it is at once a game and a way of life, and there are few things that can exercise a greater influence for good within the Commonwealth,” said the GovernorGeneral (Viscount Cobham), speaking at a dinner in Dunedin for members of the M.C.C. and New Zealand cricket teams. “Cricket at its best is played with opponents, not against them.” said his Excellency. “Every side likes to win, and it is futile hypocrisy to deny this. One takes the field with the idea of outplaying one's opponents, but in cricket, at least; there is an unwritten law that one must never play up to the margin of the rules. “It is a game so easily spoilt: men of mean spirit can make it wilt within half an hour, Man in the Street “I believe that there is a tendency today to under-rate the intelligence and the good sportsmanship of that nebulous but oft mentioned gentleman, the man in the street. We are all men in the street, and in all sincerity and in all truth, lover of English cricket though I am, I assure you that I would rather see England lose all five test matches than win or draw them by the use of doubtful practices. “It is to insult the big crowds who follow games to believe that they want to see their side win at any price. Nor are they deceived by the dramatic and often malicious statements of certain irresponsible organs of the press who seek to sow discord between countries, for what reason heaven alone knows. “As a New Zealander, I am naturally anxious to see my side .win. As a former president of the M.C.C., I hope that it will never win by more than one run or one wicket. “But, win, lose or draw, I know that both sides in the Dominion at present will play this lovely game for the only reason that any game is worth playing, and that is for fun.” M.C.C. Team's Object Replying to the toast to the M.C.C., proposed by the president of the New Zealand

Cricket Council (Mr E. D. Blundell), the captain of the touring team, D. R. W. Silk, said:

“Our object on this tour has always been to play cricket as a game, and not as a war of attrition. We came to New Zealand with an old-fashioned idea, and it is certain that we will meet many obstacles and that we will fail at times, but there is nothing to stop the team from adhering to its intention.” Silk paid tribute to the hospitality the team had encountered on the tour, and to the vice-captain of his team, W. Watson, for the burden he had shouldered in recent weeks. Among the guests was the former Prime Minister (Mr Nash), to whom tributes were paid by Mr Blundell for his interest in cricket.