Back With Tales From Off The Test Circuit

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30534, 1 September 1964, Page 19

Back With Tales From Off The Test Circuit

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 31. The Kiwi cricket team arrived home tonight after their round-the-world 42-match tour wearing Arab head-gear, straws from Saskatoon and telling tales of cricket played in the stately atmosphere of Hagley Park, Lord Cobham’s home and in the searing heat of Kuwait, with the temperature 115 degrees in the shade.

From the playing point of view, said the manager, Mr K. L. Sandford, of Hamilton, the tour was an outstanding success.

The early aims of providing an overseas tour for New Zealanders below international level had been achieved. Another aim, to create good will and play countries outside the normal test circuit, had also been conspicuously successful. “There were many complimentary remarks in many countries at the New Zealand Cricket Council’s initiative in playing outside the test circuit,” he said, “specially as New Zealand is something of a secondary cricket country. The good will created was enormous. “That’s A Laugh” “The amount of cricket played in countries we tend to dismiss as non-cricket countries is quite astounding. When 1 told a New Zealander that we were playing in New York he said: ‘That’s a laugh, playing cricket in New York.’ “There are 78 teams playing cricket regularly in New York, about 150 in the United States as a whole and hundreds in Canada. The best Bermudan side would, more often than not, beat a Plunket Shield side. ‘We have never seen the like of some of the facilities overseas. The Toronto Cricket Club, which also caters for skating and curling, has a clubhouse which cost two million dollars. At Kuala Lumpur and Singapore the facilities are marvellous.” The Kiwis played 42

matches for 25 wins, six losses and 11 draws. One of the most impressive players had been R. S. Cunis, the Auckland and New Zealand fast bowler. One of the most promising batsmen was D. H. Payton, the right-hander from Wairarapa, who scored three centuries during the tour. He had a strong defence, but could change his game to suit the conditions and his century against Lord Cobham’s team had contained nine sixes. “There seems no limit to what heights he might achieve in New Zealand cricket,” said Mr Sandford. While in England Mr Sandford attended the Imperial Cricket Conference as a New Zealand delegate. "Among the cricket authorities in England New Zealand’s reputation has been enhanced by our willingness to be, as it were, the guinea pig by sharing a tour with South Africa in England next year,” he said. “I feel that good will to New Zealand has increased by our willingness to share the season.” Aim Led Batting M. J. Aim, the Wellingtonian, topped the batting aggregates and averages with 1139 runs at 39.3, and two other batsmen, Payton (1118 runs at 38.6) and S. McKnight, of Otago (1016 at 29.9) scored over 1000 runs. Cunis topped the bowling aggregates and averages and his tour figures were: 568 overs, 204 maidens, 1186 runs, 124 wickets, average 9.56. G. T. McConnell (Wellington) took 96 wickets at 9.75 and R. J. Weallans (Waikato) 79 at 11.19. There were four centuries,

three to Payton and one to Aim, and one hat-trick by Cunis.