CRICKET HAS 1967 TOUR

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31170, 21 September 1966, Page 19

CRICKET HAS 1967 TOUR

Australia Asks For N.Z. Team

New Zealand may be invited to send a cricket team to Australia for a tour of about a month earlv next season.

The chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council’s Board of Control (Mr J. G. Leggat) said yesterday that Australia was willing to negotiate for a tour of about a month, in November and December next year.

“This is very satisfactory. and no doubt the board will receive it with the greatest interest.” Mr Leggat said.

The prospective tour will be a great encouragement to New Zealand cricket, writes R. T. Brittenden. In J 954 and 1962. New Zealand teams returning from South Africa played matches in Australia, but if the proposed tour eventuates, it will be New Zealand’s first invitation to tour in Australia onlv since 1925-26. It seems likely that the New Zealand team would play full state teams, and perhaps two or three other matches of lesser duration.

The prospect of an Australian tour is something of a surprise, for in 1967-68 Australia will be host to an Indian team which will later play in New Zealand. Australia’s interest in NewZealand cricket was not. some years ago, very keen:

but there has apparently been a change of opinion, and the Australian move is most heartening. Itinerary Agreed The itinerary for the Australian team’s tour of New Zealand in the coming summer. submitted by the New Zealand Board of Control, has been approved by Australia. The tour, of 10 matches, begins in Otago on February 15 and ends at Auckland on March 29. There are matches against each of the six Plunket Shield teams, and four official test matches. At Christchurch, there are games against Canterbury, starting on February 17, and New Zealand, on March 16.