Brief England cricket visit

Press, 7 December 1978, Page 36

Brief England cricket visit

By

JOHN COFFEY

New Zealand cricket supporters, already looking ahead to a full tour of this country by the West Indies, will have an additional attraction on the sport’s calendar next summer.

Mr R. G. Knowles, the secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, confirmed yesterday that England had agreed to visit New Zealand briefly during its second tour of Australia in as many seasons. In all probability, the short itinerary will include a test at Auckland and two one-day fixtures, one of them likely to be allocated to Christchurch. The Englishmen would then return to Australia.

It seems that England’s return trip to Australia ■ — it finished the first test of its present tour at Brisbane yesterday — was prompted by the reluctance of administrators of what has become known as “establishment cricket” to allow World Series Cricket a virtual free rein for a full Australian summer.

Australia had originally

been left without a home series on the international programme in 1979-80, and steps have been taken to fill the gap. As well as England, Mr Knowles said that it was believed India had also accepted an invitation to travel to Australia, but he was not aware whether the Indians would be involved in a full test series.

The home test against England will be another challenge in what will be a particularly busy period for New Zealand’s leading cricketers.

This season’s tour by Pakistan begins mid-way through next month and during the Southern Hemisphere winter New Zealand is to take part in the World Cup competition in England, with the possibility of some first-class games as well.

The West Indies and England then follow with their visits of varying length, New Zealand and Australia will swap reciprocal tours in 1980-81, and New Zealand is to travel to the West Indies in 1981-82.