CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 156, 20 March 1923, Page 9

CRICKET

MACLAREN ADVISES ENGLISH TOUR FUTURE OF NEW ZEALAND CRICKET In an interview, A. C. MacLaren, captain of the English team, strongly advises an English tour by a New Zealand team, rather than a tour cf Australia. “It is a mistake,’’ he said to a “Referee” representative, “to imagine that I have depreciated the Now Zealanders as cricketers. . They are fine sportsmen over there, and they treated us most hospitably. 1 would not say one word wittingly to wound the feelings of those fine follows. But, you know, New Zealand is not yet a cricketing country in the sense that Australia is ; that England is. I am sure that true New Zealanders won’t-mind my saying so. The same might bo said of every other country in tho world where the great old game is played. It is no reflection on them “As a matter of fact. New Zealand 1 orcket has distinct possibilities. They had against us in the Test matches eight or nine very good batsmen —Collins, Blunt, Shepherd, Snedden, Hiddleston, Garrard, Dac.re, and Lambert. They tried keenly in the field, and they bowled fairly. But they need something to give them a lift in the higher elements of the game, individually, and with that will come the lift collectively. I can say so, surely, without giving offence to anyone. . “But I do not say this, said Mr. MacLaren, “just for the sake of saying it. I propose a remedy. It is this—that they should send a team to England, not for the specific purpose of playing the greatest elevens, but to play through a. programme that, while, bringing them into the real world of first-class cricket day after day, will leave them with a fair to good chance of winning. I think that a judiciously chosen team would beat six or seven of the present first-class counties. And when a man thinks that, he must have a good opinion of tlwir possibilities under conditions that guarantee regular match play together against opponents of fitting calibre.” Australia Will Not Do. “But Australia is nearer homo, and. would it not be better for them to come this way once again after many years?” one asked. The old leader smiled. “No, and I’ll tell you why,” he replied. “If they send a team over here to play the State elevens, they will come on to fast wickets, and meet teams that are too good for them under the conditions. They will he defeated, and it will tend to take tho heart out of them. Now, if they go to England, they will play on turf wickets similar to their own m pace mid tvne, and tbev will meet teams as a rule'weaker than the State teams. And they’!! win some matches. “These wins,” he continued, ' will lie an absolute tonic, and the play day after dnv will develop each man in ’ a wonderful way. At the same Hmo. they will gradually develop a lean) atmosphere that will astonish them, if they have a keen, tactful, nnd skilful captain. The Advantages. “Then, when they return 4? New Zealand, each man, polished into a better player than he over was before, will bo a’missionary of the game, an example in his club, in hiis city, m hi. province, nnd in the representative team of New Zealand “And what will follow on tins? Why,” said the M.C.C. captain with

a gleam of enthusiasm, “the best New Zealand cricketers will develop team work that will make , their play ever so much more attractive to the public than it might be now. “You know how keen tho New Zealanders are on Rugby football; what an extraordinarily intimate knowledge they have of its fine points. WcJl, from the time their cricket team returns from the first tour abroad you will find the public over there taking a different kind of inteiest in the game. They will appreciate the beautv, of its fine points with the same discerning keenness as jour own humorists on the Sydney hi.rdo. JUNIOR B COMPETITION It has been decided to declare tho season closed with the matches which terminated on Saturday, the result being that St. Thomas’s win with a total of 31 points, made up of 7 four-point win? and' one three-point. FOURTH GRADE REPS." The following will represent the fourth class representatives against the Boys’ League at the Basin Reserve next Saturday:—W. Rogers (Thorndon), captain; Hendry (Thorndon), Pawson (Petone), Swain (Central Mission), Gwilliam (Hutt)., R. Wall (Melleslov College), Murio (Y.M.C.A.)? Hamilton Telford (Miramar), Exton (Institute), Bolton (Y.M.C.A.), wicket-keeper. . Emergen-cies:—Wicket-keeper, Martin (Thorndon), Monkhouse (Soots College), A. Hamilton (Potono). Any of the above who cannot play are requested to let Mr. Broad know at onco. WANGANUI CLUB V. WELLESLEY CLUB. BY TELEGRArn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Wanganui, March 19. In a cricket match here to-day tho Wanganui Club team beat Wellesley Club in the first innings aggregate by 32 runs. Wellesley batted first and scored 182, the principal scorers being: Burges, 34; McFarlane, 31 - Milkes, 29; Kirkcaldie. 20; Gilmer, 15; Crombie, 11. M’anganui replied with 214, of which Orton made 94, Jack 19, Earle IS, and Saunders 17. ' TKe 'death is reported from London of George Bean, who played citeke.t for Notts and Sussex. He was born on March 7, 1864.