WELL PLAYED!

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 98, 20 January 1926, Page 7

WELL PLAYED!

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS RETURN

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TOUR

A party of the New Zealand cricket 'team, which has just concluded a highly successful tour in zkustralia, returned by the Maunganui yesterday. The members of the team, who looked bronzed after their long exposure to the Commonwealth’s strong sun, were accorded a cordial reception at the Queen’s Wharf by a band of cricket enthusiasts, which included Mr. C. G. Wilson (chairman), and Mr. Darroch (secretary), of the Wellington Cricket Association. The party comprised: Mr. J. F. Peake (manager), W. R. Patrick (captain), D. J. Mcßeath, R. C. Blunt, C. Oliver, AV. 'Cunningham, C. G. Crawford (all of Canterbury), R. de R. Worker and A. W. Alloo (Otago), and K. C. James (Wellington). The Auckland representatives, C. C. Dacre, C. Alcott, and H. Gillespie, returned home by the Niagara.

Not So Far Ahead of New Zealand.

"I am naturally very pleased with the form displayed by the majority of the team,” remarked W. R. Patrick, the captain, in a chat with a Dominion reporter. “After our opening failure at Brisbane, which was due to the excessive heat after a long train journey, the team settled down to practice in earnest, and never looked back after that. After having seen all of the best Australian players in action, I can truthfully say that there is very little difference in the standard of play in the two countries. In fact, in my opinion. New Zealand batsmen are more enterprising, for they go after the runs, while even the best Australian batsmen refuse to take risks, and, wait for the runs to come to them. The displays given bv Blunt, Dacre, Lowry, Oliver, and Allcott were quite as good and better than those of any of the Sheffield Shield players we met. True, Hcndrv got away from us when he sored bis innings of over 300 in the Victorian match. Our trouble was that we had only two bowlers, Cunningham and Blunt, who could do anything on the hard Australian wickets. If we had had Dickinson, McGirr, Hiddleston, and Dempster with us, we could have successfully tackled the best of Australian sides.”

Australia Short of Good Bowlers.

The New Zealand captain declared that Australia is short of good bowlers at present. Gregory had lost a good deal of his pace, and Everett, the other Sydney fast bowler, was now display::’" more pace. Gninmett, he was inclined to think, was a very much over-rated bowler. Certainly, he had been severely punished by the New Zealand batsmen, who had gone out and got to him. Good fudges of the game had generously ‘declared that the display given bv tha New Zealanders at Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, had been nuite as good cricket as any which had been seen during the past twenty years. The dashing displays given bv Blnnt, Lowrv, Dacre, Oliver, and Allrott, had greatly pleased, the crowds. Cunningham had proved himself n first-class bowler, and Blunt, too, ban done wonderfully well, and would have done better in the more matches had lie kept his deliveries up more. , , , Tak'-n all round, the team had done Remarkably well. They had scored over 4000 runs,” giving each man. an average of 03 ’per innings, while their opponents had averaged 3'3 runs per inmugs If another side was sent to Australia within reasonable time, with the majority oi the present team to build upon, New Zealand, he was sure, would creditar-iv hold its own against the .strongest States’ sides. The trouble with teams on this side of the Tasman was that they were simply a band ct individuals. There was no team work. Tne oresent team had milled together excellently. and ever.’ man had played for the side. THE CIVIC RECEPTION N.Z. CRICKET COMES INTO ITS OWN. A civic welcome home was extended to the team by the Mayor (Air. C. J. B. Norwood) at the Council Chamber at the Town Hall at 5.30 yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance, including ' the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates), Sir Francis Bell, city councillors, and cricketing -enthusiasts.

The Mayor, in welcoming the team, said that the people of New Zealand had watched the records of the tour with pride. The team had set a new standard in cricket for New Zealand. They had proved to -Australians tjiat there was something really good in New Zealand. The team had created a record superior to that achieved by any previous -touring New Zealand side. The game would benefit greatly in the Dominion as a result of their achievements.

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) welcomed the team back on behalf of the citizens of New Zealand, and heartily congratulated them on the fine record they had put up on the tour. .Their success had gone far towards bringing cricket into its own in New Zealand. Cricket was part of tlie British constitution, and the team had lived up to the best traditions. He was sorry to hear that the tour had not

been a financial success, but money was not everything. It was pleasing to know that the good name of New Zealand had been in good hands in Australia. He heartily congratulated the team on their fine performances and cordially welcomed them home.

Sir Francis Bell said it was very pleasing for the first time to know that a New Zealand cricket team had held its own against the world’s leading cricketers. Mr. C. G. Wilson, representing the New Zealand Cricket Council, said the council, when sending the team away, did not for one moment expect them to beat Victoria or New South Wales. The team had been sent for educative purposes. The team had done a great deal better than anyone had iinagined they would. All New Zealand cricketers wanted was more experience and a good deal more practice. Mr. J. F. Peake, manager of the team, in responding, said they had been to a wonderful country, and had received the most hospitable treatment. The cricketers of Australia . had laid themselves out to return a little of the hospitality they had enjoyed at different times in New Zealand.

Mr. W. R. Patrick, captain of the team, said they did not expect to do as well as they had done, but their young players had come to light and shown themselves in their true colours. They had had a wonderful time in Australia, and he trusted that the New Zealand Cricket Council would be able to send teams over to Australia every two or three years. The southern members of the team left by the ferry steamer last evening, <i good crowd speeding them on their way.