STOLID BEGINNING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 200, 21 May 1931, Page 9

STOLID BEGINNING

Worcestershire Loses

One for 70

COUNTY WINS TOSS

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Rec. May 21, 1 a.m.)

London, May 20.

The New Zealand cricketers commenced the match with Worcestershire in tine weather. The wicket was slow. The teams were:—

New Zealand: T. C. Lowry (captain), C. S. Dempster, K. C. Janies, M. L. Page, W. E. Merritt, J. L. Kerr, A. M. Matheson, R. O. Talbot, C. F. W. Allcott, 11. G. Vivian, J. E. Mills. Worcestershire: Quaife, Bull. Nichol. Gibbons, Martin, Walters, Ahl, Winwood, Root, Brooks, Perks. Lowry lost the toss for the first time. The county scored slowly against the steady bowling of Allcott apd Vivian. Del ails: — WORCESTERSHIRE. First Innings. Bull. b. Merritt 8 Quaife, not out Nichol, not out 33 Extras 2 Total for one wicket 40 PREVIOUS VICTORY 1927 Worcestershire Match (By '■Burwood.”) In 1927 the New Zealand team defeated Worcestershire by 194 runs, scoring 276 and 349 for five wickets (declaredi to the county's 222 and 209. In New Zealand's first innings Dacre scored 82 and Lowry 74, while in tiie second innings Page hit up 140 not out and Lowry 106. Fox was the best scor er for the county, making 79 in each innings. Merritt was the most successful bowler for New Zealand, with four for 83 and four lor 75, while Allcott took three for 33 in the first innings, and McGirr four for 62 in the second innings. Tarbox bowled well for Worcestershire in the first innings in securing six for 88. Worcestershire last season won five, lost ten, and drew fourteen of the 29 matches played in the county champion ship. The best batsmen on the side last season were the professionals, JI. Nichol, 11. 11. Gibbons and L. Wright, and the ania tour, C. F. Walters, who all reached their 1000 runs. The bowlers the New Zealanders will have to fear most are G. W. Brook, a slow leg-break artist, who secured 128 wickets at an average of 21.41 last season; F. Root, who has played for England, and whose bag for the county last season was 129 wickets, at an average of 22.10 per wicket: and R. T. D. Perks, a fast-medium righthander, who came to the county from Herefordshire. The last-named met with a strain last season, lint nevertheless ended up with 5'.) wickets at an average of 23.03. Nichol is a classy batsman, who hit up 262 not out against Hampshire last season, and also notched centuries against Sussex, Warwickshire. Kent and Essex. Walters, who led the county eleven in most of its matches last season. previously played for Glamorgan.

VAST IMPROVEMENT

Deep Impression Created “BATSMEN WERE FOOLED” (Rec. May 20, 7.30 p.m.) London, May 20. The morning papers refer in glowing terms to the New Zealand cricketers victory at Lord’s. ‘ P. F. Warner (“Plum”) in the “.Morning Post” says that May 49. 1931. may be the slatting point in a new era iji New Zealand's cricket, just as May 27. 1878, was in Australia’s. It would lie unwise, however, on the strength of a single match to say that the New Zealand cricketers were a great team, but it is so vastly improved it would be foolish to underrate it. Mr. Warner adds : “This victory at the headquarters of cricket will add immensely to the visitors' growing reputation. Merritt, dominated the batsmen in the second innings and appeared to be unplayable. “Cromb looks as if he could bowl well all day. Certainly he bowled well yesterday. At this stage of the tour, however. Merritt and Blunt are more dangerous.” Mr. F. A. Henley in the “Daily Mail’ says: “The New Zealand bowlers completely fooled (he batsmen. The wicket was little different from that on which the visitors scored 302.” The “Daily Telegraph” says: "A surprise may be in store for the cricketing world when the New Zealanders play the Test. The visitors’ youth and zest are creating a big impression." On May 27. IS7B, Australia defeated England on level terms for the first time, causing a sensation in the cricketing world. TEAM ENTERTAINED Guests at M.C.C. Dinner London, May 19. The New Zealanders were entertained at: dinner by the .M.C.C. la<t evening. Viseount Bridgeman presided, and others present, included Lord Jellicoe. Viscount Plumer. Sir Kynaston Studd. and many prominent cricketers. SUPERIOR TO 1927 Yet Selector Doubts Batting By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch. May 20. Commenting on lhe New Zealand cricket team's win., Mr. 11. B. M hittii. one of the Dominion selectors, says that Hie performances to date clearly show that the present team is superior to the 1921 side. “Hut personally." he added. “I do not think the batting is as even as one could wish. 1 would not like to say the New Zealand team is a good side until it has been up against such counties as Middlesex. Notts, Sussex. Yorkshire and Lancashire, where bowling- better than that in the M.C.C. match will be met wilh. Tiie outstanding success among the newer Dominion players is undoubtedly Cromb.” _____

Sueli of tin 1 cable news on this jingo n; is so bended has appeared in “Tli" t imes, and is cabled to Australia and New Zealand bv special permission. It should lie understood that tiie opinions are not those of “The Times” unless expressly siateu to bo so-