N.Z. CRICKET TEAM

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 147, 18 March 1937, Page 13

N.Z. CRICKET TEAM

Only Fourteen Men to Make Trip

MANAGER WILL PLAY IF NECESSARY The New Zealand cricket team which is to tour England this year will consist of 14 men and a manager, as originally decided by the New Zealand Cricket Council. Mr. A. T. Donnelly, chairman of the council, told "The Dominion” yesterday that there was no chance of the council agreeing that an extra man should be taken. Should it be necessary, the manager, Mr. T. C. Lowrv, could play, and would be able to relieve E. C. Tindill, the wicketkeeper, should this be necessary at any time. He considered that the team would get along all right with 14 men, and should do quite well on the tour. Mr. Donnelly explained the reasons why B. G. Griffiths, the Wellington slow spin right-hand bowler, had been dropped from the team on the grounds of being medically unfit. "Griffiths was examined by one doctor, who decided that he should be examined by another doctor and a dentist,” said Mr. Donnelly. "All three agreed that Griffiths was unfit on account of his dental condition. The doctors stated that even if Griffiths’s teetn were extracted there was no guarantee that he would be fit to play for some considerable time, and they said that the council would have to take him at its own risk. It is unfortunate that Griffiths had not received notification before the announcement was made in the Press, but regret that this, happened has been expressed to Griffiths. ’ Mr. Donnelly, when interviewing the doctors concerning Griffiths’s health, was accompanied by Mr. J. 11. Phillipps, chairman of the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association.