CRICKET TOURISTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 12

CRICKET TOURISTS

FROM WEST INDIES THE CALL AT WELLINGTON

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The party of cricketers from the West Indies arrived in Wellington this morning by the Tamaroa, and it was not long before tho visitors were on the cricket field, such is their keen enthusiasm for the game in which they are the chosen representatives of the West. Indies for the first tour to Australia. It was not for practice, however, that they made their first trip to tho Basin Reserve to-day; it was a visit of inspection of the ground, and the tourists were greatly surprised at- seeing such a fine cricketing area. The ground appealed to them. as an ideal place for cricket, and by those who had visited England it was regarded as being quite the equal of the areas in the homo of cricket. A fine tribute was also paid to the state of the wicket which had been prepared by Mr. A. Brewer for their match with Wellington this afternoon and to-morrow. The visitors were also taken on a sightseeing tour this morning by Mr. J. S. Hanna, on behalf of the Wellington Cricket Association. So impressed were the visiting cricketers with their first glimpses of this country that they indicated that an opportunity of seeing more of the country would be greatly welcomed. Their present visit is for three days only, but they will bo back again in Wellington next March, when, it is hoped, they will be able to extend their tour in order to spend a little more time in New Zealand. They leave Wellington to-morrow night for Auckland, and sail from the northern on Friday for Australia, where have a big list of engagements ! fil, the matches in Austra'ia iiufive Tests. MEMBERS OF THE PARTY.. Mr. R. H. Mallett, who has been associated with previous touring teams, and who has represented both Australia and the West Indies as an official in England, is the manager of the team, and Mr. J. E. Scheult, of the West Indies Board of Control, is the assistant manager and treasurer. The manager is accompanied by his wife and daughter, who are to spend a holiday in New Zealand. Mr. W. Abbott, a keen cricket enthusiast, is also with the party. The visiting players are: G. C. Grant (Cambridge University and Trinidad), captain; L. S. Birkett (Trinidad), vice-captain; G. Headley (Jamaica), C. A. Roach (Trinidad), E. L. Bartlett (Barbados), L. N. Constantine (Trinidad), E. St. Hill (Trinidad), H. C. Griffith (Barbados), E. R. Hunte (Trinidad), O. C. Scott (Jamaica), G. N. Francis (Barbados), F. I. De Caires (British Guiana), F. R. Martin (Jamaica), J. E. D. Scaly (Barbados), I. Barrow (Jamaica), and O. S. Wight (British Guiana). Scaly is tho "baby" of the team. He is eighteen years of age, and is still at college. The oldest member of the sido is O. C. Scott. The team is quite a young one, the average age being twenty-five years. On arrival the visitors were welcomed by Mr. P. B. Broad (chairman), Mr. A. Varney (lion, secretary), and other members of the Wellington Cricket Association, and by Messrs. D. Reese (president), W. H. Winsor (hon. secretary), and D. E. Wanklyn (hon. treasurer), of tho New Zealand Cricket Council. IN THE WEST INDIES. In conversation with Mr. J. E. Scheult, the team's assistant manager and treasurer, a "Post" reporter gathered that cricket occupies in the West Indies a position at least approaching that of Rugby football in New Zealand. It is played in all the schools and colleges, and every little village has its green. Th-e game is played with great enthusiasm, and is strongly supported by the public, big crowds being the order at all tho principal matches. The season extends throughout the "dry" period from January to June, and during the remainder of the year Rugby and Association football hold sway. In addition to the inter-club matches played in tho different colonies, intercolonial games are played, and at the end of last season British Guiana wrested the premiership from Trinidad. In Trinidad there is an insect living iv tho ground which eats the grass, with the result that it is necessary to use matting wickets. In the other colonies, however, turf wickets are used, and visiting English cricketers have expressed the opinion that they are a very near approach to the typical Australian wickets. EXPERIENCED PLAYERS. Several members of the team have had considerable experience of cricket away from their native grounds. Seven members of the present team toured England in 1928, and Francis and Constantine play as professionals in League cricket at Home. At the conclusion of the present tour St. Hill is going to England under a similar engagement. In addition, G. C. Grant has been playing cricket with the Cambridge eleven for the past two seasons.