CRICKET TOURISTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 117, 14 November 1930, Page 11

CRICKET TOURISTS

WEST INDIES TEAM

NO EXTENSION OP TOUR

The West Indies cricket team, en route to Australia, left Wellington last night for Auckland. The tourists are due in Sydney on Tuesday, and their first match in Australia is to be commenced next Friday against New South Wales. It will not be until early iv March that their Australian . engagements are fulfilled. With the exception of G. C. Grant, the tourists will make the return trip to the. West Indies via New Zealand, being due at Wellington on tho 10th March, when, it is hoped, an afternoon's batting exhibition will bo given by the visitors at the Basin Ecserve. They are to leave Wellington for the Panama Canal on 11th March. An effort was made to induce tho West Indies cricketers to remain in New Zealand for about three weeks on their return from Australia, but there were difficulties in the way, and the tourists, who were rather keen to spend more time in New Zealand, regretted being unable to comply with the request. It was pointed out by those in charge of the team, however, that a visit to New Zealand on some other occasion would be favourably considered. G. C. Grant, the captain) intends to visit India after the Australian tour, and will then go to South Africa. Constantine, Francis, and St. Hill are all going to England at the end of the tour to fulfil engagements as professionals in League cricket at Home. After the match yesterday the visitors were given a welcome to Wellington by the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) and Mr. il. i\ Luekie, a vice-president of the Wellington Cricket Association. In reply, Mr. G. C. Grant, the visiting side's captain, and Mr. B. H; Mallett, tho manager, both expressed thanks for the efforts made to make the stay of the team enjoyable. They regretted that the stay was so short, but expressed the hope that at some date in the near future a team from the West Indies would make a tour of New Zealand. Tributes -were also paid to the performance of the New Zealand team in England during tho 1927 season, and good wishes were extended to the team which was to represent the Dominion in England next year. KEEN FOR NEW ZEALAND TOUR

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The West Indies cricketers arrived at 10 o'clock and sailed at 11 o'clock for Sydney. They were much interested in meeting the veteran, Mr. S. G. Smith, whom they described as one of the finest cricketers the West Indies ever produced. The captain, Mr. G. C. Grant, said the team was keen to play three or four matches in New Zealand after the Australian tour, but it seemed unlikely that suitable arrangements could be made. .