CRICKET TOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1934, Page 13

CRICKET TOURS

TO All) NEW ZEALAND

N.S.W. OFFICIAL'S PLAN

VISITS FROM OVERSEAS

Once upon a time —no i'aivy " story, this —Australia, viewed New Zealand through, cricket eyes so kindly as to suggest that there be a combination of forces for tlio formation, of an "Australasian" team. Actually some New Zealand cricketers did go to Australia with a view to qualifying for places in Australia's team, long before Clarric Grimmett went of his own accord. But thn idea of a combined team was not taken up enthusiastically. Those days are past, but they were recalled by Mr. A. W. Green, president of the. New South Wales Cricket Association, when in Wellington this -week on his way back from England lo Australia. lie was discussing Now Zealand's position in the cricket .world, with special re fcrcncc to the matter of tours, and he felt that the Dominion, should receive a helping hand. Of the proposal made in the old days, as indicated, he said that New Zealand had received it in so lukewarm a manner that it was felt more than ever in Australia that New Zealand interest was centred almost wholly in football. "And so." he added, "we have always looked upon New Zealand as being not a cricket country but a football country." Mr. Green was mindful of the fact that New Zealand had long since made efforts to develop its cricket, and not without some measures of success. "But." he asked, "why do your cricketers go to England1?" He referred of course, to those who were probably lost to New Zealand cricket. Was it that there was insufficient encouragement to them to remain here? "Cricket being a national sport, it should be encouraged," Mr. Green advised. "Your cricket is now taking some shape; it did not have much shape before." And so ho went on to offer suggestions for its development by means of visits from overseas. A SCHEME SUGGESTED. "I dv feel that we- ought to help one another in our cricket generally," lie said, "and I am more than surprised that tho Australian Board of Control has turned down the proposition to come here this season. 1 certainly will have to talk to them on the other side about turning the tour down;" Ho was aware, of course, that a team ofl'ored New Zealand last season had not been accepted, and that was regrettable. For the future, however, there should be au arrangement, Mr. Green considered, whereby the champion club team from one of the States should come across to New Zealand just as is done in Rugby League. The premier club team from New South Wales, or Victoria, or South Australia would be a good attraction, especially if it were given perhaps a little added strength. For instance, if Bradman's team in South Australia, where Bradman would in future bo playing, won tho. club championship there it would bo a good draw in New Zealand in having Bradman as one of its members. Tho same would be the case if McCabo's team Won the Now South Wales club competition, as McCabe himself would bo an attraction. Again, Chipperlield's team, whatever it might be, would also be an attraction. The idea appealed to him strongly, and he urged that steps be takon to bring about such un arrangement. LOOKING INTO DETAILS. It was pointed out to Mr. Green that a difficulty would be presented in the | fact that the club championships would 'not be decided early enough to enable the winning team to fit in a tour of New Zealand at the end of the season. However, Mr. Green thought that tho champion team in one season might come in tho following season, from any ono .of the States, according to which team was best able- to make a tour. There were, of course, other details, but he felt that they could bo arranged satisfactorily. The financial . aspect was an important consideration, and he pointed out that neither country must be hungry about money, and it was not to be expected that either country should lose money unduly over such a scheme. The proposition he put forward [should not prevent tours on occasions by Australian representative teams. VVhalevev the class of tour, players in Australia were eager to visit New Zealand. Those who had come in the past had spoken in • the highest terms of their visits, and many others, he know, were anxious to come. Mr. Green thought that the shorter tours, of about a months' duration, were to be preferred, and he added: "My suggestion is that you go for that senior team, and have it built up by the inclusion of some of tho-big fellows, because what Ihe public wants is tho name." M.C.C. VISITS. England also would help New Zealand, and Mr. Green said that he had recently; had a talk with the M.C.C. people about extending the M.C.C. tours of Australia, as was done in the case of the last M.C.C. team in coming to New Zealand after fulfilling its engagements in Australia. "Of course," said Mr. Green, "we owe Perth two matches with Western Australian teams, one on tho M.C.C. team's arrival in Australia and one at the end of the tour. We cannot honestly say that one of these matches should be cut out. The Western Australian people are real triers in the game and they deserve backing up. I suggested that the M.C.C. team should leave England a few days earlier so that Western Australia's two matches could bo played at tho start of the tour in Australia, and that at tho end of the other engagements the M.C.C. team should come across to New Zealand." The extension of tho tour was favoured, but it was thought by some that the Australian programme should bo curtailed. Bather than have that, Mr. Green thought an earlier start would best meet tho position. He was quite certain that the M.C.C. would give New Zealand the chance of seeing its Test team, but the question was how to fit in the extra matches to be played here. it was done last time, but Western Australia had to be considered. In coming to New Zealand after touring Australia there would also be for the M.C.C. teams a direct return trip to England and that had its advantages. It was quite on the cards that the M.C.C. team, visiting Australia every four years would go back via New Zealand. Apart from that, there would be a visit from an M.C.C. team in the near future, this foam, not being a Test side but much like that which Harold Gilligau had brought to New Zealand.