CHANCE OF SEEING BRADMAN?

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 121, 18 November 1939, Page 22

CHANCE OF SEEING BRADMAN?

NEW HOPE OF AUSTRALIAN VISIT

V , J^Wh^n Avar broke out, that seemed to-be the?end of any prospect < of; sjeeing ,D; G. Bradman and'other Australian,cricket representatiyes .in New Zealand this season, as had been planned. A report that the tprir"!\fasnot likely to take place came from .Australia, but there was > holaefinite.caricellation. Since then cricket in-the two countries has

gone in the normal way, and at^present Sheffield Shield matches J '■■■ are -being Splayed. The "carry on" order %asgiveri tp sporty and as 2. ; things are —in a zone far removed and different from those near the zeal seat of. hostilities—it would seem that; the original intentions regarding an Australian cricket visit to New Zealand, might; well be carried out. This view is apparently held in Australia, according to advice received this week. Circumstancestin.^e near future might, of Qourse, alter the position, but at the moment the way seems.reasonably clear for a tour. It is now up to the New Zealand Cricket •Council to see what can be done. ; •

Naturally tliegame is losing players iniithepause of country^; and nothing at all ; would be done to interfere in

any- v|ay with; defence' plans. But the game goes on. and in doing so it is. serving a 'worthwhile purpose! No difficulty at all should be experienced iii having a fine Australian side available for-Va'visit to New Zealand, and if the: tour'eventuated it would serve! ?as-;ju3t;the type of tonic that - the public" want. The prospect has aroused, enthusiasm. ' .

'This, ,in\Jact, "may be just the right time to" have a visit ,frprir; Australia, the'main attraction of which would be in;seeing; Don -Bradman. Should^it liappeii' that the war is prolonged, it may; be that by; the -time another visit from 'Australia ■is arranged Bradman inay'j not be -the player he is. today; in "fact, by then he may have given up. playing (though it is hard to imagine " Australian.: cricket without" Don Bradman as a possibility for many yeari to come); Viewing the position as" it -stands^ the real opportunity for seeing Brailmah .at play in New Zealand is r presented this season.