THE FERN LEAF CRICKETERS

Evening Star, Issue 19520, 30 March 1927, Page 4

THE FERN LEAF CRICKETERS

GOOD-BYE AND GOOD LUCK ARMSTRONG’S PRAISE AND ADVICE [Peb United Press Association,] . WELLINGTON, .March 29. At the farewell to the cricket team in the Town Hall to-day. Armstrong (captain of the Melbourne Team) was cheered when he was called upon to speak. “ Wherever I have been I have heard a lot about football in Now Zealand,” he said. “ New Zealanders, however, can play cricket too. They can play just as well as wo can, and they will hold up the game of. cricket in England just ns well as Australia did. They will find that out when tho team has played together for a‘month or two, and the captain'has got to know the players. I have great confidence in this team, and I think they are going to win a long way more matches than they will lose.” Tho team, continued Armstrong, was taking on a very hard thing indeed. There was not much pleasure attached to such a tour, and that would be found out once a start was made. It was hard work. The team would have to pull together and work like clockwork to make a success of tho tour, but he was sure that would be done. Differerences had to be sunk when they loft New Zealand’s shores. It was of the greatest importance to them to realise that they represented New Zealand. and not Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, or anywhere else. Tho team represented the public of Now Zealand. The first thing people at Homo looked to see was whether the members of the team were gentlemen. They must remember that they not only represented the cricket authorities, but every individual in New Zealand. Not only the people in New Zealand would be watching the progress of the team, but in Australia, the team’s doings would be followed just as closely. “I can take it on my shoulders,” added Armstrong, “ and say that the Australian Cricket Council wishes you . all success and God speed.” The manager of the team (Mr D. Hay) expressed thanks for the enthusiastic farewell accorded the t§am. He thought they had a bit of an opportunity of putting New Zealand cricket on the map. He would not promise anything in regard to the team’s play, but ho did promise that New Zealand would not tool ashamed of them off the field.

Mr T. Lowry- (captain) said he fully appreciated the necessity of keeping up New Zealand’s fine reputation at T» nine. Regarding the qualifications of tho team, he thought every member would easily find a place in the County teams in England. As far as he could see. New Zealand teams in the past had alway-s been got together hurriedly from all parts, and then they had to do battle against teams in bard training. He thought the team going to England would be able to show something bettor, but “be it wet or fine, howover, yon can guarantee us to play cricket,” he concluded.

ROGER BLUNT’S .CAREER

[Special to the ‘ Star.’]

CHRISTCHURCH. March 29. Who coached Roger Blunt? H. 0. Watson, r e time cricket coach at Christ’s' Co iego, but now a farmer in the North Island, is said to have been the only coach that Blunt ever had. “I remember Blunt when ho first came to the college at the age of twelve years,” said an old-time cricketer today, who has for the past twenty years been coaching College elevens, ...“Ho was a very little chap at' the time. Ho had a remarkable gift, even then, for slow bowling with a big leg break. It was not long before he found his way into tho Second eleven. Ho didn’t stay there long, however; soon ho was in the First eleven. Ho quickly came to the fore under that very able coach, H. C. Watson, who was then in charge. In those days Blunt shone more as a slow bowler, with a very accurate length. As a batsman he was of tho quiet and thoughtful type. It was quite a common thing to see Blunt bowl for a whole afternoon without bowling a single ball of bad length. He was contented for a season or two to deal in ordinary leg breaks. Later on. however, he developed thtf ‘ googly ball, which he bowled with great accuracy and effect. Ho continued to improve in his bowling, and at the same time his batting made corresponding progress. He made some very fine scores for the College, notably one of 204 against the Boys’ High School. He and T. W T . Tothill, going in first for College, put up a fine score of over 100 for the first wicket partnership, and . when Tothil: lost his wicket Blunt continued until lie had put up a score of 204. He would have been about seventeen years of ago then. Leaving College, Blunt went straight into the Canterbury Eleven, more as a bowler than as a batsman. As a bowler be did. well, but his batting continued to improve so steadily that it was not .long before be had the honor of going in first. As a batsman it was in the 1914-15 season, when Blunt was only fourteen years.of ago, that he first came into prominence as a member of the Christ’s College First Eleven. Bowling was his forte in those days.. He captured 51 wickets for 500 runs in that particular season, an average of 9.8.0. The following season he took 87 wickets for 905 runs, an average of 10.51. Then in the 1916-17 season he blossomed out into an allrounder. Ho took 42 wickets for 664 runs,, an average of 11.04, and in sixteen innings scored 842 runs, an average of 52.02. He left College at the end of 1918, having made 435 runs in five innings, an average of 87.”