OUR CRICKET TOURISTS

Evening Star, Issue 19708, 8 November 1927, Page 10

OUR CRICKET TOURISTS

INTERVIEW WITH LOWRY ENGLISH PUBLIC INTERESTED [Pes Ukited Press Association.} WELLINGTON, November 7. Interviewed at Wellington, Lowry said that after tho first month iu England, when Allcott came into tho team, there had been practically no trouble through sickness or injury. In fact, nobody had had a day’s sickness in England. . ~ The team’s captain continued that they had been wry well received and entertained throughout the tour, and had created quite a considerable amount of public interest, chiefly because they got their runs a good deal quicker than most other sides. He thought that the English people would bo pleased to see tho New Zealanders again, probably m 1931, and if another tour were undertaken two-day matches, he considered, should be cut out. There had been a great deal of travelling on this tour, but after the first month some relief was provided in the spells afforded by rain interfering with the progress of play. ■ There was talk, he said, ol a. test game being provided for New Zealanders on their next visit; “but 1 think it would bo better to start on somo of tho Australian sides first.” The captain added that there was no doubt that the public of England had been interested, and tho team apparently had done better than they expected. The tour would undoubtedly be for the good of the game in New Zealand, and further progress, lie pointed out, depended a good deal upon the support given .by the public here to the game. Of course, there was much more time for play in England, and the grounds and conditions were better. Tho people of England took more interest in cricket than the people of New Zealand did in Rugby football. The game was taught thoroughly, rignt from tho schools’, where cricket was a compulsory part of the activities, and it was no uncommon sight to sec hundreds of children on the various grounds playing their games of cricket. Women, too were very interested in the game. Referring again to the hospitably extended to the team, Lowry paid a tribute to the New Zealanders in London for their keen interest in the team, and also for their generous spirit in making a presentation to each member of the side. Discussing English cricket, ho mentioned that there were now fewer good amateurs playing, and there were no outstanding new' bowlers, while conic of the bowlers who were good a year ago had lost some, of their nip. There were several good batsmen, notably Jardine, Chapman, and Hammond. Regarding the next contests lor the ashes, most of the people in Australia and in England considered that England would win. Jupp was a great bowler, and he was also impressed by Rhodes, who, although fifty years of age, was England’s best slow' bowler. Barnes, Wright, and Freeman had also bowled exceedingly well against the New Zealanders, but Larwood_ had played against them on a wet wicket, to which, of course, he was not suited.