NOTABLE CRICKETER’S RETURN

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 11

NOTABLE CRICKETER’S RETURN

R. C, BLUNT HAS ROUSING RECEPTION COMMENTS ON TOUR Mr R. C. Blunt, Otago’s sole representative iu tho New Zealand cricket team that recently toured England, had a rousing welcome when he arrived back in Dunedin last night, there being 'a large crowd of cricketers, 'members of tho Otago Cricket Association, and followers of the game present when the train pulled in to the station. Looking rerarkably fit, the New Zealand representative was escorted to the Grand Hotel, where tho Otago Cricket Association held an informal reception, at which Mr Blunt made some most interesting comments on the New Zealanders’ tour. _ , Tho Deputy-chairman of the Otago Cricket Association (Mr G. A. Wycherley) extended a warm welcome to Mr Blunt, and said that not only did he wish to congratulate Mr Blunt on his individual efforts, but also to, congratulate the team of which ho had been a member, a team which had made cricket history so, far as New was concerned. (Applause.) In Dunedin cricket enthusiasts had followed the cables closely, and they were proud to see how well their sole representative had done, especially in the latter part of tho tour. Once again he had been second in the batting only to tho redoubtable Dempster, and had the distinction of making the highest individual score. Despite the fact that much time had been lost through tho wet weather, the team had done well. _ In the only test originally allocated it had done so alarmingly well that the , English authorities gave it two more tests. Cricketers were pleased to see Mr Blunt back again, and Mr Wycherley said he felt sure that their New Zealand representative would be pleased at the success that had attended many of the young players in the opening matches. He hoped Mr Blunt would bo able to stay witli them, to help to develop the young players, and to enable tho representative team to grasp tho enthusiasm that had been engendered by the doings of the New Zealand team in the Old Country. In conclusion, Mr Wycherly expressed tho hope that Mr Blunt would go on doing great deeds for years to come, and that ho would be doing them on behalf of Otago. (Applause.) The Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) welcomed Mr Blunt on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin. They were proud of tho figures he had compiled, hut they were prouder still of the reputation the New Zealand cricketers had left behind them in England. They had been proud of their soldiers, and the Now Zealand cricketers had added to the lustre of New Zealand. They had played cricket on the field and: off. (Applause.) TRIBUTE TO RETIRING PLAYERS. Mr Blunt’s health was drunk with musical honours, and on rising to respond tho New Zealand representative was warmly cheered. Ho was glad to see so many people present to meet him. Before going on to review various happenings of the English tour, Mr Blunt said that lie had noticed that “ Dick ” Torrance and Jack M‘Mullan had retired. Every cricketer appreciated what these men had done for Otago cricket. The speaker said he' had never come across two follows it gave him more pleasure to travel with. Ho only hoped that young Otago players would profit from their example. TOUR REVIEWED. Proceeding to comment on the English tour, Mr Blunt said that in tho first place ho thought New Zealand was fortunate in having a fairly good lot of follows representing it, and there was not one incident throughout the tour which jarred or rankled in any way whatever. To Tom Lowry the team owod a groat deal, but it bad also been fortupato in. having a great Press to help it. “ Early in the tour we came across special correspondents of English papers who seemed to like us,” said Mr Blunt, “ and this was reflected in their Press reports, and to them a great deal of tho success of the tour was duo.” The excellent start which tho team had made against Essex had done a Jot of good. In this match they owed much to Dempster, who unquestionably ranked with tho host batsmen in England, or oven in the world. Ho had played soino magnificent innings, and was above the class of tho rest of the team. His score of 212 against Essex had put heart into tho rest of the team. THE M.C.C. SENSATION. Tho team’s win in tho M.C.C. match was probably the sensation of the tour, said -Mr Blunt. None of the team knew how it happened. New Zealand batted first on a wicket that was not particularly easy and not particularly difficult. Talbot got 06, and Lowry followed this up by getting a century. Nono of the team anticipated that, having lost the host part of one day, they could possibly got the M.C.C. out twice in one day. The feature of M.C.C. ! s first innings was (Tomb's bowling for New

Zealand. Possibly the slight slope of the ground at Lord’s had helped him. Anyway, he bowled magnificently, and several men ■were caught behind the wickets or in the slips. There was no doubt that at Lord’s Cromb’s bowling had been as good as that of Maurice Tate or any other fast-medium bowler in England. He had seen better batting in senior cricket'than the M.C.C. showed in this particular match. After the first three or four batsmen were dismissed the rest had come “ like lambs to slaughter.” When Maurice Allora came in last in the second innings he was muttering to himself, and Page said; “What’s the matter, Maurice?” He replied: “This Is the first time Pvo had to come in and bat twice within an hour!” The Press had given the New. Zealanders a great hearing after this match, and some of the papers became hysterical about , the decadence of English cricket. The New Zealanders knew,, however, that the reports were all a good deal exaggerated. FIRST TEST. The team was pretty nervous about the first test, in which England fielded its strongest team with the exception of Larwood, said the speaker. The side owed a good deal to Dempster and Mills, who had started it off all right. The ground itself presented a wonderful ( sight, the match being one of the few that was played throughout in glorious weather. There was a crowd of 25,000 spectators, which had been very fair and impartial. Dempster and Mills put on 70 for the first wicket, and the score was taken to 140 for two wickets. Then Peebles got oh top, and the side was dismissed for 224. Pour of the best English batsmen had been dismissed for 50 odd, and then Woolley, the oldest man in the team, came along and “ saved_ the ship.” It was amazing how things seemed to go wrong with the team on Mondays, and the following Monday was often referred to as “ Black Monday.” Allen and Ames batted extremely well, the only chance being given by Ames, who was dropped in the slips. The most impressive event of the tour was when the King visited Lord’s during this match. Every person in the huge crowd stood up in silence, the men. with their hats off. The King said a few words to members of the two teams, and quietly left. One of the best innings played on the tour was that of Weir in New Zealand’s second innings. Not much had been said about it, but his score of 40 was worth much more than the figures indicated. He had kept his wicket intact, and given Dempster great help. Page had batted well on the next day, and Now Zealand did so well that it was t able to declare in the afternoon, tho game ending quietly in a draw. It was amazing to hear tho enthusiasm of tho old members at Lord’s ; and quite a number had stated that it was one of the most enjoyable cricket matches ever played on Lord’s. An average of 400 runs each day was more than they were used to in test matches. SECOND AND THIRD TESTS.

Tli© team received with mixed feelings the news that it had been awarded two more tests. They recognised that it was a compliment to the team, But they were not quite sure how' they would get on. The second test was not a true indication. There had been a tremendous downpour*at night, and the New Zealanders had to bat against fellows such as Peebles, Brown, and Verity, who w'ere good under such con--ditions. It was freely stated that New Zealand could not expect to get 100 in the second innings, but the side managed to make 200. The Press had let tho team down very lightly, and as far as the third test was concerned it rained three days before the game, and two days during which there was supposed to be play. There should have been no play at all on the last afternoon, and the crowd merely had a fast three hours’ cricket. The kindness and hospitality shown to the team was more than anything that was anticipated. The members of the M.C.C. team which had toured New Zealand last year had been great advertisers of the dominion, and in every county visited by the New Zealanders inquiries were made as to when another English team would be visiting New Zealand, as players were anxious to secure places. All that had been said in praise of Lowry’s captaincy had been justified. _ As manager and captain he ■had carried out his duties to the satisfaction of every member of the team Cyril Allcott had had the task of looking after the financial part of the tour, and had carried out his duties satisfac torily, as well as doing his part on the field. FUTURE INTENTIONS.

In regard to the reports that ho intended to leave Dunedin, Mr Blunt said, that he knew nothing of them. He had enjoyed himself so much in Dunedin that ho had no inclination to go away from here. If he did stay he hoped ho would be able to do much for Otago cricket, for there was plenty of material here. (Applause.) There were plenty of young cricketers of promise, hut unfortunately most of them were batsmen. That was the trouble of the

New Zealand team in England—it needed an off-spin bowler of the Dunning type. A bowler of the fastmedium typo, such as- Dunning, could always get something out of tho wicket. On a hard wicket ho could make the ball run away, and on wet wickets he could bring the ball back a bit from the off. Tate was still the best bowler of his type in England, and there was no one to take his place. It was up to all cricketers to help promising junior, bowlers all they could. In conclusion, be expressed the hope that he would be in Dunedin for some time to come to help cricket along. (Applause.)