CRICKET TOURS

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1930, Page 10

CRICKET TOURS

BUSY TIME AHEAD. Quite a busy time is ahead for cricketers in all countries where the game is played, with the- possible exception of India, where things are decidedly unsettled at present. New Zealand will have its hands full with the tour to England during the coming season. In May the “Athletic News’’ was able to state that, owing to the unrest there, doubt was being expressed in some quarters as to whether the tour of an M.C.C. team through the country would be found advisable during our next winter, as arranged. Since then various things have happened to increase such doubt considerably. First, the Hindus threatened tcT boycott the tour, as well as the big annual Quadrangular tournament in Bombay. That decision in itself was serious, but the outlook became more gloomy still when the Parsecs and Mohammedans adopted a precisely similar! attitude. With the three leading races, so far as cricket is concerned, holding aloof, it would seem to be folly to attempt a tour. For the programme contemplated could not possibly be carried out. SOUTH AFRICAN TASKS. “Still, even if the visit is cancelled” continued the “Athletic News,’’ “we in this country will have much, to interest us during our next non-cricket season, for we shall be playing tests in South Africa and the West Indies will be in Australia. “South Africa have a busy time in prospect, for they will be entertaining an English team next season, and in 1931-2 will be sending a side to Australia. If they could be sure of the help of all their chief players their prospects for both cumpnigns would be excellent! But their outlook seems to be uncertain, to say the least.

“Bissett, Christy, Melville, and Morkel are now in England, and so, 1 though only temporarily I believe, is Taylor. Bruce Mitchell, who did well over here last year, and is certainly a. very great player in the making, is studying accountancy, and may be. able to spare little time for cricket, and I hear that Camero. , the wicketkeeper batsman, is not likely to be I available fo. the trip to Australia. 1 “A very interesting rumour reaches; me to the effect that Deane, whose retirement from the game was definitely . announced some time ago, may possibly play again. : I WEST INDIES PROSPECTS. “The West Indies tour through Australia will to many o f us be as full of interest as our own in South Af- 1 rica. It will be breaking fresh ground ' entirely, and for that reason alone will be of historical importance. “Both the climate and the light will be more in their favour than they were in this country, and, on the whole, they seem likely to give a, good account of themselves, provided they are able to hold slip catches off their fast bowlers. “It is a promising sign that their captain-elect, G. C. Grant, of Trinadad, ha« been scoring well recently for Cambridge. In consecutive innings on the University ground, he made 100 v. Sussex and 98 v. Somerset, while in the returq. with the former county, at Hove, he played an innings of 97. He also scored 95 in the Surrey match at it he Oval,