CRICKET N.Z. TEAM TO-DAY SAILING FOR TOUR OF BRITAIN

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 6

CRICKET N.Z. TEAM TO-DAY SAILING FOR TOUR OF BRITAIN

WELLINGTON, February 25.

The New Zealand cricket team sails for England to-morrow. They were to-day formally farewelled by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, who congratulated them on their selection, and wished them every success. Sir A. Donnelly said that this side was stronger than the last one to go in batting, and the bowling might exceed anticipations.

MANY TEETOTALLERS IN TEAM ‘‘This is the fourth New Zealand cricket team that has gone to England and I would say without hesitation that it is undoubtedly the best,” said Sir Arthur Donnelly, president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, at a reception at Parliament buildings to-day to members of the team. ‘‘lts batting is stronger than the batting of any other New Zealand team I can remember,” he added. "The bowling is more speculative, but, I still think it is a good deal stronger than many people believe.” . If the team could hold 70 per cent, of its catches, particularly in the slips, he said, it would win •90 per cent of its matches, without a doubt. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said he knew the team would be a credit to the country and enhance New Zealand’s already high reputation. The captain of the team. W._ A. Hadlee, the manager, Mr J. H. Phillips, and the United Kingdom High Commissioner, Sir Patrick Duff, also spoke. Reasonably large quantities of tea, coffee, water, lemonade, ginger ale, and other soft drinks will probably be consumed by the New Zealand cricket team on its tour of England, but relatively little liquor. It. is probably safe to say that no previous football or (men’s) cricket team has left this country with such a high percentage of teetotallers in its ranks.

This will doubtless please those who maintain that the true athlete eschews strong drink, and certainly no one would suggest that the abstainers in the cricket team should commence to drink now that they are going on tour. At the same time, it is to be hoped that those who entertain the team in England will understand that no desire to be unsociable lies behind the abstemious habits of the New Zealanders.

When touring teams are feted the traditional style is to “say it with cocktails”, if not with ale, and there will be many such functions in England.

However, though there may be some instances in which the tourists will be suspected of failing to mix in the approved style, it is reasonable to assume that in almost all cases their hosts will think nothing of it.

During the past few days the players have been the guests of honour at individual farewell functions throughout New Zealand (except Otago). Early this afternoon the players signed their contracts and met Sir Arthur Donnelly, president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, and other members of the council.

At 4 p.m. the players were the guests of the - Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg) at Government House, and at 5.30 p.m. they were farewelled by Sir Arthur Donnelly, on behalf of the Cricket Council, at the -Hotel Waterloo.

To-morrow morning the British High Commissioner (Sir Patrick Duff) will entertain the team at Ranelagh, his residence in Wesley Road. T'he tourists will then embark, and the Dominion Monarch is scheduled to pull out from the Glasgow Wharf at mid-day.