CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1929, Page 7

CRICKET

M.C.C. TEAM. WOOLLEY, ROWLEY, AND COEN LOR I) ARRIVE. INTERVIEWS AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, December 3. The advance party, of tlie M.C.C. team b’or the New Zealand tour, which arrived in Wellington to-day by the Mamma from Sydney, includes Frank Woolley, one oi the greatest left-hand players that cricket has ever produced. Although he has made several tours to Australia, Woolley is paying his first visit to New Zealand, and both lie and his wife, who are accompanied by their three-year-old daughter, indicated today that they had. been keenly looking forward to the trip to New Zealand. Other members of the M.C.C. team to arrive to-day were E. H. Rowley and W. Cornford, tlie latter also visiting New Zealand ifor tlie first time. Cornford, the smallest member of the touring team, and known as “Tich,” is a wicket-keeper of outstanding ability, and it has been said of him that on his day lie has no equal in England. The visitors were met by Air I’. B. Broad, chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association, Mr A. Varney (secretary), and other members, as well as a number of local players and enthusiasts. All three visiting cricketers were affected by sickness or injury in Australia, and have come across anead of the team in order to have a brief spell before the matches here. Rowley, who is suffering from neuritis, will probably require special treatment, and was examined by a specialist soon after bis arrival. Bowlev was advised to go to Rotorua Ifor three weeks’ treatment, and he leaves by the Limited express to-morrow night. The ex-Auckland coach said that the team had not been able to do itself justice in Australia owing to the exceptional run of bad luck in the matter of injuries and sickness. In no match in Australia had the team been at full strength. “It was just had luck, ’he said, “ but if we had had a full side we might have scrambled through without a reverse.” There was no doubt about tlie side being a good one all round, said Bowley. It was very strong in batting, and it had four fast-medium bowlers, Nichols, in fact, being a fast bowler, and Allom, Bavrntt, and Worthington of the fastmedium stvle. Woolley. Duleepsinhji, Nichols, Turnbull, and Gilligan were all showing Iforin with the hat, and Dawson had indicated at Sydney that Do was striking form. Woolley and. Duleepsinhji were the two finest batsmen in England to watch. Tlie team as a whole, he considered, would play bright cricket, and there would he no sitting on the- hat. They lioped to give a reallv good account of themselves in New Zealand. W. Cornford, who received a nasty gash over the eye in the Melbourne match, has recovered from his injury, and looks to be fit and well for the job which he has on hand behind the stumps, and lie has been well prepared for it in having to stand up to Maurice Tate and company in the Sussex team. He is also a capable bat, often making useful scores.

Woolley, interviewed, said that it was a fairly solid side. “ \ou will find that when they sot a. start they will all play bright cricket,” he said. They are a young side, and you will find that they are a fine lot of fellows. While they are anxious to see as much as they can df New Zealand, they are coming to do the best they can to help vour cricket here, and also to play good sporting cricket.” Batting well and giving samples of his true form, Turnbull played a very fine innings at Sydney, as cTid Rowley at Perth. It would be a great handicap to the team in being without the services of Rowley throughout the eai ly part of the New Zealand tour. Woolley pvpeeted that Legge would make a lot of runs out here, being a very pretty player, with plenty of off shots. Rawson was another young member of the team who should get plenty of runs. Roth Rarratt and Allom had howled Tory 'well in Australm, as also had Worthington. Thov had stuck it, out very well. Nichols, with Rarratt, would m-ovide the fast howling, Allom and Worthington supporting with medium-naeed deliveries. “ T think the team has done very well in Australia, far better than wo re°lly anticiivited,” he added. “Vi ith lust a hit of luck on our side we should not have lost a match ”