AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 160, 10 July 1939, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

FIRST FOR THIRTEEN YEARS

D. G. BRADMAN AND S. J. McCABE LIKELY TO BE INCLUDED

Definite announcement that the Australians will leave Sydney for New Zealand on February 5, immediately following termination of the Sheffield Shiled matches, must give satisfaction in the Dominion, especially to those

who give perennial time and unrewarded service to the game. It will have been thirteen years since a team representing Australia toured that country, writes “Not Out” in the Sydney Referee. With the exception of the evergreen C. V. Grimmett, all of that party have retired from first-class cricket. New Zealanders will, therefore, see a new set of Australians, though most of these will be seasoned and some celebrated internationals. Here we contemplate one of the angles in which the Australian Board of Control did move too slowly, as the leading sponsor of its game in the hemisphere of the south. Better late than never. Ten Tests With N.Z. Have Been Played. English historians of cricket, since the death of Mr. F. S. Ashley-Cooper —whose eye took in a universal survey—have over-looked the Australia v. New Zealand series when dealing with Test cricket in general. This applies to the wonderful "Wisden,” the “Athletic News Annual,” and to Sir Pelham Warner’s “The CrickeV* England and South Africa v. New Zealand are recorded, though never a mention of the Australia v. New Zealand. Starting in 1904-5 New Zealand v. Australia runs into ten matches, the last in 1928. Seven were won by Australia and three drawn. Thirteen centuries were made for Australia and one for New Zealand (109 not out, by E. V. Sale, at Auckland, in 1914). W. M. Woodful with 284 not out heads the centuries with Victor Trum-

per’s 172 next. Others to succeed embrace men outstanding in history: Clem Hill (two), Vernon Ransford, Victor Richardson, C. E. Dolling, and Edgar Waddy. Some very heavy totals were piled up for Australia including 633, 610 for six wickets, 593 for nine wickets, 573 for five wickets, and 533. Worth noting that Australia has never had a completed second innings. New Zealand’s highest was 288 at Auckland in

1927-8, when J. E. Mills with 58 and H. Foley 50 not out topped the scores. When E. V. Sale made his 109 not out in Auckland it must have been an exceptionally easy wickets. The tourists started with 610 for six wickets, Edgar Waddy 140, J. N. Crawford 134 Warwick Armstrng 110 not out, C K E Dolling 104 and Victor Trumper 81. The Victorian left-hand bowler, Jack

Saunders played for New Zealand in this match, his one wicket costing 102 runs. Three Tests Arranged. In the coming tour Tests will be played at Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Besides six matches will be against Plunket Shield teams and five against minor associations. New Zealanders are likely to entertain a team that turns on fascinating cricket. Don Bradman is keen, and so is Bill Brown. Stan McCabe and Bill O’Reilly are now in full swing in their sports goods business in George Street. We will, perhaps, see one or both in this team. Fortunately, once again Stan McCabe is a picture of health and athletic breeziness. We may expect to see two or three new Test bowling aspirants in the :*arty, provided form next season be as good as it was last season. These should include the two new fast bowlers, J. Ellis, of Queensland, and R. Barry-Scott, of Victoria. The

Queensland slow to medium lefthander, C. Christ, and possibly a new one from South Australia may also be there. It will be a memorable tour for many reasons. One is that New Zealand will be celebrating its centenary. The itinerary, which has been approved by the Australian Board of Control, is as follows: February 6 and 7 v. Wairarapa, at Masterton. February 9, 10, 12 v. Wellington, at Wellington. February 14 and 15 v. Southland, at Invercargill. February 16, 17 and 19 v. Otago, at Dunedin. February 23, 24 and 26, v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. February 27 and 28 v. West Coast, at Greymouth. March 1,2 and 4v. New Zealand, at Christchurch. March 5 and 6 v. Manawatu, at Palmerston North. March 8, 9 and 11 v. Auckland, at Auckland. March 12 and 13 v. Waikato, at Hamilton. March 15, 16 and 18 v. New Zealand, at Auckland. March 19 and 20 v. Taranaki, at New Plymouth. March 23, 25 and 26 v. New Zealand, at Wellington. March 29 and 30 v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier.