CRICKET IN DOMINION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18327, 17 February 1923, Page 10

CRICKET IN DOMINION.

MR. MACLAREN'S IMPRESSION.

PROPOSED TOUR OF ENGLAND

SUGGESTION FOR PERSONNEL

The standard of New Zealand cricket was discussed by Mr. A. 0. MacLaren, captain of the English team, last evening. "Probably the best standard of cricket in the Dominion, as I view it, at the conclusion of the present tour," he said, "is that a New Zealand side, intelligently and carefully selected, would make a match with any of the English counties. Tier© are in New Zealand players who, with proper coaching, would develop into fine cricketers, but it is the lack of proper coaching and consistent play with foreign teams—not Australian—that is retarding the advancement of the game. The practice of playing the English touring sides, as in the case of the, present team, against minor association teams, where, in most cases, "bush cricket" prevails, is a farce. No possible benefit can be derived in the playing of! such contests, either for the local players or the English. The cricket in these matches descends to a low level, and a low standard, with the result that the games frequently turn out slogging competitions in which neither form i not semblance of real cricket is Future tours of foreign teams should be confined more closely to the major associations, the minor associations having the ?rivilege of nominating their best players or practice in view of final selection for a first-class match. It was sometimes

with great difficulty that we could even make a game of it, without calling it a contest, against some of the small sides in New Zealand we were arranged to play against. -\

The Need for Coaching. "To improve the standard of play the services of first-class coaches from England, of which there are many available, should he secured. A university man. who might be engaged as teacher and sports master in some of the leading colleges., would do more good for cricket and cricketers in New Zealand than anyone else. A first-class professional in England could not come to New Zealand to coach, leaving £&D 0 a year for a prospective offer of £300 or £400. "There is plenty of material here, but it wants bringing out. There is Grant, foir instance. If I had him in England he would be playing at Lancashire his first year, and his second would see him at 'Old Trafford. "There is too much selection hero on past and present performances, regardless of all other considerations. Cricketers ara to be discovered, even in New Zealand. Brice, of Wellington, of presentday cricketers, as iv bowler knows more abou*- cricket and its values than anyone else I know. Snedden, of Auckland, makes a good captain, and he is a fine batsman, who knows values. He played a splendid innings in Christchurch, But what has the press done for him? Driven him out as captain of the New Zealand team and as one of the selectors." A Suggested Team. In referenco to the suggestion under consideration by the . new Cricket Council that a New Zealand team visit England in 1925, Mr. MacLaren said that a side which included the following players would have a successful tour and put up good games against any of the English countiesSnedden, Rowntree, Dacre, Garrard (Auckland); Brice, Collins, Hiddleston, Dempster (Wellington); Blunt, Grant, Sandman, Patrick (Canterbury); Shepherd (Otago). Mcßeath, of Otago, was suggested. Only physically fit men should' tour.

In connection with this tour, Mr. MacLaren suggested that Mr. T. Lowry, the young New Zealandar, should be sent Home with the team, not only as a player, but as tone who knows the cricket con* ditions in England. Mr. MacLaren, who. has been suffering a recurrence of an old injury received in

a school football match years ' ago, wa.< not available for the later matches tor the New Zealand tour, but hopes to tun out as captain of his 'side in the return match against New South Wales in Sydney on March 2, 3 and 5. i ■ Mr. H. D. Swan, manager of the team, who is the representative of the New Zealand Council on the M.C.C. Board, is returning home with instructions concerning the proposed New Zealand team for England in 1925, and with instructions from the hockey authorities for an English hockey team to tour New.Zealand.