ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18963, 10 March 1925, Page 9

ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

<►» DEPARTURE FOR HOME. CHAPMAN TO MARRY IN N.Z. Australian and N.Z. Cabta Apsocialion. (Rerd. 3.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. Mar. 9. The match between the English cricketers and the Northern Districts eleven resulted in a draw. The visitors were given an enthusiastic valedictory on their departure for Melbourne en route to England. The English captain, Gilligan, said the team had enjoyed a really wonderful trip. Although some of them did not reproduce their English form it was not because they were not triers. The manager. Mr. Toone, said the visitors would have liked to have won the ashes, hut they bowed to the superior play of their opponents. Ho heartily congratulated the Australians on their success. Chapman did . not accompany the team. ITe is to leave this week for New Zealand, where he is to be married. ORDEAL OF ENDURANCE. LESSONS OF THE TEST MATCHES. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Mar. 8. The Observer, in drawing attention to test cricket matches as an ordeal of endurance, advocates the gradual shortening of the matches. It says the nervous strain and physical fatigue exhaust the players. They were not able to raise an individual century in the last test match. The paper adds: "The lesson should bo a warning to those desiring to fight out the test matches to a finish in England in 1926." The writer says he expects to see a complete restoration of English cricket, which has already nobly commenced, if she concentrates on building the team power that Australia now possesses. lie praises the Australian policy of reducing the number of clubs in Sydney and Melbourne and grading them to enable regular best class cricket to be played. Similar steps should be taken in England, where cricket would be better if there were fewer counties and all were on a more equal plane.