AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19918, 11 April 1928, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS.

The Australian cricketers who are about to leave New Zealand have certainly fulfilled one of the purposes of their tour. They have given the Dominion a glimpse of standards far higher than those yet attained on these shores. So much is satisfactory, but, again, at the end of their visit, it is appropriate to ask whether the most has been made of the opportunities it offered. The. question of matches with the minor associations has been discussed between the Australian manager and the New Zealand Council, not directly or formally, but by way of public comment and explanation. The manager said these fixtures were of little value. The New Zealand Council replied that it had to consider the minor associations; their claims could not be ignored. There is a measure of justice on both sides, but the solution is the compromise already suggested. The smaller centres should certainly have their matches, care being taken, of course, not to overtax the visitors' good nature by excessive* travelling. Yet, invoking once again the example of what was done at Hamilton, judicious reinforcement of the local team would make the fixtures more attractive, more educational, and of greater interest to the visitors, who would be encouraged to give of their best by facing stronger opposition than the minor associations could normally offer unaided. The Australians brought a number of young players in search of experience, with a stiffening of men of first-class calibre. The example is a good one. If adopted by New Zealand in future programmes, it should help to extract the last possible amount of value out of tours by Australian teams.