NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20869, 11 May 1931, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

The New Zealand cricket team has opened its English tour brilliantly. The term is fully deserved. A victory by an innings and 83 runs over Essex is decisive enough to focus eyes on this band of young players from the other side of the world. Essex was described by Wisden as a rapidly-improving side last season. The county had not much fortune in actually winning matches, but proved difficult to beat. Out of 28 county fixtures, seven were won, live lost and 16 drawn. The New Zealandcrs are entitled to full credit for so clean-cut a victory against such opponents—though too much must not be built on early success. The favourable display by the early batsmen 'against Leicestershire is also impressive. This county's experience last season was less fortunate than that of Essex, for a bright opening tailed off into a strugglo against odds at the end. Nevertheless, the forceful beginning by the visitors was against bowling headed by a test match performer. Of individual players, Dempster and Merritt share the honours, with bat and ball respectively. Auckland followers of cricket wili be delighted to find Mills striking form, and the English critics who commented on his graceful and stylish 'batting during the last tour will doubtless declare their earlier views confirmed. Of the New Zealand bowling little need be said. The figures in the Essex match speak for themselves. It is very pleasinp to find that the team acquitted itself well in the field. It was frequently remarked during the last tour that better fielding would have made that side much more formidable. The greater finish displayed in the Essex match can be attributed in large part to the experience of that occasion, helped, no doubt, by the subsequent visit of the M.C.C. team to New Zealand. Whatever the final outcome of the tour, the opening shows that the cricketers of this Dominion have profited greatly by their opportunities in recent seasons.