ENGLAND'S QUEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21291, 19 September 1932, Page 9

ENGLAND'S QUEST

CRICKET "ASHES" TEAM LEAVES HOME TATE TO JOIN VESSEL ILLNESS NOT SERIOUS GIiEAT FABEWELL SCENES By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received September 17, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 17 The English cricket team to tour Australia and New Zealand left London today on the start of their journey. - At the farewell to the players St. Pancras Station was uncomfortably crowded. Several of the Indian cricketers, who are to leave for homo to-morrow, were present.

The Englishmen faced a battery of cameras later on the boat deck of the Orontes, where they were greeted by the captain of the vessel.

The captain of the team, Mr. D. R. Jardine, made a brief, hopeful speech for the talkies. The ship slipped away from a practically deserted wharf. Every passing vessel in the river gavo siren greetings. Boys on a training ship and the men on warships manned the yards and cheered the cricketers, who were accompanied to Gibraltar by Mr. LevesonGower's team, including Lord Tennyson. The players were in high spirits. Two women presented Mr. H. B. Warner (joint manager) with a canister containing ashes, inscribed: "To be returned intact." They also gave sprigs of white heather to the players. Allen received a toy lion bearing a card oh which was written: "Keep the lion's tail wagging." Mr. Warner said he was looking forward to meeting Hill, Trumble, Noblo and Armstrong. Sutcliffe carried a brandnew bat for the nine-year-old son of the Earl of Harewood, which he has undertaken to carry throughout the tour and return autographed by all the test players. Tate to Join Team at Toulon The cricketers regretted the absence of Tate, the wag of the team, who is expected to join the Orontes at Toulon. The voyage, it is hoped, will enable him to make a complete recovery. The medical report on his case states that though he has a nervous breakdown he is quite fit physically.

A Brighton specialist, called in to decide whether or not Tate should embark with the rest of the cricketers for Australia, said he considered that Tate's illness was not as serious as was at first imagined. The specialist stated that in all probability Tate would be fit to go overland on Thursday to catch up with the team. He must bo subject to complete rest and quietness in the meanwhile. The professionals in the team will receive £4OO, plus a bonus based on the receipts, and an allowance of £1 a week while on board ship, and 30s a week when on shore. The amateurs will receive £l5O allowance. AH will dine together in public rooms, and will have similar accommodation. Chance oi Recovering the " Ashes " At the Marylebone Cricket Club's dinner to the tourists at Lord's, Mr. Jardine said: "We are a happy band of men of experience and enthusiasm blended together who will win because we think we can." Mr. Warner stated that Jardine, with Sutcliffe as the senior professional, would select the teams in Australia. He added: " I honestly believe wo have more than an even chanco of recovering the 'Ashes.' ■"

In a special message prior to the departure of the team Mr. Jardine said: " We all deeply regrefc leaving without Duleepsinhji. Wc shall miss him at every turn."

Sutcliffe said: " I regret that when I bat I shall not have my old partner Jack Hobbs at the other end/' Tate said he hardly realised that, liko Sutcliffe, he would have been out to Australia under three captains. Ho would not feel the least bit older when ho reached Australia than he did in 1924. HOBBS COMING ROLE OF JOURNALIST MIGHT PLAY IF NEEDED (Received September 19, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 18 Jack Hobbs who is going to Australia in the role of cricketing journalist, is avoiding the Bay of Biscay as usual and goes overland to Toulon. An intriguing point, however, is that all his cricketing gear has gone ahead on the Orontes. He says he may bat in India on the way home, but already there is a lot of conjecture whether if things are going adversely he will don the flannels in some of the test matches. If the truth be told, the Marylebone Cricket Club would be happier if Hobbs had not signed a newspaper contract and had been free for selection, but if his services are needed, especially if the fifth test match decides the fate of the "ashes," it is understood there will be ready permission for him to wield the bat instead of the pen.