DOMINION CRICKETERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 21

DOMINION CRICKETERS

MATCHES IN AUSTRALIA HIGHER HONOUR FOR PLAYERS? The wisdom of bringing the New Zealand cricket team back via Australia for the purpose of playing a few matches is doubted by many leading authorities in tho Dominion. By tho time they conclude their present tour iu Britain the New Zcalanders will bo heartily sick of cricket, seeing that they will have been playing twice weekly for over four months, and this on top of a .full season hero before their departure. Jn addition, the members of the team will not be fit after a sea voyape to walk almost straight on to the Adelaide Oval and face such opposition as Bradman, Badcock, Grimmett, Richardson and others. In the event of a heavy defeat by South Australia the remaining matches would lose much of their interest, and a succession of losses would certainly tend to discredit a side which has put up some remarkably fine —if a little inconsistent —performances at Home. It would lie fairer to the players to allow them to return to New Zealand and make a tour of Australia later on. However, it is apparent from the following remarks in a Melbourne paper of J. Worrall, the well-known former Victorian and Australian representative, that the visit of the New Zcalanders is being eagerly looked forward to by the Australian public. He savs:— After a great deal of discussion and anxiety tho Victorian Cricket Association has agreed to countenance a match in Melbourne against tho New Zealand cricketers on their way home from England. It would have been an ungracious act otherwise. The dates arranged for the fixture are from November 12 to 16. As November, as a general thing, is a cold and wet month for cricket in Melbourne, the meeting might remind our visitors of many similar outings in the Old Country. However, let us hope that 'the weather will be in every way suitable, and that the cricket seen will be worthy of the occasion. Teams from tho Dominion aro not often seen in Australia and, as the game has made rapid strides in New Zealand, the prospect of seeing our friends from across tho Tasman Sea is alluring. Many fine players have seen tho light of day in New Zealand •—our wonderful wily old bowler, Clarrio Grimmett, being one of the number —and the visitors mav_ have some special class of player in the ranks that might fit him for being an Australian eleven man. It has happened before, and > would be welcomed again, especially in the bowling line.