THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1899. THE CRICKETING COLLAPSE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3676, 28 February 1899, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1899. THE CRICKETING COLLAPSE.

With which is Incorihusated ■ Tire ■ Wht.t,i!jotom Independent, Established 1845. .

Failure, utter and inglorious, has boon tho result of sending a foam of Now Zealand cricketers to do battle against their follow-sportsmen in Australia. Tho reflection that “wq told you so” does not, in this connection, afford consolation to anyone. It is useful, how- : over, to recall - that, when the tour was - being arranged, we stated in cur cricketing column that “an analysis- of tho combination shows that there. is ■ little hope 1 of success against' the powerful elevens of Victoria and New South, ■Wales,” and wo suggested in the circumstances that it would be wise to abandon the trip so’far as the present season was concerned. As wo pointed out, the time was inopportune, because our men would meet the Australians at a time when the latter were in their best “ form,” being in the thick of preparation for the English tour; and further, some of tho best New, Zealand players wore unable tojoiii. the team. Tho Tasmanian matches gave the first ; indication of tho correctness of our judgment. Hope was still entertained in some quarters that the New Zealand, ’players would yet do something'to thecredit of the colony; hut jfchc debacle ” of the last few days has shown that hope to- hayq been illusory., ■ .The contests [ with Victoria and New South were looked' forward to. as pioviding tests of the, quality of ouv team. And | what have they- proyed ?. • The , utter helplessness of the Maorilanders either with the bat or ball when pitted against, really good players'. The result of the. tour has plainly brought home to New Zealanders' their extreme weakness as exponents of tho ' noblest of .outdoor sports; but if the crushing, defeats .sustained in Melbourne and Sydney should -impress certain lessons -upon, the.-Now i Zealand cricketing authorities,. the, tour may have a high value. - ’ It cannot be claimed that ■ the educational results to our cricketers will repay tho labour and expense of tho Australian visit. .The science of cricket is not to be learned under the heartbreaking conditions that the Now Zoa- ■ landers-vainly struggled against in their last two, matches. , ..Npr, is it .likely that the form displayed by our men will induce the Australians to send a team on a return visit to this country. The •educational value of a New Zealand tour, would bo “ nil ” to Australian cricketers, unless a very inferior team was sent; and to omit “ crack ” players would be to court financial failure. Had the Now Zealanders made a' bravo show in one of the Australian matches, we could have safely counted upon. an invasion- of .this ■ colony by some of ; the best exponents *of the game from the sister colonies; but as things have turned out, wo fear that tho Lmdahlc objects which tho Cricket Council had in view have been defeated. The net result is that a team, fairly representative of New Zealand ' has been proved -to be unfit to contend against even a second - class combination of Australians. There is one outstanding lesson to be learned ifrom this renewed demonstration of the backward stale of cricket, in New Zealand. It is .this—that if cricket is to take its proper place as a popular sport, there must be organised ■ effort to provide first-class grounds and efficient instructors. The “coaches” must not be old players long past their best, but mien of comparative 'youth and vigour, -imbued Tyith enthusiasm, and thoroughly expert in the science of the game and in the management of grounds. Until something is done in these directions it is doubtful it tho play of New Zealand cricketers' will improve; it is certain that it will never reach a high standard; v '