AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8646, 3 February 1914, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS

ARRIVE AT AUCKLAND. Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 2. The Australian cricket team, which commences its tour of New Zealand to-morrow with a match against South Auckland, arrived in Auckland by the Victoria tliis morning and left immediately for Hamilton. The players are fully representative of Australia, those making the trip being:—Noble, Waddy, Mailley, Collins, Cody and Trumper (New So’uth Wales); . Armstrong. Laver, Ransford, McKenzie and McGregor (Victoria); Crawford and Dr Dolling (South Australia). Trumper and Crawford did not come with the team, but the former is expected to reach Auckland on Thursday. Crawford will not arrive till next weak. Mr Sims, who organised the team, is not expected until. Thursday, and in his absence Mr F. Laver is acting as manager. No captain has yet ’ been appointed, hut it is understood that Noble will lead the side. The team was met on arrival by Messrs 0. A. McKinney (representing the New Zealand Council), A. N. Sneddon (vice-president of the Auckland Association), and Lusk, Beale, Hay and Watts of the management committee. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. D. Reese, captain of the New Zealand cricketers, returned with. Taylor, Snodden and Sommerville by the Victoria to-day from Sydney. Reese in an interview, said he had considered the tour fully, and thought another team should be sent in three or four "years. The team, although pleased at its success in the _ minor matches, was disappointed at its failure in Sydney and Melbourne. The non-success of the batsmen was attributed to the’ fast wicket. Prior to playing at Sydney they played on two matting wickets and a soft wicket at Brisbane. He considered the country matches should be eliminated from the next tour. The team’s great weakness was howling. The bowlers performed well at times hut generally they lacked accuracy and system. The other feature of the play was the tendency to play back. Forward play was best on fast wickets, and when the players recognised this they did much better. Cricket in Australia was not, he thought, of such a high standard as when the last New Zealand team paid a visit there.