A SOLID SIDE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10886, 28 April 1921, Page 7

A SOLID SIDE

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS INTERESTING SPEECHES AT LONDON FUNCTION. THE COMING GAMES. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Australian and NrZ. Cable Association. LONDON, -April 26. Sir Nervton Moore presided at the Australian and New Zealand Club’s luncheon, to the Australian cricket team in the Connaught rooms. He read Lord Hawke’s letter apologising for has absence, and congratulalijiing the team on its success. Lord Hawke added : ‘‘l am sure they will forgive me if I express the hope that they will not be so successful over here.” Sir Newton Moope proposed “The Team,” and said that he had received a letter from General Birdwood, in which he expressed his delight that the team contained a large numiber of A.l.F.'s. He felt that their victories were almost a continuation of the A..1.F. victories. Lord Harris, in supporting the toast, said he was of the opinion that Mr Hughes had had a great deal in the say in the selection of 1921 for the Imperial Conference,, and showed great wisdom in choosing the same year as | that in which the tests were to be | played. England knew that Armstrong’s team played the game in the I highest tone, therefore he cordially welcomed the players and congratulated them on‘their magnificent performances. He was convinced that in a short period English cricket would regain its prestige, which had been damI aged by the war. He wished the AusI tSJ V^ :tI18 an enjoyable season, with a ■federate amount of success. 15#Mr Pelham Warner, in a racy recalled personal incidents of [} his visits to Australia. He paid a high I tribute to Armstrong as a sportsman. Mr Warner claimed some credit in discovering Gregory for Australia. It I was Gregory who brought the first I eleven to England in 1878. The real I reason why Australia, with a populaI tion of five millions, could hold its I own with England's forty-five millions, was Australia’s extraordinary cricketing courage in tight corners. Mr A. Maclaren, in supporting the toast, said his most charming matches I had been those with the Australians, who always played the game. He had played more than sixty innings against Australia, and had never lefit the crease dissatisfied at any deoision. ‘One reaI eon,’’ he said-, “was because they alI ways bowled me out.” It was a very great shock to Hie English that on the recent tour one or two players had expressed dissatisfaction at the decisions against them. To-day Australia had only three umpires against England’s thirty, but the Australians always umpired fairly. ■ Mr Warwick Armstrong, in responding, said it was grand to be welcomed by so many Australians. He had no time to say much, because he wanted a lot of practice. Alluding to the umpiring, Mr Armstrong said that there were never two fairer than the two who umpired in Australia in the recent tour, flo paid a tribute to Mr J. W. H. T. Douglas, whose team was highly popular and had pulled together. He did not agree with the ruj mours to the contrary- in' England. | “Johnny . always played the game on I and off the field. We wonld have heati©n England whoever had captained , them—'Mr Warner, Mr Maclaren, or | anyone else. ,} Although Australia had i a young and confident team, he was | not pver-oonfident at England II under the new conditions. 11 Mr Smith, manager of the team, I! also responded. . [! Mr M. L. Shepherd (official secretary !in Great Britain for the Commonj | wealth) entertained the Australian i team at Australia House. He invited 11 the members to make Australia House 91 their home. VISITORS PRACTICE AT LORDS. LONDON, April 26. I The Australian cricket team, with I the exception of Oldfield, practiced at Lord’s, A large assemblage of spectators 'waited hours for the team's arrival. . THE TEAM’S FIXTURES. A BIG PROGRAMME. The Australian cricket team Commence their tour of England on Saturday. The following is a complete list of the fixtures: — April. 30-May 2 and 3 —v. Leicestershire. May 4, 5 and 6—v. Lionel Robinson's XI. ' May 7,9, 10—v. Surrey. May 11, 12, IS—v. Yorkshire. May 14, 16, 17—v. Army, Navy, and Air Force. May 18, 19, 20—v. EBsex. May 21, 20, 24—y. M.C.C. or Gentlemen XI. May 23, 26. 27 —v. Oxford University. Juno 1,2, 3—v. Cambridge University. June 4,6, 7—v. Middlesex. June 8,9, 10 —v. Gloucestershire. Juno 11, 13, 14—v. England (First Tost). June 18, 16, 17—v. Hampshire. June 18, 20, 21—v. Surrey. June 22, 23, 24—v. Northampton. June 25, 27, 28 —v. Nottingham. June 20, 30, July I—v. Midland Conn, the. July 2,4, s—v.5 —v. England (Second Test). July 6,7, B—v.8 —v. Lancashire. July 9, 11, 12—v. Scotland. July 16, 17, 19 —v. Durham. July 20, 21, 22 —v. Yorkshire. July 23, 25, 26—v. England' (Third Test). July 27, 28, 29—V; Essex. July 90, August 1, 2—v. South Wales. August, 3,4, s—v.5 —v. Warwickshire. ‘ August 10, 11, 12—v. Kent. August 13, 15, 16. 17, 18 and 19—v. England (Fourth Teat). August 20, 22, 23 —v. Gloucestershire. August 27, 29, 30—v. England XI. August 31, September 1, 2 —v. Sussex. September 8,5, 6—v. South England. September 8,9, 10—v. Thornton’s XI.