THE VISITING CRICKETERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 9

THE VISITING CRICKETERS

AN APPRECIATION, (From Otts Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 21. In the Field of May 16. there appears the following appreciation of the visiting New Zealand cricketers:— Those suffering from depression, whether it be industrial, agricultural, or constitutional, will not-find a better antidote 1 than an afternoon with the New Zealanders. On or off the field they are a breezy tonic from a new land, and even in a test match they will probably not be wholly dull. They are considered quite formidable in batting, and their mow spin bowling will be effective after rain when the sun is shining. But'if their opponents bat on a plumb wicket they will probably have to do more than their share of fielding. Their fielding looks keen, and hag so far, been fairly efficient. It will doubtless improve as the various “cogs” of their r run-saving machine settle down into well-oiled working order. Against Essex the stopping and picking-up was exceptionally, fine, but the returns to the wicket, were hardly up to the mark of a touring side. James, the wicket-keeper, reaches almost to the highest Australian!standard. Like Oldfield, he has that Indescribably attractive and effective way of taking the . ball with both arras at full stretch and then allowing his hands to give with a graceful rhythmical gesture. Fumbling snatchers should * study James. In T. C. Lowry, who led the last New. Zealand side four years back, some see a semblance to' the late S. M. J. Woods, and all New Zealand is agreed that their captain is the best they have ever had.* Certainly Warwick Armstrong himself could not have managed the bowlers and fieldsmen better than Lowry did at Leyton. . ■' ,

A QUESTION OF GEOGRAPHY. An amusing anecdote is told of Lowry’s qualification to pl.ay for Somerset. - A celebrated Somersetshire enthusiast often seen at Twickenham invited him to play for the Western County. "Where were you born? he asked. “ Wellington,” came the answer. “ Splendid—a birth qualification! " was the surprising reply. C. S. Dempster seems determined to maintain a batting average of Don Bradmanish proportions. More interesting is the fact that he promises to help to make fashionable the square cut. He does it with such an elegance and crispness of wrist and turning that a picture is forced to the mind. _A faded blue cap. with a blob of crimson in front, a keen, sinewy tanned face, and the short but virile graceful figure of a great batsman —Johnny Tyldesley! Among their bowlers they possess in W. G. Merritt, a high-class slow legbreak bowler, who can serve up a genuine googly when he wants to. As a side the New Zealanders provide an interesting blend of youth and experience. THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE. Perhaps one of the best compliments paid to the New Zealanders was that of an old cricketer at the dinner given by the M.C.C. last week. He said them matches reminded him of the old country house matches. Their cricket was not too serious. Of all the visiting teams he liked the New Zealanders best. They brought the right atmosphere into their game. Members of the team are to be the guests of the directors of the National , Horse Show at Olympia on June 27. They will have special seats at Wimbledon at the All-England lawn tennis tournament on June 25, and they will be the guests of the directors of the Royal Naval and Military Tournament at Olympia. This week they have had an opportunity of seeing a rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour. The officer-in-charge thoughtfully reserved a space for them where the public is not ordinarily allowed to stand.-, In the meantime the team moves abroad in the Armstrong-Siddeley cars which have been placed at their disposal. The cars fly a small New Zealand ensign, and across the radiators are silver metal fern leaf badges. The cavalcade undoubtedly attracts the attention of all who see them.