NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22826, 10 March 1936, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

WEALTH OF GOOD BATSMEN KERR IN WORLD CLASS DEARTH OF GOOD BOWLERS (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, March 9. A wealth of good batsmen but a dcartli of good bowlers, was the opinion which Mr K. R. T. Holmes expressed in a review of cricket in New Zealand this afternoon. Mr Holmes added that lie was surprised to find such a high standard of the game in New Zealand, and that he and his men had realised from the outset that the four matches against New Zealand teams would call for the best from the side he was leading. “J. L. Kerr is an outstanding player. He is in world class,” said Mr Holmes. “ His average against us of 99.8 must be a record, and he deserved it. He has shown ns that he has every stroke, both in front and behind the wickets. Wallace, the Auckland colt, must become a class bat, and Hadlee has some very good shots, especially when he plays back.” Three players, all of them left-handers, attracted notice from among the players in the sub-associations with which the visitors played. They were all from the North Island —Donnelly and Christensen from New Plymouth, and Johnson, a 10-vcar-old junior grade player. Donnelly made 49 in his second innings against the tourists, and Christensen had an average of six for 99 in two innings and in batting had been not out each time with 10 and 13. Johnson, a slow lefthand bowler, took two for 30, and Mr Holmes considered that if he received proper training he would develop into a howler of the class of Flcetwood-Smith. Donnelly played his strokes as a finished batsman.

“ I did not expect the New Zealand debacle at Dunedin to occur again,” said Mr Holmes, referring to the test matches. “Although the situation was entirelv reversed in Wellington that also was a situation we did not expect to have to face air"in in the next two matches. We did not underestimate the strength of Ihe teems we met at all. Things were in our favour in Dunedin, but I cannot help thinking the hick was with New Zealand in the other matches. Bothin Auckland and Christchurch I was hoping to have pitches which would help Baxter and Read, but I did not find them. In Christchurch I won the toss when we did not want to bat first.” Roberts and Blundell were the two New Zealand bowlers who had caused the side most worry. These two and Cowic of Auckland would undoubtedly take wickets in England. Cowie, the fastest bowler they had met in New Zealand, was good, but luck had been against him, especially in Dunedin. The need at present was for two spin bowlers. Griffiths every now and then had a very good ball, but would have to put in practice to maintain a good length. With plenty of care he would supply one of the places as he bowled with a good spin and had a useful nip off the pitch. One more was wanted for a touring side, however.

“The last touring team from New Zealand consisted of only 14 players. That is not ’enough,” Mr Holmes continued. “It must be remembered that cricketers in England play the game six days every week, that they are used to continuous cricket, and that when a team is on tour there are several games which arc comparatively easy and can be taken as a relaxation. That is not the case with a New Zealand touring side in an English tour. They would be up against strong teams in every match, which would demand practically a test side each game. Sixteen players would be the minimum for such a team,” lie continued. Mr Holmes mentioned that the team they had met in the last match would win more games than it would lose in a tour of England. When he was asked what could be done to improve the standard of the game Mr Holmes said that the importation of more professionals would not help much with the cricketers playing the game in club matches at week-ends only. Coaches could not do much good. Reciprocal visits with leading overseas countries was perhaps the best method. The slow batting of the Englishmen in the second innings in the last test match on Saturday was referred to by Mr Holmes, who said his men were playing to instructions. If another wicket had fallen that evening they would have been in a bad way and he had (old the batsmen to stop there at all costs. It there had been fine weather for the last, day they would have gone for the runs from the first over as the odds were then about even. He was very sorry the weather had caused the game to bo cancelled. It was in a very interesting stage and he would have liked it to be played out.

‘THE TOURING SIDE

TEAM OF GOOD MIXERS HOLMES A GREAT LEADER (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, March 9. “When the names of the Marylebone Cricket Club team to visit New Zealand were announced we at once realised that it was a good side,” said Mr D. Reese, president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, at an afternoon tea given to the teams this afternoon by the Cricket Council. “Mr Holmes had already a reputation of .being a great leftdei' in the game, and on this tour has shown how to lead his side in making the game bright and interesting. In New Zealand we have never had a team who have proved themselves bettor mixers both on the field and off. When you return I hope that you will use your influence to spread a knowledge of New Zealand, and I hope that whatever impressions yon have formed of our country and its people you will realise that Now Zealand is a place where cricket is played as it should be played, and where English teams are always welcome” he concluded. Mr A. T. Donnelly, chairman of the Management Committee of the Council, said that he had nothing but praise for the way in which Mr Holmes and the members of his team had helped in the management of the tour, hi very request that hud been made to them had been acceded to. The tour was a difficult one with the weather and travelling, and many things which he had not liked to ask of the visitors had been done. “ I can say quite confidently that no more charming team has come from England to these shores, and I was very pleased to see both teams take the_ game as a snort and not as a competition,” he concluded. “Before we left England the New Zealand Club gave us a luncheon, and I said then that I was sure that we would be sorry to say good-bye to New Zealand when the time came. The tour has been an experience which will last forever in our memories, and we can never forget your hospitality, the friendships, and I must say it, your weather, for in 10 out of the 18 games it has interfered with the matches,” said Mr E. R. T. Holmes, captain of the visiting team. He said that ho wished to convey his very genuine thanks to all who in

any way had been responsible for the arrangements of the tour, and he made special mention of Messrs Donnelly and W. H. Winsor. Mr Donnelly had done many things for the team which the members would probably never hear of. “We have tried to play the game in a free and easy way, but could not do so on Saturday., The batsmen were playing to orders and were told that they were not to get out. It was perhaps, as has been said, a compliment to New Zealand cricket,” he continued. The team had enjoyed every match of the tour, . and whereas representative cricket in England and elsewhere was not always enjoyable, the matches against the New Zealand teams had all been great fun. From a personal point of view he had got on very well with Mr Cromb. and on the five times that they ,had been rival captains they had never disagreed about procedure. Finally Mr Holmes paid a tribute to the members of his own team, and said /that no captain of a touring team ever had an easier task. „

Mr I. B. Cromb, captain of the New Zealand teams, also spoke, referring briefly to the excellent spirit which had existed in all the matches on the field as well as off.