NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23363, 1 December 1937, Page 14

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

LOSS ON AUSTRALIAN TOUR KEEN PLAY NOT REWARDED (From Our Own Correspondent* SYDNEY, Nov. 23. The New Zealand cricketers have made a wonderful impression in their three matches in Australia. They lost all of them, but Vivian and Wallace, and, to a less extent, Moloney, Hadlee and Carson, as batsmen, and Cowie, as a bowler, have provided spectators in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney with exhilarating periods of entertainment. Cricket writers and old internationals have combined in expressing admiration for these men. The experts' general opinion is that, if there had been more support for those named, the team would be a danger to any first-class side. The Sydney match against New South Wales was a triumph for Wallace and Cowie. For Wallace because, apart from the general value in runs of his two innings, he stirred the crowd to enthusiasm by hitting O'Reilly, terror of English test batsmen, for two sixes in one over; no one can remember O'Reilly being so insulted before. For Cowie; because he wrecked the early New South Wales batsmen in both innings and twice bowled McCabe,' second best batsman in Australia, each, of these fatal deliveries being good enough to dismiss any batsman in the world.

In view of the entertainment provided by the New Zealanders, it seems poor reward for them and a keen disappointment to Australian cricket administrators that the Australian matches have resulted in financial loss. The Australian section of the tour was suggested to the New Zealand Cricket Council by the Australian Board of Control primarily so that the loss on the New Zealand team's tour of England might be at least, partly recouped. Instead, the loss has been increased. The manager of the team (Mr T. C. Lowry) estimates that the extra expense incurred by carrying out the brief Australian tour instead of returning home direct from England amounts to £7OO, some of this expense being the result of the team's extended stay in England to catch a suitable liner to Australia. The New Zealand Cricket Council was guaranteed 75 per cent, of the net profits from the Australian matches. Mr Lowry does not think that the amount for New Zealand will be more than half the extra expense incurred by the visit to Australia. The New Zealanders are convinced that an important factor was the early dismissal of Don Bradman, who was caught behind the wicket by Tindill off Cowie,'in the first over of the Saturday of the match in Adelaide. This happening stemmed the flow of spectators to the ground, and Tindill and Cowie have been subjected to some good-natured banter about what has been succinctly described as the "bestworst " catch of the whole tour. It was a triumph to dismiss Bradman so cheaply, but a disaster for the finances.

The New Zealanders' experience with Bradman in Adelaide impressed on them something to which they heard many Australians refer—the influence of Bradman on Australian attendances. Officials realise that this is not a healthy state of affairs, and the rise of Bradman to such an outstanding position in public estimation is regarded as much a danger to the game generally as an asset. Apart from the financial side of the Australian visit, the New Zealanders feel that they have benefited as a result of their matches in Australia. They believe that Australian administrators will be more conscious of the existence of New Zealand—and, who knows, Bradman may yet be seen across the Tasman.