OPENING MATCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27058, 18 April 1949, Page 5

OPENING MATCH

YORKSHIRE COUNTY STRONG OPPOSITION FOR NEW ZEALANDERS GUIDE TO REST OF TOUR NZPA Special Correspondent Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, Apl. 15. If the New Zealand cricket team beats Yorkshire in its opening match, beginning on April 30, its tour will be “ made.” This fact is generally recognised both by the team itself and by cricket writers, for the very name of Yorkshire is something to conjure with in English cricketing circles, and although it finished fourth in the championship table last year, Us prestige is unrivalled. A win over Yorkshire would be acknowledged generally as a “ reet do," and every cricket enthusiast in the country would have his curiosity piqued. Though they realise the importance of this match the New Zealanders are not allowing the approaching shadow of Bradford to overawe them. They are confident they can put up a “ good show," and though quitd naturally they hope for a win to start with, they appreciate that Yorkshii-e came very near to defeating the Australians last year and that a bright performance will count in their favour, whatever the outcome. Formidable Hutton

New Zealand's bowlers will be chiefly interested in dismissing Hutton. who averaged 74 last season and l'ecently headed the English test averages in South Afi'ica with 64 per innings. Their batsmen expect to be tested by T. Wai'dle, who took 148 wickets at 18 apiece last year, a leftai'm bowlei-, and by E. P. Robinson, a right-arm off-spinner, A. Coxon, who played in the second test last year, and R. Aspinall, whose pace approaches that of T. Px'itchard, the New Zealander now playing for Warwickshire. They will also be interested in D. V. Brennan, one of the five best wicket-keepers in England to-day. The New Zealanders anticipate that the Bradfoi-d wicket will be slow and wet, and, therefore, in Yorkshire’s favour. But their chins are well up. After Yorkshire they expect to find the opposition less tough at Woi-cester, a county which finished tenth last season. There they will meet R. Jenkins, who headed the English bowling averages in the recent South African tests. The New Zealand batsmen expect him to keep them busy, and their bowlers will be interested in C. H. Palmer, another visitor to South Africa.

Worcester will be captained by R. E. S. Wyatt, a former England player and one of the soundest batsmen on all types of English wickets. The county bowlers will probably be P. Jackson, i - egarded as one of the best thi-ee or four off-spinners in England, R. Howarth, who went with the MCC to the West Indies, and R. T. D. Perks, fast medium, who took 102 wickets last year for 21 apiece. Match With Surrey

In their third match the New Zealanders will again have stiff opposition in Suri-ey, which finished second to Glamorgan in the championship in 1948. Surrey’s leading bat is L. R. Fishlock, whose average last year was 40. Another interesting bat is D. G. Fletcher, who opens, and who played well in the. Gentlemen versus Players match two years ago. A high standard of bowling can be anticipated from England’s A. Bedser, freshly returned from South Africa, and J. Laker, who played against the Australians last year. Surrey also has an Australian in J. W. McMahon, a left-ai'mer who took 91 wickets last year for 28 each. On May 14 the New Zealanders go to Leicester. Though this county was third from the bottom of the table, it had J. E. Walsh and V. E. Jackson, both with first - class reputations. Walsh, who is liable to bowl on any side of the wicket that suits .him, took 170 wickets for his county last year at 19 each. His total in first-class cricket was 174 wickets—the most that any English bowler got, and just two more than Pritchard, whose average was also close on 19. Walsh is a leftarmer. Jackson, who: collected 97 wickets last year with an average of 21, resembles Fleetwood Smith in pace. He is also a useful bat, and came second in the Leicestershire batting averages with 1396 runs and an average of 31. J. Sperry is another useful bowler, a medium-fast left-armer. Among the batsmen, L. G. Berry (average 29) and M. Tompkins (24) both passed the 1000 mark in 1948. Oxford and Cambridge

The New Zealanders will also meet Oxford and Cambridge Universities in May. It is likely that many players have “ gone down ” since last year, so that it is not yet possible to estimate the strength of the opposition. It is likely that for Oxford C. B. Van Rynveld, the South African, will be busy both with bat and ball, and that A. H. Kardar, who toured England with the Indians in 1946, when he was known as Abdul Hafeez. will live up to his reputation of being one of the best all-rounders in the game. He is a fine left-arm bowler and a forcing bat. Oxford may also field W. G. Keighley, who may eventually succeed N. 'Yardley as captain for Yorkshire. The New Zealanders’ first game at Lord's will be against the MCC, beginning on May 21, when two good batting sides are expected to be fielded —the MCC team will not be announced until shortly before the match.

The last game in May will be against Sussex, which was nearly at the bottom of the championship table last year. It will include W. Griffiths. The matches in May should teach the New Zealand team most of the things they want to learn about English cricket' before they come to the first test on June 11. Practice at Eastbourne

“Auckland weather ” has welcomed the New Zealand ci'icket team to the pleasant seaside town of Eastbourne, in Sussex, and to celebrate it the New Zealanders had their first full day practice since their arrival in England. Under a sapphire sky and a blazing sun they have devoted the morning and the afternoon to the nets, and for good measure spent an hour brushing up their fielding. Everyone had two “ knocks ” at the nets, one of 20 minutes and the second of ;5 minutes, and gave the bowlers all the work they wanted. The team will have a respite over the Easter holidays. Though they enjoyed London, where they went to the nets at Lord’s every day. everyone was glad to arrive at Eastbourne and their hotel on the seafront, which flew the New Zealand Ensign in the team’s honour. The Mayor and councillors entertained them at a “ family gathering ” banquet. m he Mayor welcomed them warmly—and said he was perfectly satisfied that Morgan scored a try in 1905, because he was “ right in front ” and saw it

Various clubs made each of the team an honorary member and several have begun to learn squash racquets, while others have found the golf links beyond criticism, though they may not have been so generous in appraising their own scores. One-day Matches

Two one-day matches are arranged for next week. On Wednesday the New Zealanders will play Eastbourne on the lovely Saffrons ground—where they have been practising at the nets—and will “lend” tile home team four of their own members. On Thursday there will be a general “pick up” game between the New Zealanders and some Sussex County players. Thesjteam will return to London on April 23 to see the amateur Soccer final at Wembley and to be entertained by the Cricket Writers’ Club at night. They will spend the afternoon with Lord Gowrie, president of the MCC, at Windsor Castle.

Apart from the fact that G. F. Cresswell and T. B. Burtt have had a touch of the prevailing influenza, and that the manager, Mr J. A. Phillipps, has not been immune either, everyone is fit and well. All who were afflicted have now recovered, and the entire team is thoroughly contented with the visit to Eastbourne