CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 4046, 29 September 1931, Page 49

CRICKET

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. TOUR RESULTS IN LOSS RAIN WHOLLY TO BLAME. LONDON, September 23. The New Zealanders’ cricket tour resulted in a loss of between £l5OO and £2OOO. ” Rain was wholly to blame,” said Mr A. T. Donnelly, chairman of the council. “We are not downhearted. We enjoyed every minute of our stay in England.” TEAM LEAVES FOR HOME. LONDON, September 24. The New Zealand cricketers left London this morning on their return to New Zealand. They embarked on the Ruahine at the Royal Albert Docks, being accompanied by a party of English cricketers and triends who are making the trip to Southampton. The Ruahine will leave Southampton at noon to-mor-row.

All the members of the team are fit and well. Several played in charity matches during the last "few days. Before leaving, Lowry said he was highly pleased with the results of the tour. Although the weather had frequently handicapped the side, its record was quite satisfactory and showed the con tinned progress of New Zealand cricket The players had all done their best tn make the tour a success. Personally he was highly pleased with their perform ances on the field and their behaviour off it. He thought the side had been a credit to New Zealand

Mr A ’ T D °nnelly, "lio is not returning with the team, expressed admiration of the high reputation that the players had left behind. He said he understood that a more popular side had never visited England.

Mills was married quietly in London a few days ago. His bride is a young Canadian. They are proceeding to New Zealand by a later boat. Dempster has gained the distinction of having his portrait included in W isden’s Almanack among the five cricketers of the year. The other four are Pataudi, Verity, Bowes, and Lan,rridge.

EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNGSTERS. LONDON, September 24. Chapman. Duleepsinh;i, and A. E. and A. H. Gilligan saw the New Zealand cricketers aboard the Ruahine. Lowry stated that the youngsters had gained invaluable experience despite the weather. Merritt was disappointed because he failed by one wicket to take his hundred. Talbot walked up the gangway swinging the bat that he split in hitting a ball over Lord's pavilion.

MESSAGES FROM KING AND PRINCE OF WALES. LONDON, September 25. The New Zealand cricketers departed from Southampton. The King sent a mes -sage that he had followed the tour with much interest and congratulating the team mi the success of its sporting spirit. The Prinee of Wales telegraphed hoping that the players enjoyed the tour, despite the bad weather, and wishing the team a pleasant journey.

THE WELLINGTON COMPETITION

RULES GOVERNING DECLARATION. WELLINGTON, September 22. During the 1931-32 cricket season Wellington teams will have the right to declare their first innings closed two hours after the commencement of play, but will not be able to apply the closure less than au hour before the time appointed for the drawing of stumps on the opening day. This decision was come to at the annual meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association last night. Chief interest centred' round an amendment to rule 50 as agreed upon at a special meeting in May last, which provided: (a) That the team batting first shall not be entitled to bat beyond the first day. provided that play has extended for four hours on that day; (b) that a team shall be entitled to declare its innings closed at any time.

Mr A. M. Hollings moved that no declaration be made earlier than two hours after the commencement of play on the opening day, nor later than one hour before the time appointed for the drawing of etumps on the first day. Seconding the motion, Mr E. C. Wiren said the proposal would give both sides an equal chance.

BEST BATTING AVERAGE.

REDPATH CUP TO DEMPSTER.

CHRISTCHURCH, September 25. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council decided to-night to award the Redpath Cup for the best batting average for the year to C. S. Dempster. The committee took into account the Plunket Shield matches last summer and the tour in England. In the Plunket Shield matches G. L. Weir had an average of 89 and H. M. M‘Girr 64. Counting in the English tour Dempster rose from 20 to 52.80, and Blunt to 43.30, while Weir fell to 33 and M'Girr did not go Home.