NEW ZEALAND XI. WILL BE WELCOME AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 196, 8 November 1927, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND XI. WILL BE WELCOME AGAIN

KEEN INTEREST IN CRICKET

TOUR FOR GOOD OF GAME Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. Interviewed yesterday after the return of the New Zealand cricketers by the Tahiti, T. C. Lowry said that after the first month in England, when Allcott came x into the team, there had been practically no trouble through sickness or injury. In fact nobody had had a day’s sickness in England. The team captain continued that they had been very well received and entertained throughout the tour, and had created quite a considerable amount of public interest, chiefly because they got their runs a good deal quicker than most of the other sides. He thought that the English people would be pleased to see the 193 V Zealanders a 9 ain * probably in If another tour were undertaken, two-day matches, he considered, should be cut out. There had been a great deal of travelling on this tour, but after the first month, some relief had been afforded by the rain interfering with the progress of play. There was talk, he said, of a test game being provided for the New Zealanders on their next visit. “But I think it would .be better to start on some of the Australian sides first,” the captain added. There was no doubt that the public in England had been interested, and the team apparently had done better than was expected. The tour would undoubtedly be for the good of the game in New Zealand. Further progress, he pointed out, depended a good deal upon the support given by the public here, to tlie game. INTEREST IN THE GAME Of course there was much more time for play in England, and grounds and conditions were better. The people in England took more interest in cricket than the people of New Zealand did in Rugby football. The game was taught thoroughly right from the schools, where cricket was a compulsory part of the activities, and it was no uncommon sight to see hundreds of children on various grounds playing their games of cricket. Women, too, were very interested in the game. Referring again to the hospitality extended to the team, Lowry paid a tribute to New Zealanders in London for their keen interest in the team and also for thgir generous spirit in making a presentation to each member of the side. Discussing English cricket he mentioned that there were now fewer good amateurs playing, and there were no outstanding new bowlers, and some of the bowlers who were good a year ago had lost some of their nip. There were several good batsmen, notably Jardine, Chapman and Hammond. Regarding the next contests for the ashes, most of the people in Australia and in England considered that England would win. Jupp was a great bowler, and he was also impressed by Rhodes who, although 50 years of age, was England’s best slow bowler. Barnes, Wright and Freeman had also bowled exceedingly well against the New Zealanders, but Larwood had played against them on a wet wicket, to which, of course, he was not suited.