N.Z. CRICKETERS GIVEN SEND-OFF.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 76, 30 March 1931, Page 11

N.Z. CRICKETERS GIVEN SEND-OFF.

CONFIDENCE IN TEAM’S SUCCESS EXPRESSED.

(Special to the "Star.”) WELLINGTON. March 28. Before leaving by the Rangitata this afternoon for England, the New Zealand cricket team was farewelled by a representative gathering of sportsmen, and the best wishes were extended to the tourists for a good trip and a successful tour. The members of the team are:—T. O. Lowry (Rangitikei) captain, M. L. Page (Canterbury) vicecaptain, C. F. W. Allcott (Auckland), R. C. Blunt (Otago), I. B. Cromb (Canterbury), O. S. Dempster (Wellington), - IC. C. James (Wellington), J. L. Kerr (Canterbury), A. M. Matheson ' CAucfcV land l . W. E. Merritt (Canterburv)., T. y & Milts (Auckland). R. O. Talbot'(CanII. G. Vivian (Auckland), and - G. L. Weir (Auckland). Lowry is also the manager, and AlTcott carries out the duties of treasurer. The team is "due in London about May 1. and as a preliminary to its long'series of • matches, it will plav a one-dav game =twith the Maori Cricket Club at Wor- . cester Park on May 4. > At to-day's function in honour of the !~team. Mr D. Reese (Canterbury) re- - J erred to the fact that this was the Csecond occasion on which New Zealand y had sent a team on. tour to try its. strength with the teams of England. The benefit of the previous tour and of visits to New ZesHand was reflected in the standard of play in New Zealand. The season now closing had been an excellent one. and this was largely due to the anticipation of the tour and the hopefulness in the side going to England. The amount of work in carrying out the arrangements for the tour was enormous, but it was hoped „ that the result financially and otherwise would leave everybody in a much happier frame of mind than at the end of the previous tour. He wished the team an enjoyable and successful tour. Tour in National Interests. Mr A. T. Donnelly, chairman of the ", New Zealand Cricket Council, expressed a; his pleasure at being able to farewell Mr Lowry .and the members of the . team. On several occasions during the past few months he had been very doubtful about the team getting away and keeping the council's obligations to the M.C.C. and the cricket enthusiasts in England. However, matters - had been arranged satisfactorily, and v he did not think anybody had any £ criticism to offer of the action in sending the team away. The team was leaving with the very best wishes not only of all cricketers, but of the people of New Zealand. It was in the national 2 interests and in the interests of cricket as well that the decision had been <made to send the team. The 1927 New Zealand team had made a great reputation on the fields at Home, and it had enhanced the reputation of the . Dominion in the eyes of the English public. He thought that this young team going away to-day would do even ymore. The ; character and type of its members was of the -very highest -stanSkfard. , . . “We are satisfied that the batting of >t4ie team is very strong indeed.” said |Mr Donnelly, “ and that the fielding of ■ the side, should Jeaye no cause for criticism such as that made in the case of the 1927 team. It has been said- . that the bowling* is weak, but, supported as it is b\* good fielding, we hope

that the bowling will be found sufficient in England lor ordinary purposes. There has been a certain degree of criticism of the council in entrusting the managerial, arrangements to players, but, as was pointed out in the ‘ Sydney Referee ’ last week, the council has only followed the. practice of Australan elevens uritii very recent times.” lie was satisfied that the team would do well on and off the field, and his hope was that the members would have a very successful tour and a victorious return in. a few months’ time. Mr P. B. Broad, chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association, also extended good wishes to the team. “It is particularly fortunate that we have been able to send with this team Lowry,. Page and Allcott, three men who have the ehtire confidence of the public of New Zealand, and who represent the best elements of New Zealand cricket.” .said Mr Broad. It was the speaker’s hope that this tour would be only the first of an organised .series of tours to be arranged by the New Zealand Cricket Council, such tours to be mapped out well ahead. He endorsed the good yvishes extended by Messrs Reese and Donnelly, and hoped that the tour would put New Zealand definitely on the cricket map. “ Better than the Last.” In his reply, the New Zealand captain and manager, T. C. Lowry, said that the team greatly appreciated the kind sentiments that had been expressed. On the last tour, the team had tried to play the game on and off the field, and. had been rather surprised at the measure of success achieved in. its matches. County teams had not been found to be quite as good as was expected. He thought that on this occasion New Zealand had a better team, and, as the county teams looked to be a little worse than in 1927, there was the prospect of the 1931 team doing a little better. Of course, it was absurd to say that the team would go through without a loss. Most of the Australian teams that had won the ashes had been beaten by county teams. The weather was often a factor, .and that had to be kept in mind. Followers of the game in. New Zealand, he said, must not be dis-. appointed to find the team having a reverse after a spell of success. The law of averages and the luck of the game made it necessary that a team should have a loss or two. The team was keenly appreciative of the good name of cricket in New Zealand. Onthe field it would try as hard as it possibly could, and it would fight to the last. Off the field the members could at least try to play the game*. All could depend upon the. team upholding the best name of New Zealand cricket. Mr R. H. Mallett, manager of the West Indies teairi, who is returning to England on the Rangitata, assured the team of a warm welcome in England, where the public had been delighted by the bright play of the 1927 New Zealand team. He referred to the relationship created bv cricket between the different parts of the Empire, and the beneficial effect which the game had even on trade conditions. If this team played cricket as the New Zealand team did' in 1927, the friendly relationship would bp increased. He joined in wishing the team good luck.