Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 1956–57
An Australian national cricket team captained by Ian Craig toured New Zealand between February and April 1957. They played 12 matches, seven of which were first-class, including three matches against New Zealand, but these were not granted Test status.[1] The Australians won one and drew two of the international matches, and won the other four first-class matches.
Team
[edit]It was a young team: Craig was 21; the oldest player, Harvey, was 28; and the youngest player, O'Neill, was 19.[3]
Matches
[edit]Australia won the first game against Canterbury by five wickets. Benaud took four wickets and Burge scored a century.[4][5]
The next game against Southland was drawn. Southland were dismissed for 84, Gaunt taking 6-23. Favell scored 81 and Watson 74.[6][7]
Australia beat Otago by an innings and 102 runs. Harvey scored 161 and Kline took six wickets and Meckiff five.[8]
Australia beat a combined team from Ashburton County, South Canterbury and North Otago by an innings and 18 runs, Meckiff taking 8-19 in the first innings.[9]
First Unofficial Test
[edit]Australia played a New Zealand team, a match that ended in a draw. Craig scored 123 not out in the second innings.[10][11][12]
Australia beat Wairarapa by an innings.[13]
Second Unofficial Test
[edit]In the second game against New Zealand they drew, Benaud taking 6-79.[14]
A match against Poverty Bay was a draw, despite Benaud and Harvey scoring centuries.[15][16]
Australia beat Auckland by an innings and 54 runs, Meckiff taking nine wickets.[17][18]
They drew with Waikato, Martin taking five wickets.[19] Australia beat Central Districts by ten wickets, Benaud scoring a century and taking eight wickets.[20]
Third Unofficial Test
[edit]In the third and final unofficial test, Australia beat New Zealand by ten wickets. Meckiff and Benaud took six wickets for the game, Martin took seven and Norm O'Neill scored a century.[21]
Neil Harvey headed the batting aggregates in first class games with 448 runs at 49.77.[22] Benaud took 32 wickets at 19.31.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ CricketArchive – tour itinerary
- ^ Wisden 1958, p. 847.
- ^ Wisden 1958, p. 846.
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "Rapid Scoring Brings Win To Australia". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 097. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 February 1957. p. 10. Retrieved 30 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "Australia Leads Southland On First Innings". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 099. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 February 1957. p. 10. Retrieved 30 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Otago v Australians 1956–57".
- ^ "Ashburton County, South Canterbury and North Otago v Australians 1956–57".
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive".
- ^ "Australians Fare Badly In N.Z." The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 107. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 March 1957. p. 16. Retrieved 30 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "New Zealand Refuses Run Chances". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 109. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 March 1957. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Wairarapa v Australians 1956–57".
- ^ http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/22/22361.html
- ^ "Poverty Bay v Australians 1956–57".
- ^ ""Fantastic" Effort Gets N.Z. Wicket Ready For Play". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 118. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 March 1957. p. 4. Retrieved 30 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Auckland v Australians 1956–57".
- ^ "Auckland Loses To Australia". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 121. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 March 1957. p. 10. Retrieved 30 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Waikato v Australians 1956–57".
- ^ "Central Districts v Australians 1956–57".
- ^ "New Zealand v Australia 1956–57".
- ^ "Australians Batting".
- ^ "Australians Bowling".
External links
[edit]- Australia in New Zealand 1956-57 at CricketArchive
Further reading
[edit]- Don Neely & Richard Payne, Men in White: The History of New Zealand International Cricket, 1894–1985, Moa, Auckland, 1986, pp. 259–62
- Wisden 1958, pp. 846–52