| Tour of England
1958 Captain : John
Reid | |
| | | | |
| Sixth New Zealand
Test tour. (April - September 1958) Fourth Test-playing tour of England by New Zealand
(previous tour 1949)
(⋆source: David
Jeater in the ACS Journal) | The tour was blighted by wet
weather. Only the first and last
matches were not affected by rain. New Zealand
started well by winning six of the first nine first-class matches with only
one defeat. However, they went down in the Test series losing to England by
four matches to nil, with one match drawn when New Zealand were saved by more
than three days of play being lost to rain. The Test programme consisted of
5 matches of five days each, compared with 4 matches of three days each on
the previous tour of England
in 1949. The batsmen selected - Meale, Miller, Harford - were not up to the
task against Lock and Laker (although Reid and Sutcliffe fared almost as
badly) while the younger ones - D'Arcy, Playle and Sparling - were grimly
determined but as yet ill-equipped to score significantly from bowling of
international standard. It was clear that the selectors had chosen too many players
of promise and had left experienced men at home. Four times England
dismissed the side for less than 100 runs.
As Sutcliffe said, "This tour put New Zealand right back at the
bottom of the international ladder." Freddie Brown presented John
Reid with an award for "the most outstanding performance by a member of
a touring side visiting this country".
Later at a farewell dinner, manager Jack Phillips presented the London
New Zealand cricket club with the team pennant flown at all matches, saying
'I can guarantee it's waterproof.' It was one of the worst seasons for
rainfall experienced by any touring party to England, up there with 1912,
1924 and 1931 (⋆) The team also played
more often than not on a pitch rendered difficult by rain, as well as having
their share of injuries at vital times. | All New Zealand
tours Previous tour India
1955-56 Next tour South Africa 1961-62 Next tour of
England 1965 | |
| Members of the Test
tour party (16) Opening batsmen Jack D'Arcy, Trevor Meale Laurie Miller. Middle-order batsmen Bill
Playle, Noel Harford, Bert Sutcliffe, John Reid, John Sparling. Wicket-keepers: Eric Petrie, John Ward Spin bowlers: Jack Alabaster, Alex Moir Fast bowlers: John Hayes, Tony MacGibbon, Harry Cave, Bob Blair. | J C Alabaster | O | 27 | LBG | | R W Blair | W | 25 | RFM | | H B Cave | CD | 35 | RFM vice-captain | | J W D'Arcy | C | 22 | RHB opener | | N S
Harford | CD | 27 | RHB | | J A Hayes | A | 31 | RFM | | A R MacGibbon | C | 33 | RFM | | T Meale | W | 29 | LHB | | L S M Miller | W | 35 | LHB opener | | A M Moir | O | 38 | LBG | | E C Petrie | ND | 31 | WK | | W R Playle | A | 19 | RHB opener | | J R Reid | O | 30 | RHB RM captain | | J T Sparling | A | 19 | RHB OB | | B Sutcliffe | O | 34 | LHB opener
(SLA) | | J T Ward | - | 21 | reserve WK | | |
|
Provincial representation (Plunket Shield teams) A - Auckland (3) C - Canterbury (2) CD - Central Districts (2) ND - Northern Districts (1) O - Otago (4) W - Wellington (3) Ward had represented Timaru but had
appeared in no first-class cricket except the North
Island v South
Island trial. Meale played no first-class cricket in
1957-58 Average age of team at time of first Test match (5 June 1958) : 28
yrs 11 month. | |
| Test Appearances
made before the tour | Sutcliffe 28, Reid 27,
MacGibbon 21, Cave 17, Moir 13,
Hayes 11, Blair 9, Miller 9,
Alabaster 6, Harford 4, Petrie 4,
D'Arcy 0, Meale 0, Playle 0,
Sparling 0, Ward 0. | | |
| Tour Officials | Mr Jack H Phillips | Manager | George Duckworth | Scorer / baggage |
| | |
| Selectors | Harry Cave, Lackford D Smith, Giff Vivian. John Reid wrote “A touring captain should be consulted on the
composition of the team he is to lead. This privilege was not afforded me” (‘Sword of Willow’) | | |
| Selection | There were two trial matches (North Island
v South Island and New Zealand v The Rest) to guide
the selectors. Unavailable : Eric
Dempster (W); Geoff Rabone (A); John
Hayes was not available at first. It seems unlikely that Sam Guillen was
considered because he was a West Indian by birth. After strong representations to the New Zealand Board of Control,
the selectors were allowed to pick a sixteenth player. Skipper John Reid was not consulted about
the composition of the team and complained that the selectors had picked on
potential not performance. Despite Reid's urging, they did not pick Merv
Wallace for the trip and after the tour he reminded his interviewers that
Wallace or Don Taylor could have been invaluable. Tour Party Announced : 24 February 1958. Meale had not been chosen for Wellington during the season but gained his
touring place on the strength of two seasons in English cricket with Ealing
and his performance in the trial matches. Not selected: Don Beard, Noel MacGregor, Murray Chapple, John Guy,
Don Taylor (who then retired). | Time
between selection and departure from New Zealand 47 days (24
February to 12 April) | |
| Travel Auckland Q London | There was a three-day fixture against Auckland before
departure. Then the team flew out of Auckland on Saturday morning 12 April 1958.
They flew to Sydney, and boarded a London flight, landing at Darwin,
Singapore, Rangoon, Karachi, Beirut and Zurich before
coming in to Heathrow
Airport, landing on
Tuesday 15 April. They were greeted by
the Deputy Prime Minister of New
Zealand, Mr C F Skinner, and the Secretary
of M C C, Mr Ronald Aird. | Time
spent in England 162 days (15
April - 24 September) | |
| On-tour selection
panel | John Reid, Bert
Sutcliffe, Harry Cave, John Hayes. | | |
| Reinforcements | None. At Lord's playing against MCC, Bert
Sutcliffe trod on a ball while fielding, fell and broke his wrist. John Guy was playing in England to
qualify for county cricket with Northamptonshire but the NZ management
decided not to recruit him. Bob Blair wrenched his shoulder
muscles. Both he and Sutcliffe missed the first Test match. | | |
| Fixtures/Results | a | Eden Park, Auckland | An Auckland XI | Drawn | | | | | b | ϯ Kennington Oval | London New Zealand CC | Won 9 w | c | ϯ Worcester
Park, Surrey | Maori CC | Drawn | d | ϯ Eastbourne | Col L C Stevens XI | Drawn | e | ϯ Arundel | Duke of Norfolk's XI | Drawn | f | Worcester | Worcestershire | Drawn | g | Leicester | Leicestershire | Won inns 64 r | h | Kennington Oval | Surrey | Lost inns 163 r | i | Ilford | Essex | Won 48 r | j | Cambridge | Cambridge University | Won 10 w | k | Lord’s | M C C | Won 13 r | l | Oxford | Oxford University | Drawn | m | Cardiff | Glamorgan | Won 9 w | n | Taunton | Somerset | Won inns 71 r | o | Southampton | Hampshire | Drawn | p | EDGBASTON | ENGLAND First Test | LOST 205 r | q | Derby | Derbyshire | Drawn | r | Hove | Sussex | Drawn | s | LORD’S | ENGLAND Second Test | LOST inns 148 r | t | Old Trafford | Lancashire | Drawn | u | Sheffield | Yorkshire | Drawn | v | HEADINGLEY | ENGLAND Third Test | LOST inns 71 r | w | ϯ Selkirk | Scotland | Drawn | x | Glasgow | Scotland | Won inns 32 r | y | ϯ Belfast | Ireland | Drawn | z | ϯ Dublin | Ireland | Drawn | a’ | Lord’s | Middlesex | Drawn | b’ | OLD TRAFFORD | ENGLAND Fourth Test | LOST inns 13 r | c’ | Kennington Oval | Surrey | Lost inns 103 r | d’ | Swansea | Glamorgan | Drawn | e’ | Edgbaston | Warwickshire | Drawn | f’ | Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Drawn | g’ | Northampton | Northamptonshire | Drawn | h’ | Trent Bridge | Nottinghamshire | Drawn | I’ | KENNINGTON OVAL | ENGLAND Fifth Test | DRAWN | j’ | Canterbury | Kent | Drawn | k’ | Hastings | A E R Gilligan's XI | Drawn | l’ | Blackpool | Lancashire | Drawn | m | Scarborough | T N
Pearce's XI | Tied | n’ | ϯ Jesmond | Minor Counties. | Drawn |
| † not first-class Time spent in England
before First Test: 51 days (15 April - 5 June) | |
| Test appearances on
tour | 5 - D'Arcy, MacGibbon,
Petrie, Playle, Reid 4 - Harford, Hayes,
Miller, Sutcliffe 3 - Blair,
Sparling 2 - Alabaster, Cave,
Meale, Moir 1 - 0 -
Ward. | | |
| Match
appearances T Test match x other match ∙ played for opposition W won L lost D drawn N no
result A abandoned u unknown
result | | a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | a ‘ | b ‘ | c ‘ | d ‘ | e ‘ | f ‘ | g ‘ | h ‘ | I’ | j’ | k’ | l’ | m’ | n’ | J C Alabaster | x | x | ∙ | x | | | x | | x | x | x | | x | x | | T | | | T | | x | | x | x | x | | | | x | | x | x | | x | | | x | | | x | R W Blair | x | x | ∙ | | | | x | | x | x | x | | | | x | | x | x | T | x | | | x | x | x | | x | T | | x | x | | x | | T | x | x | x | | x | H B Cave | x | | x | ∙ | x | x | | x | x | x | | x | x | x | | T | x | x | | x | x | T | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | | | x | x | | x | x | J W D'Arcy | x | | ∙ | ∙ | x | | x | | | x | | x | x | x | x | T | x | x | T | | x | T | | x | x | x | x | T | | x | x | | x | | T | | x | | x | x | N S
Harford | x | x | ∙ | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | T | | x | T | x | x | T | x | x | x | | x | T | x | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | x | x | x | J A Hayes | ∙ | | x | x | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | T | | x | T | | x | T | | | x | x | | T | x | | x | x | | x | | x | | | x | | A MacGibbon | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | T | x | | T | x | x | T | | x | x | x | x | T | x | | x | | | x | T | | x | x | x | | T Meale | x | | x | x | x | x | | x | x | | | x | x | x | | T | x | | | | | | x | x | | x | x | | | x | x | x | x | x | T | x | | x | | x | L S M Miller | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | T | x | x | T | x | x | T | x | | x | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | x | T | x | x | x | x | x | A M Moir | ∙ | x | x | x | x | x | | x | | x | | x | x | | x | | x | | | x | | | x | x | | x | x | T | | x | | x | x | | T | x | | x | | | E C Petrie | ∙ | x | x | ∙ | x | x | | x | | x | x | x | x | | x | T | | x | T | x | x | T | x | | x | x | | T | | x | | x | x | | T | x | | | | | W R Playle | ∙ | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | x | T | x | x | T | | x | T | x | | x | x | | T | x | | x | x | | x | T | x | | x | x | x | J R Reid | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x | x | x | T | x | x | T | x | x | T | | | x | x | x | T | x | x | x | x | x | x | T | x | x | x | | | J T Sparling | ∙ | x | x | x | | | x | x | x | | x | x | x | | x | | x | x | | x | | T | | x | x | x | | T | x | x | | x | x | x | T | | x | x | | x | B Sutcliffe | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | | | | | | | x | T | x | x | T | x | x | | | x | T | x | x | x | x | x | x | T | x | x | x | x | x | J T Ward | x | ∙ | | x | | | x | | x | | | x | | x | | | x | | | x | | | x | x | | | x | | x | | x | | | x | | | x | x | | x | R E S U L T
S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | a ‘ | b ‘ | c ‘ | d ‘ | e ‘ | f ‘ | g ‘ | h ‘ | I’ | j’ | k’ | l’ | m’ | n’ |
| |
| Highlights | • Bert Sutcliffe started the tour with a fine
century at Worcester. • Jack Alabaster took 6-37 and 5-43 (11 for 80) against Leicestershire • New Zealand recorded an excellent
win against M.C.C. at Lord’s when Hayes’s 7 for 49 won the match • After Noel Harford’s maiden century, 158
against Oxford University,
the tourists were caught on a soaking wicket and dismissed for 45, the lowest
score on any New Zealand
tour • At Lord’s the New Zealanders were dismissed
for 47 (again after rain had turned the pitch into a spinner’s delight), the
lowest Test score on that ground and the lowest in England since South
Africa’s total of 30 in 1924 • John Reid (118 with 5 sixes) went to the
fastest century of the season in 86 minutes against Derbyshire • Tony MacGibbon took 20 Test wickets in six England
innings in the series, at a cost of only 19.45 | New Zealand’s previous Test tour results: in India
& Pakistan
1955-56 (8 Tests) - lost 0-2 and lost 0-2 in South Africa 1953-54 (5 Tests) - lost 0-4 in England
1949 (4 Tests) - drew 0-0 in England
1937 (3 Tests) - lost 0-1 in England
1931 (3 Tests) - lost 0-1 | |
| ⋆ Tour Summary | | F | W | L | D | T | Aban | Test Matches | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | Other first-class matches | 26 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 1 | - | Minor matches | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | All Matches ⋆ | 39 | 8 | 6 | 24 | 1 | - |
⋆ excluding the pre-tour practice match in Auckland. | F Fixtures W Won
L Lost T Tied
D Drawn
Canc Cancelled Aban abandoned | |
| Return to New Zealand LondonQ Auckland | At the end of that tour, Tony MacGibbon
remained in England to
read Civil Engineering at Durham
University. The touring party took off from
London Airport
on 24 September 1958 and flew on the American route, via New
York and San Francisco. They landed at Whenuapai
Airport (Auckland) in the afternoon of Wednesday. That night the South Island
players flew to Christchurch.
Reid accompanied the team and then went to his home in Oamaru. | Time
away from New Zealand 166
days (12
April to 25 September) | |
| Finances | The married men each received £15 a week to cover expenses while
the bachelors received £10. The tour costs were approximately £30 000 which were covered with a profit of £4 000. | | |
| Written accounts of
the tour | "John
Arlott's Cricket Journal" (1958)
by John Arlott [Heinemann] The tour is described in a chapter in “Sword of Willow”
(1977) by John Reid | | |
| Postscript | Jack D’Arcy played in all five
matches in his maiden Test series but did not represent New Zealand
again though he continued to play first-class cricket until 1962. The tour
also brought to an end the Test careers of
Cave, Harford, Hayes, Meale, Miller and MacGibbon. For the next tour, to South Africa
in 1961-62, John Reid insisted on becoming part of the selection panel and
was given the touring team he wanted, with much better results. | | |
| Other Test tours in
1958 | None | | |