Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 1956–57

Last updated August 22, 2024

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

It was a young team: Craig was 21; the oldest player, Harvey, was 28; and the youngest player, O'Neill, was 19.^[3]

Matches

The Australians (249 and 223 for 5) won the first game against Canterbury (229 and 241) 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. The Australians made 237 for 6, Favell scoring 81 and Watson 74, before rain washed out the second day.^[6]^[7]

The Australians (344) beat Otago (187 and 55) by an innings and 102 runs. Harvey scored 161 and Kline took six wickets and Meckiff five.^[8] The Australians (137 for 8 declared) beat a combined team from Ashburton County, South Canterbury and North Otago (43 and 76) by an innings and 18 runs in Timaru, Meckiff taking 8 for 19 in the first innings.^[9]

First Unofficial Test

Australia (216 and 284 for 3 declared) played New Zealand (268 and 112 for 2) in Christchurch, a match that ended in a draw. Craig scored 123 not out in the second innings.^[10]^[11]^[12]

The Australians (424) beat Wairarapa (50 and 157) by an innings. Watson scored 136.^[13]

Second Unofficial Test

Australia (215 and 146 for 6) drew the second game against New Zealand (249) in Wellington, Benaud taking 6 for 79. For New Zealand, Bert Sutcliffe scored 107, and Harry Cave took eight wickets.^[14]

The Australians (478 for 9 declared) drew against Poverty Bay (122 and 58 for 5). Benaud and Harvey scored centuries.^[15]^[16]

The Australians (304) beat Auckland (128 and 122) by an innings and 54 runs, Meckiff taking nine wickets.^[17]^[18]

The Australians (213 for 5 declared) drew with Waikato (93 and 30 for 3), Martin taking five wickets.^[19] Australia beat Central Districts by ten wickets, Benaud scoring a century and taking eight wickets.^[20]

Third Unofficial Test

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]

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References

↑ "Australia in New Zealand 1956/57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ Wisden 1958, p. 847.
↑ Wisden 1958, p. 846.
↑ "Canterbury v Australians 1956/57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "Rapid Scoring Brings Win To Australia". The Canberra Times . Vol. 31, no. 9, 097. 19 February 1957. p. 10 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Southland v Australians 1956/57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "Australia Leads Southland On First Innings". The Canberra Times . Vol. 31, no. 9, 099. 21 February 1957. p. 10 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Otago v Australians 1956/57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "Ashburton County, South Canterbury and North Otago v Australians 1956–57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "New Zealand v Australia 1956–57 (I)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "Australians Fare Badly In N.Z." The Canberra Times . Vol. 31, no. 9, 107. 2 March 1957. p. 16 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "New Zealand Refuses Run Chances". The Canberra Times . Vol. 31, no. 9, 109. 5 March 1957. p. 3 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Wairarapa v Australians 1956–57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "New Zealand v Australia 1956–57 (II)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "Poverty Bay v Australians 1956–57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ ""Fantastic" Effort Gets N.Z. Wicket Ready For Play". The Canberra Times . Vol. 31, no. 9, 118. 15 March 1957. p. 4 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Auckland v Australians 1956–57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "Auckland Loses To Australia". The Canberra Times . Vol. 31, no. 9, 121. 19 March 1957. p. 10 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Waikato v Australians 1956–57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
↑ "Central Districts v Australians 1956–57".
↑ "New Zealand v Australia 1956–57".
↑ "Australians Batting".
↑ "Australians Bowling".

External links

Australia in New Zealand 1956-57 at CricketArchive

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