An Australian national cricket team captained by

Ian Craig Ian David Craig (12 June 193516 November 2014) was an Australian cricketer who represented the Australian national team in 11 Tests between 1953 and 1958. A right-handed batsman, Craig holds the records for being the youngest Australian to ...

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. The Australians won one and drew two of the international matches, and won the other four first-class matches.

Team

(captain) * Richie Benaud * Peter Burge * John Drennan * Les Favell * Ron Gaunt * Neil Harvey *

Barry Jarman Barrington Noel Jarman (17 February 193617 July 2020) was an Australian Test cricketer and International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee. Jarman played in 19 Test matches for the Australian cricket team between 1959 and 1969, including on ...

Lindsay Kline Lindsay Francis Kline (29 September 1934 – 2 October 2015) was an Australian cricketer. He played in 13 Test matches for Australia and 88 first-class matches between 1955/56 and 1961/62. He was a left-arm spin bowler, bowling left-arm un ...

* Johnny Martin *

Ian Meckiff Ian Meckiff (born 6 January 1935) is a former cricketer who represented Australia national cricket team, Australia in 18 test cricket, Test matches between 1957 and 1963. A left-arm Fast bowling, fast bowler, he is best known for two matters tha ...

Norm O'Neill Norman Clifford Louis O'Neill (19 February 1937 – 3 March 2008) was a cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. A right-handed batsman known for his back foot strokeplay, O'Neill made his state debut aged 18, before progressin ...

* Bob Simpson * Bill Watson It was a young team: Craig was 21; the oldest player, Harvey, was 28; and the youngest player, O'Neill, was 19.

Matches

Australia won the first game against Canterbury by five wickets. Benaud took four wickets and Burge scored a century. The next game against Southland was drawn. Southland were dismissed for 84, Gaunt taking 6-23. Favell scored 81 and Watson 74. Australia beat Otago by an innings and 102 runs. Harvey scored 161 and Kline took six wickets and Meckiff five. 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.

First Unofficial Test

Australia played a New Zealand team, a match that ended in a draw. Craig scored 123 not out in the second innings. Australia beat Wairarapa by an innings.

Second Unofficial Test

In the second game against New Zealand they drew, Benaud taking 6-79. A match against Poverty Bay was a draw, despite Benaud and Harvey scoring centuries. Australia beat Auckland by an innings and 54 runs, Meckiff taking nine wickets. They drew with Waikato, Martin taking five wickets. Australia beat Central Districts by ten wickets, Benaud scoring a century and taking eight wickets.

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. Neil Harvey headed the batting aggregates in first class games with 448 runs at 49.77. Benaud took 32 wickets at 19.31.

References

External links

Australia in New Zealand 1956-57
at CricketArchive