Cricket history has been revised as a result of study undertaken by the editors of the New Zealand Cricket Almanack.
The 2011 New Zealand Cricket Almanack. Edited by Francis Payne and Ian Smith. Published by Hodder Moa.
The annual record of all events in cricket in New Zealand has just been published and included in its always fascinating happenings section is a note that sheds light on the often criticised relationship between New Zealand and Australia in the post-World War Two years.
It has become part of folklore in New Zealand cricket circles that Australia looked down upon their Tasman cousins and did little to encourage the growth of cricket at Test level between the two.
Au contraire it would seem. All may need to be forgiven.
A perusal of NZC annual reports from the 1940s and 1950s has shown that Australia was looking to send a full-strength side to New Zealand in 1951-52.
The 1949 report stated the Australians had initiated talks for a tour which 'will probably largely represent the full strength of Australia'.
However, the 1951 report revealed that once it was learned the West Indies would be touring Australia that season, New Zealand negotiated with both Australia and the West Indies for the West Indies to continue on to New Zealand. This would be at the expense of a tour by Australia.
The 1952 annual report showed that New Zealand were due to tour Australia in 1953-54 but New Zealand decided to go to South Africa instead.
The report also noted Australia's reaction to that change. "On learning that we were interested in a tour of South Africa, the Australian Board of Control generously agreed to a short tour, in order to make the South African proposal possible."
South Africa met the complete costs of New Zealand's tour which probably explains why that option was preferred.
Then the 1959 annual report showed that New Zealand had been offered a tour by an Australian second team in 1959-60 or a full-strength team in 1961-62. New Zealand opted for the second team tour in 1959-60 because it was to tour South Africa in 1961-62. Australia was left without a touring team that year.
These disclosures make for some interesting considerations.
Why did New Zealand board members of the era allow the myth to be perpetuated to the point where it became accepted as fact that Australia had been such a niggardly supporter of the New Zealand game?
While it was possible that the matter was regarded as of little concern to Australians, who moved in a far higher sphere of the game, it is unusual that they did not bother to correct the assumption that had developed across the Tasman.
The Almanack continues to be a marvellous record of cricketing events in New Zealand and this sort of research makes it all the more important to the history of the game.
Its players of the year were two bowlers, Chris Martin and Neil Wagner while its choices as the promising players of the year were Trent Boult, Derek de Boorder and Stephen Murdoch.