 After the Australia Ashes Tests, With Eric Ashton (Captain), Alex Murphy and Don Fox injured, Turner took over the captaincy for the two tests in New Zealand.However, these and other injuries depleted the squad to such an extent that both tests in Carlaw Park, Auckland were lost 0-19 and 8-27.After the New Zealand Tests, only fourteen players from the original squad of twenty-five were uninjured, thirteen of whom went on to play three exhibition matches in South Africa.