CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 24

CRICKET.

THE ENGLISH TOUR. SLOW BOWLER WANTED. CHAXCK FOR GARRARD? One of the problems of the selection rnninnttce of the New Zealand team to leave en the Knglisli tour next March is I lie choice of a slow spin bowler as a mieri'SHor to W. K. Merritt. At the niccth>« nf the iiian.iL'i'Mienl cominittee of the Auckland Cricket Council last night a inquest was received from the New Zealand council that the major assoc lations include the l>r.~t slow bowlers available in the hii.il I'lunki't Shield games, thus assisting the selectors. The request aroused discussion among liiembcrs of the committee, and when it was suggested that the matter should be Irfrrreil to the Auckland seelctors, an auiendinent was moved by Mr. J. H. Watts, supported by Mr. W. J. Coates, thai the letter be received. Mr. Coates h.lid lie did not see any reason why the s.l.'i tors ot an association should be dictated to. while Mr. Xalder was of the ■ •pillion that it was imperative that the province should field its best eleven in the remaining Plunket Shield fixture. It w;is finally agreed to receive the council's letter.

The slow bowlers who are considered to have the host chance of selection are Groves, of the Otago eleven, and B. Griffiths, of Wellington. Auckland tried out a young and inexperienced spin trundler in X. MrMahon on the recent southern tour as D. R. Garrard, whose experience in shield cricket dates bark to 1!)18, was not available. Garrard has taken (>l wickets for 1294 runs in Plunket Shield cricket, and it is expected that he will take hifl place again with the Auckland team for the match with Wellington next week.

The New Zealand Cor ' advised that owing to the death of .\i . \V. H. Windsor, Mr. E. E. Luttrell had been appointed temporarily to the position of secretary of that body, pending an election at the next annual meeting. The committee resolved to write to Mr. Luttrell asking him whether he would be prepared, to represent the Auckland Association on the management committee of the council. In the event of his not being available, it was decided to ask him to nominate a member of the committee who would be willing to accept the position. Shield Match Charges. Arrangements in connection with the Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Wellington, to be played at Eden Park, commencing on February 5, were finalised. The appointment of official scorers was left in the hands of Messrs. E. J. Price and J. H. Watts, while the ground charges were fixed as follows: — Whole day, 1/6; after the luncheon adjournment, 1/; after 4 p.m., 6d. Admittance to stand 1/ extra. The chairman, Mr. W. R. Fee, was deputed to interview the health authorities regarding the advisability of admitting children.

Appreciation was expressed of the offer made by Mr. J. H. Watts to act as ground manager for the AuckWellington Plunket Shield fixture. It was decided to appoint him to the position. Mr. H. Duncan was chosen the position. Mr. H. Duncan was chosen as manager of the Auckland team. It was decided to request the* New Zealand Council to notify the umpires selected for the game.

A motion of condolence was passed with Mr. C. J. Whitaker, sports editor of the "Auckland Star," in the recent death of his son.

Wickets at Domain. Strong exception to the state of the wickets at the Domain was taken by Mr. E. J. Price, who said that most of them were not fit • for' fourth grade matches. Numerous complaints had been made by teams which had played on them. It was resolved to appoint two representatives of tlie committee to wait upon the parks committee of the Auckland City Council, with a view to securing an improvement in the position.

Mr. Price reported that the Stanley Bay second grade team had withdrawn from the competition. The committee decided to point out to the club that its inability to field a second grade team might prejudice the club's prospects of securing senior B status next season.

The junior committee recommended that owing to a shortage of grounds, no intermediate grade matches should be played on Anniversary Day. This was agreed to.

The hours of play for Friday's matches will be as f0110w5:—9.45 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 1.45 p.m. to 4 p.m.; 4.15 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. An interval of 20 minutes from 11.20 a.m. to 11.40 n.m. will be taken in matches controlled by official umpires. In the event of no play in the morning and the wickets being fit for play in the afternoon, the association's new rule affecting one-day matches will be observed.

Matches to dp played under the control of the Auckland United Frlendiv Society Cricket 'Association on Saturday :—Grey Lynn Druids v. Manchester United. No. 1. Kowlds Park (Messrs. Rountree nnd Saunders) ; Devonport Druids ▼. EdenAuckland, No. 2, Fowlds Park (Messrs. Collett and Davidson) ; Hibernian v. Newmarket. No. 3, Fowlds Park (Messrs. Harding nnd Molloy) ; Wcstmere, a bye.